A2 licence friendly Zero FXE
By Ben Purvis
Zero is fast forging its position as a leading electric bike brand and there are few battery-powered models on the market to challenge its SR / F and SR / S . However , those are near € 23,000 bikes , making them inevitably niche products when compared with the sort of petrol-powered machines that the same money can buy . With the new FXE , Zero is headed down the same more affordable route as Harley with its recently announced LiveWire One , and it ' s easy to see that this could become a strong seller . Mechanically , the FXE is nothing new .
Under the skin it ' s got the same frame , suspension , battery and motor as the existing FXS , a supermoto version of the off-road style FX . But the addition of styling derived from a one-off 2019 show bike adds a whole new level of appeal . The FXE is an A2-compliant machine , with 44 hp on tap along with 78 lb ft of torque , and a weight of just 135 kg . Those figures meet with the A2 licence requirement of a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2kW per kg , achieved because the bike ' s rated ' continuous ' power is 15kW ( 21 hp ), even though it peaks at more than
twice that much . Want a fast bike on an A2 licence ? Step this way . As usual with electric vehicles , top speed isn ' t its primary strength - the FXE tops out at 82 mph - but the low weight and high torque promise strong acceleration . Range is 100 miles at city speeds , 55 miles at 55 mph or 40 miles at 70 mph . On mixed use it should get between 57 and 75 miles between charges . Those will take up to 9.7 hours from a normal wall socket , but can be reduced to as little as 1.3 hours for a 95 % charge using accessory fast chargers . Showa suspension at each end , with adjustable compression , rebound and preload , is allied to Brembo-owned J . Juan brakes with ABS and 17 in wheels . A TFT dash offers Bluetooth connectivity and the ability to tune the bike ' s torque characteristics and battery management via a phone app . The price ? Approximately € 14,000 .
Pursang starts deliveries By Ben Purvis
DAB Concept-E
By Ben Purvis
A new French electric concept bike is edging towards production in the form of the DAB Motors Concept-E - with the slightly unusual approach of prioritising quality and the use of intriguing materials over the quest for extremes of performance or range . Mechanically , the Concept-E gets a 10kW electric motor and a 51.8V Liion battery , adding up to 125 cc-equivalent performance , with a 65 mph top speed and a 68-mile range . However , instead of packaging the electronics in a conventional , low-cost chassis , DAB Motors has turned to exotic materials and components , including Öhlins suspension , Beringer brakes and Excel rims . DAB Motors took a similar approach with its last machine , the 500 cc LM-S scrambler , which bears a Husqvarna 501 single-cylinder engine but carries a hefty € 17,200 price tag thanks to its high-end parts and handmade construction . For the Concept-E , DAB Motors has turned to carbon fibre , using it for the chassis and swingarm as well as the bodywork , while focussing on details to make sure that despite its unfaired design the bike is uncluttered , with hidden wiring and cables wherever possible and custom-made components , including the taillight lens . Unusual design elements include the instruments . Instead of a conventional digital or analogue display , the Concept-E uses a dot matrix-style LED setup that shows a bright mirrorimage of the readout , but is angled downwards , away from the rider ' s face . As a result , the speed and other information are reflected in the shiny ,
20 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021
It was back in 2018 that reborn Spanish company Pursang first revealed an electric concept bike at EICMA , and after more than two years , deliveries of the resulting production model have now started . Pursang ' s first model is the E-Track , which slots into the learner-legal ' A1 ' licence category with a rated power of 11 kW from a Bosch motor and a trio of 2.4 kW , 48V lithium-ion batteries . Together they add up to a top speed of 110 km / h ( 68 mph ) and a maximum range of 140 km ( 87 miles ), although the latter will only be reached in the bike ' s energy-saving ' Go ' mode . Switch to the ' Cruise ' setting for a bit more performance and range drops to 115 km ( 71 miles ), while if you want to get
mirror-smooth black panel on the top of the fuel tank , rather like the inverse of a head-up display . DAB does have intentions to make a production version of the Concept-E , although elements of the design will have to change , including the fitment of mirrors and indicators as well as a the most out of the motor , ' Boost ' mode adds power at the cost of an 80 km ( 50 mile ) range . The bike also offers a ' Crawl ' mode , allowing it to travel at walking speed either forwards or backwards to help manoeuvre into garages or parking spots . The bike ' s weight , at 147 kg , matches its lightweight looks , but the price will also leave your wallet feeling significantly slimmer ; the base cost is € 13,700 , which puts the Pursang E-Track into the same market as some pretty serious competition , not least the newly-launched Zero FXE , which promises more range and speed at a lower price . Versions like the limited edition Pursang Dome ( seen here ) will cost more still .
rear fender and licence plate bracket extending beyond the back edge of the tyre to satisfy regulations . At the moment there ' s no indication of price , but if the carbon construction and expensive parts are retained , it ' s going to be well out of reach of the average rider . www . idnmag . com