Ask any baby boomer who cut their teeth on throbbing triumphs with straight-through exhausts. They’ll tell you without hesitation that e-motorbikes are missing the point. Motorcycling is about style, not just being tree-hugging green. The core of the obsession is the call of the long road. They say it’s difficult to arrive somewhere regally sitting on a namby-pamby machine. Thank heavens they say, Blacksmith Electric has finally seen the light.
Blacksmith Electric Plans an Electric Royal Enfield Bullet
The original Royal Enfield Bullet was a brute of a machine with no rear suspension and an oversized bicycle saddle. Nonetheless it remained at the heart of baby boomer dreams after it lay down and died under the heel of Asian technology.
Since then, replica Royal Enfield Motors has continued making the classic motorbike in India using the same tools and dies. Despite now having padded red seats, shock absorbers and electric starter, it is still arguably the real thing.
The Electric Touch Regal on the Blacksmith Agenda
The photos lack detail but suggest the Blacksmith Electric B2 could transport you in grand Royal Enfield Bullet style. However, don’t expect scorching acceleration. This baby’s strictly for city cruising and attracting admiring glances.
A choice of one, or two exchangeable battery packs gives you a 75 or 150 mile driving range. We assume that means you don’t scream down the highway flat out at 75mph. However, Blacksmith Electric has a neat way of getting around a four hour charge time. It plans battery-exchange stations with optional charging facilities in a ‘fireproof environment’.
Oh we knew this bike was going to be hot as a decent Indian curry should be. However, we had no idea it could fire the imagination like that. Yes please, we’ll have one for the office.
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Preview Image: Blacksmith B2 Electric Motorcycle
