Motorcycle specifications ARC VehicleVector 2020 The birth of the falcon

Who remembers Jesse Mach and Norman Tuttle? Even 80s fans will have a hard time. In the first episode of this kitschy series, the two characters formed the team at the controls of the Mechanical Thunder (Supercopter or K2000 motorcycle version).
35 years on, it's almost a new, more credible episode that British company ARC is offering us with its Vector electric motorcycle.

futuristic in more ways than one, the Vector stands out in many respects. First and foremost, its price, which is as delirious as that of an MV-Agusta special series. At 90,000 pounds, or almost 100,000 euros, the entry ticket is reserved for collectors, Saudi princes and show-business stars. The price is justified by the technologies employed and the high degree of interactivity between man and machine.

at first glance, it's not the high-powered electric motor (138 hp and 40.5 mkg), the medical robot look or the exceptionally sleek rear end that are the most astonishing. It's the front end that really catches the eye. Like the daring Bimota Tesi and Yamaha GTS, the Vector does away with the fork principle in favor of a carbon swingarm with an in-wheel steering hub system. Both front and rear are equipped with Öhlins shock absorbers, fully adjustable as you'd expect.
Beautiful stuff, as you'll find everywhere for the construction of this bike: Brembo Stylema brake calipers, a profusion of carbon for the monocoque frame, BST rims and much of the bodywork, the presence of aircraft-grade aluminum and copper, LED headlights, machined and engraved parts.... All of which reduces the weight to 220 kilos. This is just the standard equipment - given the price and specification levels, every customer will be entitled to a high level of personalization.

138 hp, we say. Let's stick to the numbers. The ARC Vector boasts a top speed of 200 km/h, a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.2 sec, 399 volts in the motor and a range of up to 436 km. In everyday use, the range will be less extensive. Never mind: the original Samsung 16.8 kWh battery is claimed to recharge in 40 minutes with the appropriate charger.
ABS, traction control and three driving modes (Urban - Sports - Euphoric) are all part of the package. In detail, it's much more than that, to bring rider and machine into symbiosis. No speedometer! The Vector leaps forward several years or more. Information is displayed like a fighter pilot, thanks to the Zenith helmet specially designed for it. No need for mirrors either; the rear camera automatically engages when there's something in the blind spot and can project the image via the head-up display.

helmet, bike and jacket are a single unit. Connected to each other and passing on information gathered by sensors, radars and cameras, they then act as a single entity. The helmet can be controlled by voice or via a smartphone app, its visor displays what you need (speed, GPS, etc.), while the Origin jacket with haptic system can vibrate to warn you of danger... or synchronize with the music to put the body in the mood.

399 units of this biotech-system-neo-Matrix motorcycle are scheduled for production from 2020. ARC will have them hand-built in a new factory in St Athan, Wales. For maintenance, there's no need to worry about which mechanic will take care of it: the manufacturer will dispatch a technical team to the owner's home or workplace.

Except that... The adventure was cut short. Plagued by financial problems, the small ARC company went into receivership. The ambition was great; the reality of business tripped it up.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos