Motorcycle specifications Super SocoTS1200R 2017 The dawn of the city

For the moment, the electric motorcycle market is confined to a few flashes or a limited number of companies. Who's succeeding in selling them en masse? Zero, with a range of a few models; BMW, with its C-Evolution scooter; Harley, perhaps one day, with its Livewire... And aside from projections and/or pipe dreams, what do we have for everyday use in the reasonable segment? Not much. That could change with a curious and intriguing little machine: the Super Soco TS1200R.

a little relativity first. It's not really a motorcycle; its definition is closer to a moped. But it's got two wheels, handlebars and smells like a bike with electron sauce. And there's no need to wait until the end of this reading to announce one of the major assets of this electric motorcycle. Its price is a shock: less than 3,000 euros. And that changes everything. This simple argument is enough to make us much more interested in this machine, heralded as a formidable urban troublemaker.

in terms of design, the Super Soco doesn't stray far from the class canon, with a large belly to accommodate the battery. The rest of the bike is more svelte, aided by a sleek headlamp and a confidence-inspiring inverted fork. A disc brake for each 17-inch wheel, a full digital instrument panel, an attractive starter button and BMW-style brake fluid jars - all of this adds up to a quality appearance.

A quick glance will tell you what it looks like; the more perceptive will notice the prominence of the rear hub. Unusual and with good reason, this is where the motor is hidden. Of Bosch origin, it puts out 1200 watts, the equivalent of about 1.6 horsepower or the potato of a good vacuum cleaner. That makes you tick! Perfect, because we're going to take this opportunity to talk about the dynamic results it can deliver. The TS1200R can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h, the maximum permitted by law. On the track, it can reach 75 km/h. And in terms of torque, it's enough to disgust many a motorcycle. Its electric motor spits out no less than 120 Nm, or more than 12 mkg. The equivalent of an Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR or a Moto-Guzzi 1400 California. That's a promise of blistering acceleration, especially as the machine weighs just 78 kilos.
As for range, nothing exceptional. It's rated at 80 km. A range that can be doubled with an additional battery. And if you don't feel like hauling an extension cord from your building to the grinding wheel, the battery is removable. Allow 6 hrs for charging. In short, you take it out at night, plug it in, and in the morning, the Super Soco TS1200R is ready to go.

at last, a bike that could truly democratize the (small) electric motorcycle. However, its performance will limit it to exclusively urban use. It may even be used in the countryside, if the brand develops a similar-trail model (pure speculation). Distributed by Mujoo in France, the Super Soco TS1200R will allow some to believe in a petrol-free, pollution-free city. Others will see it as just another toy. What if the right answer lies somewhere in between?

M.B - Manufacturer's photos