Timothy Somers is a relative newcomer on the motorcycle scene –  certainly compared to an oldtimer like me who got on a bike for the first  time in 1980… 

But he – and his company Powerbrick – have really started to make an  impression in this two- wheeled world, and certainly among aficionados of  the K-series BMW’s. That’s where the roots of the company are, the 80’s to  early 90’s K-bikes from BMW, with the big rectangular engine blocks  hanging under them – hence the name ‘Powerbrick’.  

Timothy started riding in 2018, got a motorcycle driving license and  bought a BMW K100 at a good price. This was at the same time as he quit  his job at his design agency, having worked on the design and  production of many different consumer goods.  

As the K-100’s styling was really not to his taste and he had the time, he  started customizing the bike in his shed almost right-away, designing and  then making the first specimen of the part himself. And put every stage of  the transformation on instagram, which pretty soon had a steady inflow of  followers, who then also started asking for him to sell them these parts he  had designed.  

Powerbrick – the company – was born. He started to have the parts  produced in larger quantities and selling them  though his insta page. As a professional designer, Timothy completely  develops his products on his computer in 3D-rendering. And these designs  can be sent right over to the factory to be moved into production!  

The parts-business actually flourished during the covid years. I guess as  lots of enthusiasts were stuck at home with a K-series bike in the shed, had the urge to make it perform and look better, had time to scour the Internet  for ideas, but then also the time to actually do something about it…

Most sales originate from Powerbrick’s Instagram presence, maybe a bit  via Facebook, but all without spending money on marketing! More  recently, Powerbrick started to promote the brand at motorcycle shows,  like the BMW Motorrad days in Berlin and the BikeShed MotoShow in  London this spring. 

As to be expected for an internet-era company, Powerbrick’s clientele is  truly international, with lots of orders from the United States and Australia,  and relatively few from its ‘home market’, the Netherlands. 

Over the past couple of years, more motorcycles were bought as a  development platform for his parts on one hand, and to show off the parts  that he is producing on the other. These motorcycles are then sold when  finished, making Powerbricks a custom shop on top of a parts design and  manufacture business.  

Last year (2022), Powerbrick realized two of such full custom conversions,  they are planning to do three this year and then keep on a steady but controlled growth path – 4 full conversions in 2024. Timothy wants to  keep full control of his customs, building them in accordance with the Powerbrick style and not limited by demanding customers. The Powerbrick set-up in Schiedam, in the Netherlands, reflects this very well: a spartan but well-equipped workshop – come office and warehouse – in a soon-to-be-torn-down industrial space, and just  Timothy and Sasza, his trusted sidekick, doing all the work…  

Powerbrick produces and sells custom triple clamps, subframes, air-filter sets,  headlight covers, tank caps, exhausts… All in all some 70 different parts,  all designed in-house, and produced exclusively for Powerbrick. Mostly for BMW’s K-series, but more recently they are expanding to the R-series  as well.  

And, right now, Powerbrick stands at the beginning of an exciting new  adventure, taking on Harley Davidsons. For the Amsterdam/Rotterdam HD  Dealer, Powerbrick is starting to convert 3 brand- new Harleys; a Sportster,  an adventure-touring model, but also an electric bike , the LiveWire. We  are excited to see what those bikes are going to look like!

As I’d never been to the BikeShed Motoshow and just knew it by reputation – as one of the premier custom motorcycle shows in the world – I was thrilled to have two of my Hard Motos bikes chosen to be exhibited there. Couldn’t resist, even if it meant travelling from Amsterdam on Pentecost weekend – and that I had to spend a couple days polishing my bikes to make them look the part!

So off to London and the venue, Tobacco Dock near the Thames River and the Tower of London…

That was the first thing that struck me, such a great place – old buildings but tastefully restored with a couple of old sailing boats outside for decoration. Loads of rooms, all laid out for the hundreds of bikes on display. And for the various bike brands showing off the best customs based on their various models… Plus a sampling of motorcycle-related vendors ranging from clothing obviously, to art, to tea – how British!

Second thing I noticed was the efficient organization and great (mostly volunteer) staff on hand to help you get sorted. Loads of security – such as individual tie-wraps on the bikes, so you could only remove your own at the end of the show. And by having security staff everywhere.

Not that I felt it was needed, the atmosphere was genuinely friendly and relaxed all through the event, even on Saturday morning when the lines went for hundreds of meters before the show opening at 10:00AM.

And then the bikes! The theme this year was ‘Past, Present and Future’, and numerous bikes fitting all three categories present…

For ‘Past’, loads of great bikes, going from pre-war restored to better than original, to choppers, bobbers and caféracers.

For ‘Present’, quite a few retro-bikes, new but converted/modified to yes – choppers, bobbers and caféracers. But remarkably there is another type of custom becoming quite prominent in this category, enduro bikes! A lot more colorful on average than what we are used to from custom bikes – with the possible exception of choppers from the seventies.

‘Future’ – quite a few electric bikes of course, including what Dutch law considers bicycles – fat bikes like Super73.  I saw a prototype of a more performant bike though, so that may be coming…

There also was a virtual presentation of a sort of chameleon bike – taking different shapes for different rides – that you could access by scanning a QR code, but I guess I’m old-fashioned; prefer to see the real bike…

There was a pre-opening evening on the Friday for press and VIP invitees, with some nice music but endless lines at the three only food vendors open that night, so we snuck out to get dinner at the Smoking Goat – near the BikeShed HQ in Shoreditch – amazing!

So got there Saturday early to find a mind-blowing number of folks already in line waiting for the opening of the show. Luckily, we could get in around back – just by showing our exhibitor wristband. And indeed, Saturday was crowded, but never overcrowded, the venue is large enough to accommodate a vast number of visitors without it feeling cramped.

Sunday was a bit less crowded, so enjoyed taking in the 300-plus marvelous bikes on display again!

There was entertainment – both live music at all hours in the main hall and presentations plus panel discussions in the Shed Talks building. There was food and drinks galore on the Saturday and Sunday, a variety of food trucks were parked just outside the venue. Nice weather, so getting a bit of a tan while having a nice latte was definitely part of the morning routine…

All in all, one of the nicest motorcycle shows I’ve seen, definitely worth it, I’ll be back for more!

The motorcycle industry, at least on the combustion engine side, has not seen a lot of new brands come to life the past few decades. Yes, we did witness the successful resurrection of famous brands from the past, like Indian and Royal Enfield, who are developing and pushing out impressive ranges of truly great motorcycles. But we haven’t seen many new brands of combustion engine motorcycles lately.

However, the birth and subsequent rise of electric motorcycles has resulted in a whole slew of new manufacturers. Zero was an early starter in 2006, and especially in the last few years quite a few new entrants, like Energica and Cake, have emerged.

But for the motorbike enthusiast with a fondness of classic styling – like myself, I have to admit – many of these motorbikes just don’t look right… Mainly due to the necessity of big battery racks I guess, but it seems quite a few new builds either go for sportsbike-like fairings which hide these batteries (like Energica), or for quite radical new styling accentuating the difference with combustion engine bikes (Cake or Sondors). And the ones who take their styling cues more from ‘regular’  motorcycles, look, at least in this author’s admittedly biased opinion, clunky at best…

There are exceptions of course, like RGNT Motorcycles from Sweden, and now there is a promising new brand out of Brazil just starting up, called RTR Electric motorcycles!

Because what better base for a real commitment to classic lines than founders who share a 30-year history of designing and building award-winning custom motorcycles under the label ‘Retrorides By Lourenço’. You may know them from their book “The CafeRacer Bible”, a great “How to build” resource, and from their sublime proprietary suspension for the BMW K100…

So now, following their desire to play their part in creating a cleaner and smarter future for humanity, they founded RTR Electric motorcycles.

Their first model, the 799e, is an electric scrambler targeted at urban use. Its design is inspired by the iconic Scramblers of the 1970s – and it looks the part!

Pre-production exemplars are undergoing the homologation process in Brazil now, production of the RTR 799e is scheduled to start December 2023. They plan to start selling these bikes in Brazil, the United States and in Europe to begin with.

RTR are determined to preserve their custom DNA, their reputation for delivering great motorcycles, and their spirit of “handcrafted by hand”. 

They aim to accomplish this by offering full customization options on the website as part of the purchase process, by using the best high-quality parts and by completely hand-assembling the RTR 799e in Brazil…

On the website, customers will for instance be able to choose the colors, the type of seat, the type of tires, the type of front fenders, the type of headlight, to use side plates or not – making each motorcycle unique. 

High quality also means that these motorcycles are built with noble materials that do not harm the environment, and are built to last while also designed to be upgradable.  A really neat detail is that where gas would be stored before, the 799e has a 7-liter glove compartment to store your stuff!

While the 799e’s range is not stellar today at 120 km with a full battery, RTR are partnering with major battery developers to significantly increase this autonomy. You can charge it by just plugging into a regular 110/220V outlet.

Top speed of 127km/h is certainly acceptable for its intended mostly urban use. And the ‘kick’, as with all electric motorcycles, is the instantaneous torque thanks to the electric motor delivering “everything” at once, which propels you like a bat out of hell as soon as you twist the throttle!

So all in all RTR are well underway on this exciting journey. Driven by passion as they are, they still want to achieve their goals faster and more efficiently, so they are currently selecting investors to help them. But help them in a way that allows them to stay true to their starting points: Really change the way people get around, by providing a cleaner and more sustainable electric alternative, but also to construct these beautiful motorcycles in their native country of Brazil! 

www.rtrmotorcycles.com

Are you tired of the noise and pollution of your conventional motorcycle but still want to experience the thrill of riding? Luuc Muis of LM Creations has created a solution that will let you have the best of both worlds. Say hello to the BMW R00, the world’s first bolt-on electric drivetrain for vintage motorcycles.

The idea for the R00 came from the trend of converting classic cars to electric power. While this is relatively easy for cars, it becomes a challenge when it comes to motorcycles. The original design of vintage motorcycles, with their exposed frames, makes it hard to hide the electric powertrain. Additionally, most electric motorcycle conversions lose the iconic characteristics of the bike due to their bulky battery boxes and hub motors. However, LM Creations set out to design an electric drivetrain that would replace the existing crankcase, maintain the gearbox, and keep the motorcycles’ engine characteristics intact.

The BMW R-Series was chosen as the starting point for the R00 due to its iconic engine design and popularity in the custom scene. However, any pre-unit drivetrain, such as BMW, Moto Guzzi, vintage Triumphs, Harley Davidsons, URAL, and English brands, are suitable for conversion. The engineering involved in designing the new casting for the motor housing and battery pack that fits the original frame, as well as all the necessary and safety components, was a significant undertaking.

The LM Creations team wanted to uphold the excitement of riding a custom or vintage motorcycle, including the sound and experience of shifting, revving, torque, and turning heads. The R00 has a unique sound, combining the whine of a supercharger and a JET turbine, along with incredible torque. Instead of a fixed-geared E-drive, the R00 maintains the gearbox, allowing riders to take off in any gear and switch gears any way they like. The ability to play around with the torque and power wheelies was never possible with the original BMW R-Series engine.

In a nutshell, the R00 has a 72V power unit capable of a max peak up to 20kw and 72Nm with a max RPM of 7500. It has a new aluminum cast housing, which comes in black or silver. The urban range is 80km, thanks to the 4.3kwh battery pack that weighs just 24kg, only 2kg more than the original gas tank. The charge cycles are more than 2000, equivalent to approximately 160,000 km. The charger comes in two options, a 1.8 or 3.3 kw 230V charger, and a gel coat paint-ready fiberglass shell. The R00 is bolted on to R-type airhead engines from 1969 to 1995 (R45-R100).

The BMW 11kw EV kit 4.3kwh battery with a 1.8kw charger retails for €8950, while the BMW 11kw EV kit 4.3kwh battery with a 3.3kw charger costs €9450 (excluding shipping). For pre-orders, LM Creations includes a free ROEG helmet. LM Creations also offers an option to have the kit installed for an additional €1450 (cover paint and gearbox rebuild not included), and custom modifications to the bike are available for an extra cost.

The R00 is a revolutionary electric motorcycle that offers the best of both worlds. It maintains the excitement and experience of riding a vintage motorcycle while eliminating noise and pollution. LM Creations has taken up the challenge of designing and engineering a bolt-on electric drivetrain for vintage motorcycles and has done an exceptional job. The R00 is the first of many innovations to come, and we can’t wait to.

If you are ready for a fika, join RGNT Motorcycles in Årsunda (Sweden) next weekend 24-25th February, where they are looking to set a new electric motorcycle speed record on ice!

What is a fika you might ask? Well, it is a Swedish custom where you take a break from your activities to drink coffee, eat cake, and relax with others.
So, we’ve been invited to join the fika, but what’s going on over there in Sweden?

Well, RGNT Motorcycles is a young (founded 2019) Swedish electric motorcycle manufacturer who pride themselves on sourcing and manufacturing all components of their motorcycles as locally as possible. They also say they are wildly ambitious, aiming to push new boundaries all the time. And what better place for a native Swedish motorcycle brand to do that, than on a frozen Swedish lake?
To beat the World Speed Record on Ice for EV-motorcycles, they started project Aurora – bringing together all RGNT’s 40-some employees during evening hours and on weekends to build a complete in house designed and hand-built custom motorcycle.

While RGNT “plan to silence boulevards, backroads and beaches globally by quickly expanding”, what sets them apart – in my view – in the fast-growing market of electric motorcycles is that they are also passionate about iconic motorcycle design. Their bikes – in any case the two models they brought to market so far, the Classic and the Scrambler, are, in their words: “an ode to classic design – from the days when machines were built to last.” “Premium components, groundbreaking tech and hand-crafted details add up to an exclusive, state-of-the-art motorcycle.”

This desire to not only perform but also look great really shows in the Aurora project.
Taking the RGNT No. 1 Classic SE production model as its starting point, the team modified several components in the battery to maximize power output. They unlocked the software and power output of the drivetrain, and built a full aerodynamic lightweight fairing. Resulting in an EV racer with a peak power of close to 30 kW (standard 21 kW). Add spike-studded tires and you’re ready to go! RGNT-engineer Timmy Eriksson is all geared up to race Aurora next weekend, aiming to break the current electric motorcycle speed record on ice….

Check www.landracing.events for more details of the races at Årsunda, and check out RGNT’s site for more info and pics: rgnt-motorcycles.com.

It’s electric
Okay, let’s start by answer some burning questions. Yes, it’s electric. Yes, you miss sound and vibration. Yes, you miss shifting gears and the feeling of being directly connected by the clutch. And yes, you have to get used to it. But no: it is not the end of the world!

Electric motorcycles have been around for a while now and there are still die-hard motorcycle enthusiasts who maintain, with some persistence, that they never want to be seen on such a thing. Or that ‘the fun stops as soon as you can’t put any more petrol in it’. Or something like that. And then the comments come from the other side, it becomes a fight and the conversation, if it ever was one with so many rigid attitudes, gets bogged down in a kind of bingo card with cliché remarks and it’s done, until the next time. This is that next time, so I’ll get right to it.

Especially with a back-to-back comparison, it stands out even more; you miss some of the sensations you would normally get on a petrol powered motorcycle. But that doesn’t make it bad; it’s just different. And I’m certainly a firm believer in internal combustion engines myself. The bonus of sound, feeling and experience is not something you can ignore. Do yourself a favor though, you might want to keep an open mind.

The Experia Experience
The Experia is Energica’s latest model and after a supersport, naked and retro naked, Energica has now gone for a real Adventure bike style. Pretty ambitious, because you immediately think ‘cases, payload, aerodynamics and mileage’. Not the things you think of with an electric motorcycle, so my curiosity was piqued. Quite simply, if they have an answer to this, you could call it a breakthrough. If this succeeds, every other genre is a cinch and you have swept aside almost all, if not all, objections.

Energica does not cut back on materials or suppliers; the Experia is no exception. And they go even further, because for an Adventure bike you need even more than the minimum. Different suspension, luggage racks and panniers to name but a few, but also totally new bodywork, without losing the characteristic Energica look. New on the Experia are the charging ports on the side, with 2 different plug options. There are different power settings, with a possibility for a custom map. This allows for a personalised power delivery and regeneration. The electric motor itself has been improved for economy and performance. Just take a look at these specifications:

POWER: Continuous: 60kW/80Hp at 7000 rpm – Peak: 75kW/102Hp at 7500 rpm
TORQUE: 115 Nm / 85 ft lb. – 900 Nm / 664 ft lb. at wheel
TOP SPEED: Limited at 180 km/h (112 mph)
ACCELERATION: 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph): 3.5 sec
RANGE:

• City: 420 km (261 miles)
• Combined: 256 km (160 miles)
• Extra-Urban: 208 km (130 miles)
• WMTC: 222 km (138 miles)

Nimble
The single biggest advantage that Energica has now embraced is mass. Indeed, up until now, electric motors have still been on the heavy side. That’s fairly inevitable, the batteries and motor are just heavy. But… an average Adventure often is too. And with that Energica erases one of the biggest objections; the Experia is not much heavier than an average competitor with a claimed weight of 260kg.

In terms of ride quality, we’ve never had anything to complain about with this brand, and now that the details have been addressed as well, we can get ready for an exhilarating ride. And am not disappointed immediately after. The best part: the instant power delivery. Holy cow this thing goes. As the speed increases, so does my confidence.  There’s something about the sound the electric motor makes that makes it addictive. The Experia also feels lightfooted, almost nimble; a rare combination on an Adventure bike of this size. Those that are brave could venture off road. We stuck to the tarmac this time, but see no problem in the Experia going anywhere a BMW GS would go.

Energica has mastered the art of mass centralization. Their engineers have succeeded beautifully in getting the center of gravity in the right, balanced place so that you can actually just point and shoot. Just like a regular motorcycle. The frame is top-notch, the suspension is great and the controls are intuitive. It’s incredibly predictable, overwhelmingly powerful and super comfortable. Maybe except for the windscreen, which is adjustable, but not super effective.

Got juice?
And that load capacity? Look at the specifications and you know. Of course you have to recharge every so often, but now you only have to combine that with a cup of coffee instead of a three-course lunch. And you were on vacation, right? Who’s in a hurry then? With the various connection options you can charge wherever you want, whether it’s at a Tesla fast charging station or a half-decayed, cobwebby outlet in a farmer’s barn. Okay, the latter will take longer and you have to make sure that you do not start a fire, but it is possible. Literally anywhere. And once full you can really go a long way with it, before you have to look again. I would like to try it in practice for a realistic impression though. But it already promises a lot and it is anyway better than what we were used to so far. Only question I have is how it will work with a passenger and luggage added to the mix, but that too is a nice idea to figure out.

CAPACITY: Max. 22.5 kWh / Nominal 19.6 kWh – lithium polymer
LIFE: 1200 Cycles @ 80% Capacity (100% DOD)
RECHARGE:

• Fast Charge DCFC Level 3 Mode 4: 400 km/h o 6,7 km/min (248 miles/h o 4 miles/min)
• Slow Charge Level 2 Mode 2 or 3: 63,5 km/h (39,5 miles/h)

So. Conclusion? I think it’s swell. As I said at the beginning, it’s irrefutably different, but that really doesn’t make it, by any means, totally and utterly, the end of the world. If electric motorcycles really do go this way, I’m looking forward to it. One by one the differences and objections will disappear and you’ll just be left with a super-thick, really cool motorcycle. And if you disagree, you are welcome to prove me wrong.

Photo credits: Vincent Burger

Energica Motorcycles

Indian Motorcycle will bring the spirit of America’s first motorcycle company to Biarritz, France from June 29 to July 3, continuing their long relationship as headline sponsor of the Wheels and Waves festival. Sharing a common belief in embracing the past to push forward into the future, Indian Motorcycle and Wheels and Waves have enjoyed a strong association for 7 years with Indian Motorcycle as headline sponsor for 6 years.

Now in its 11^th year, the Wheels and Waves festival mixes the various influences of motorcycles, surfing, skating, music and art for a unique experience that has become a ‘must see’ event for riders, skaters and surfers from across Europe and beyond.

Indian Motorcycle at Wheels and Waves 2022

Discover Indian Motorcycle – June 29 to July 3

Indian Motorcycle will be at the heart of the Wheels and Wave village with a display of motorcycles and customs builds plus a clothing and accessories retail area that will also stock the special Indian Motorcycle x Wheels and Waves collaboration T-Shirt. Festival goers will also be impressed by the gravity-defying exploits of pre-war Indian Motorcycle riders on the Wall Of Death, an ever popular fixture in the event village.

Indian FTR at Punk’s Peak – June 29

Punk’s Peak is just a short ride to Mont Jaizkibel, Spain and sees 128 riders in 400 metre duals on vintage to modern bikes at the famous sprint event. Dimitri Coste, photographer, Gentleman Racer and ambassador of Indian Motorcycle, will take on the challenge at handlebars of an Indian FTR in the Superbike +100hp category. Punk’s Peak takes place on Wednesday, June 29.

Artride – June 30 to July 3

Indian Motorcycle, in collaboration with Wheels & Waves, commissioned four European builders in December to design their vision of an Indian Chief inspired from the past, anchored in the present, and looking towards the future. Chosen through a combination of public vote and a panel of Super-Voters, the winning design, ‘GRIND Machine’ by Tank Machine x Rise Designs, will be on display at the Artride exhibition. Among other Indian Motorcycles on display, there will also be a special collaboration with a special artist in the Indian motorcycle area. The Artride exhibition opens on the evening of June 30 and runs throughout the event at the Skatepark, Biarritz

Indian eFTR Mini Cup – July 1

New for the 2022 edition of Wheels & Waves is the eFTR Mini cup. Taking place on Friday, July 1st at 7pm, the eFTR Mini Cup will see these electric mini motorcycles, originally designed for children, raced on a circuit in the heart of the WAW village. In addition, an eFTR Mini is available to be won and will be awarded at the end of the race! To participate, a ballot box will be available on the Indian Motorcycle stand in the festival village from the June 28 opening of the event.

Presentation of ‘Grind Machine’ – July 2

As part of the public vote that chose Tank Machine x Rise Designs ‘GRIND Machine’ to be realised and displayed at the WAW Artride, a random draw from the more than 35000 public voters selected Fabien Orquin to be the very lucky owner of ‘GRIND Machine’.

Benefitting from a VIP trip to the 2022 Wheels & Waves festival, Fabien will be presented with his customised Indian Chief on the main stage of the festival village at 7pm on Saturday July 2.

For more information on Wheels & Waves 2021 please visit: wheels-and-waves.com

For more information on Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.eu and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®

Indian Motorcycle is America’s first motorcycle company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivalled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion are reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.eu

INDIAN and INDIAN MOTORCYCLE are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International, LLC. Always wear a helmet, protective clothing and eyewear and insist your passenger does the same.  Ride within the limits of the law and your own abilities. Read, understand, and follow your owner’s manual. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

ABOUT WHEELS & WAVES

Founded in 2008, Wheels and Waves is the successful realisation of the dream of a group of friends, the Southsiders, who are passionate about motorcycles. Lovers of the Basque Country, Southsiders have brought together hundreds of like-minded individuals who gather in the spirit of companionship. “Wheels and Waves is about eliminating social barriers and bringing different sets of people together without judgement. It’s about the joy of mixing together all kinds of communities, languages and cultures. It’s about living in the present without being nostalgic for the past, but not losing sight of the best moments of the past.”

http://www.wheels-and-waves.com