As EVs gain traction, the percentage of electric motorcycles is rising in the States. And as you’d expect, everyone wants a piece of the pie. While the big players (Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW) continue to take their own sweet time, you can’t help but look at new brands with plenty to offer. One such bikemaker is Britain-based Maeving, which is set to enter the American market soon. It has a gorgeous neo-retro motorcycle for us, ready to compete in the entry-level segment against names like Sondors, Ryvid, and Zero. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Who Is Maeving, And Why Should You Trust It?
Whenever a new brand pops up, the aforementioned questions come to mind. So let’s address these. Maeving is based out of Coventry, United Kingdom, the holy grail of some of the most iconic bikemakers like Triumph, BSA, Norton, and Royal Enfield. It opened its doors in 2018 and the team, though small, comprises several ex-Triumph engineers. Since it is relatively new, all motorcycles are handmade and sold direct-to-customer. Another noteworthy claim is that 65 percent of the cycle parts come from British companies. So there’s no massive Chinese lineage to worry about here.
The Maeving RM1 Oozes Old-School Charm
Instead of the usual futuristic recipe, the Maeving RM1 goes the opposite way. It looks straight from the 90s, thanks to the minimalistic and old-school aesthetic. The noteworthy elements comprise a round LED headlight, long fenders, and an edgy ‘fuel tank’. These are topped by likable attention to detail, courtesy of bar-end mirrors, blacked-out spokes, and the exhaust header-like tube near the battery. Our favorite bit, meanwhile, is the bobber-like saddle. Yes, it can only take one occupant, but hey, who needs pillions anyway?
The simplicity also trickles down to the features. You get a semi-digital instrument cluster, with basic readouts like speed, drive mode, and a battery percentage meter. All-LED and an anti-theft tracker come standard too, along with 2.6 gallons of storage space inside the ‘tank’. There’s no word on app connectivity, however, which is a solid miss. After all, even small electric bikes in the States have this!
The Maeving RM1 Has 118 Pound-Feet Of Torque
Under the skin, the entry-level motorcycle hides a 4.4kW hub-mounted electric motor. It works in tandem with a 2kWh battery pack to enable a 45mph top speed and 40-mile claimed range. But you’d be happy to know the ‘tank’ gobbles up another battery pack (sold separately) that doubles the range. Once out of charge, you can either swap batteries (if you have an extra) or wait for four hours (when the supplied charger is used).
Performance aside, the underpinnings comprise a CrMo steel cradle chassis, suspended on 37 mm upside-down forks and preload-adjustable dual shocks. This is topped by 19/19-inch spoke wheels, wearing a 240 mm and 180 mm disc fore and aft, respectively. The entire package tips the scale at 244 pounds, which, along with its 30.9-inch saddle height, should make it accessible for riders of all sizes.
The Maeving RM1S Has More Power And Range
Need more of everything? Well, then the RM1S will cater to you more. This one has a 65mph top speed and 80 miles of maximum range. Credit here goes to the new, redesigned battery compartment that houses two batteries side by side. So you’ll still have the tank storage for your necessities. To set it apart further, Maeving will sell the RM1S in eleven striking liveries, compared to the seven available on the non-S model. Plus, the second batch of motorcycles will all have carbon fenders front and rear.
When Will The Maeving EVs Arrive In America?
According to the company, the RM1 will arrive in America in Q3 of 2023. That’s right around the corner, and we expect an official launch announcement rather soon. You should expect a near-$8,000 price tag (judging from its UK price), which isn’t too bad for a handmade e-motorcycle. In the meantime, the RM1S will be available in March 2024, at a considerable bump over the base model’s MSRP. We think it’ll still be a job well done, given the quality components used here.
Speaking on the motorcycles, Will Stirrup (co-founder of Maeving) told CycleWorld, “We’ve worked extremely hard to ensure that everything that has made the RM1 so popular with our customers is carried over to the new RM1S, whilst delivering the greater performance that will mean it can be used in a much wider variety of use cases. The original Maeving RM1 has been a huge success for us and, for many riders who stay within inner city limits, it will remain the perfect motorcycle. Adding the RM1S to the collection provides an electric motorcycle for those that need to cover wider geographies at higher speeds.”
What’s your take on the RM1 and RM1S? Would you consider these over American brands like Zero or Ryvid? Comment below and tell us!