Electric Motorcycle Goes the Extra Mile - and Then Some
Image Credit: Verge Motorcycles.
I have a tale for you today that's juicier than a perfectly ripe Spanish orange! Just when I thought I'd seen most of the things out there to be seen, along comes a story that makes my eyebrows arch higher than a startled cat's back.
For a while now, the buzz around electric motorcycles has been a bit like watching a snail race, hasn't it? Great potential, lovely idea, but always that nagging question of "Can it actually go the distance?" Range anxiety, my friends, has been the unspoken dinner guest in every electric bike conversation. Well - that chapter is history now because Verge Motorcycles just rode into town and kicked that anxiety right off the curb!
The clever clogs over at Verge decided to silence the naysayers in the most spectacular way possible: by smashing the Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by an electric motorcycle on a single charge. And they didn't just do it on some sterile test track with nary a soul in sight. Instead, they took their sleek TS Pro out for a proper spin through the glorious chaos of London traffic. Real stop-and-go, dodging those iconic red buses and navigating the delightful dance of roundabouts.
Our intrepid riders, the EV gurus Sam Clarke and Sara Sloman, tag-teamed the journey, switching every hour like a well-oiled machine. For nearly sixteen hours, they zipped and zoomed through the city and its outskirts, racking up a staggering 193 miles! That's like riding from, say, New York City to Philadelphia and back - and still having enough juice to grab a cheesesteak!
Image Credit: Verge Motorcycles.
When they finally crossed the finish line, the bike still had around 7% battery left. Seven percent! That's like saying you've finished a marathon and then casually suggesting a quick jog around the block. It makes you wonder just how much further this silent stallion could have gone. Perhaps they could have popped over to see the Queen for tea?
The Verge TS Pro is a proper head-turner, especially with that hubless rear wheel where the electric motor resides. It looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie! And it's not just about looks. This beauty packs 136.7 horsepower and 737.5 pound-feet of torque. That's enough oomph to launch you from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. With absolutely no roar - just a high-pitched whine reminding us this is the future that we are riding.
Okay, I agree that at 540 pounds, it might feel a tad hefty for complete newbies, but if you've ever ridden a Harley you'll get used to it. And with all the bells and whistles like ABS, traction control, fancy Brembo brakes, toasty heated handgrips (essential for those chilly London rides!), and a top-of-the-line Öhlins suspension, you'll be cruising in comfort and style. Oh, and did I mention the cruise control? Perfect for those leisurely jaunts… after you've broken a world record, of course.
Being an electric marvel, the TS is brimming with technology. Customizable riding modes to suit your mood (from "Sunday Stroll" to "Hold My Latte, I'm Going In!"), diagnostic monitoring to keep an eye on things, GPS navigation so you don't end up in the wrong London (yes, there are others!), and seamless connectivity for all your gadgets. It even has an AI-powered learning system, all thanks to Verge's clever Starmatter software.
Image Credit: Verge Motorcycles.
And for those of you with a penchant for aesthetics, the TS Pro comes in eight rather fetching color options. Now, for the bit that makes your wallet do a little flutter – the starting price is a rather steep $29,900. Its beefier sibling, the TS Ultra, starts at a heart-stopping $44,900. Considering the record-breaking pedigree of the "entry-level" model, it almost makes a compelling case. Almost. And - wait for it - we can expect to see these electrifying machines on US shores in the third quarter of this year. Better start saving those pennies!
Verge's Chief Marketing Officer, Lauri Laukkanen, put it rather nicely, saying this record proves what their "unique technology and proprietary architecture are actually capable of." And you know what? I wholeheartedly agree. They didn't just whisper about electric potential; they shouted it from the rooftops of London with a 193-mile ride. I'm going to be the first to say this: The electric revolution is well and truly underway, and Verge is leading the charge.
