From Dust to Thunder: The Electrifying Comeback of Nimbus Motorcycles

Well, grab your popcorn, folks! Denmark, the country best known for its love of all things green and pickled herring, is revving its engines in the motorcycle arena once again. Remember Nimbus? If you do, congratulations! You've just revealed your age. If you don't, well, it's the Danish brand that went for a very long winter hibernation after its glory days from 1919 to 1960.

Once upon a time, Nimbus was the lone Viking on the battlefield of motorcycle manufacturing, popping out drool-worthy bikes with inline four-cylinder engines. Now, like a mythological hero of yore, it's rising from the ashes with a brand-new warrior — the Nimbus Type E. Yes, it's electric. Yes, it's a motorcycle. And yes, it's still very Danish.

The Nimbus' journey started when Fisker and Nielsen, renowned for their vacuum cleaners (of all things), decided to swap dust for gas and jumped on the motorcycle bandwagon. Their first model, the "Stovepipe," was born in 1919, boasting a 750cc inline four-cylinder engine, and it was indeed an impressive bit of kit. But then, just as the Type C, an upgraded version, had hit its stride, production ground to a halt. It seems that mass-produced cars were the new cool kids in town. Motorcycle? What motorcycle?

Cue Claus Clausen, the Danish motorcycle whisperer who's planning to spark Nimbus back to life. His dream? A rebirth of the Nimbus as a cutting-edge electric motorcycle christened the Type E but with the classic styling of the good ol' Type C. A nod to the past, a leap into the future. 

Nimbus 1938 Model C

In 2020, Clausen secured a license to use the Nimbus name, and work started in earnest. Raising the dough to back this ambitious project was a bit tricky. Nimbus launched a share offering in July, seeking between 8 and 10 million Danish krone (or about a million and a half bucks, give or take). All that dough is meant to push the e-bicycle into production and also build a prototype of the electric motorcycle.

The bike's official reveal is slated for late 2024, with production hitting the assembly line in the spring of 2025. The teaser images reveal a machine that blends old-world charm with new-age technology. The chassis echoes the hardtail frame of the original Nimbus, hiding a modern swingarm and rear mono-shock underneath the tractor-style saddle. 

But don't expect the growl of an engine here. In its heart rests a substantial battery pack and electronic suite, quietly humming with the promise of clean, green, torquey power. And topping it off is an unusual set of broad, low-set handlebars, which oddly fits the quirky aesthetic Nimbus is going for.

Whether this Nimbus will fly or falter remains to be seen. Numerous factors will decide its fate – price, performance, and of course, whether the Danes are ready to fall in love with their historic motorcycle brand in its new electric avatar. 

So, is Denmark ready for the electrifying ride? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure, the return of Nimbus isn't just a revamp of an old favorite; it's a stroke of brilliance on the canvas of the ever-evolving electric vehicle landscape. Buckle up for the ride!