Two Motors, No Kidding? Meet the Quirky French E-bike That Isn't Afraid to be Different
Okay, the French aren't messing around this time. Usually, it's fancy pastries, snails, baguettes... the typical stuff. But hold onto your berets, because this ain't your grand-mère's Peugeot moped. Say hello to the Motowatt W1X, the two-wheeled oddball that wants to reinvent your city commute.
Picture this: two electric motors. Yeah, one for each wheel. It's an all-wheel-drive electric motorcycle - just what your Parisian pothole-dodging heart desires. The Motowatt folks say this thing is the urban warrior we've been waiting for – quiet, zippy, and loaded with enough torque to leave those delivery scooters in the dust. And if you want to haul cargo, they've got boxes and cases you can strap on - who needs a minivan when you can look this eccentric?
The W1X is packing something called a "cantilever front suspension." I swear, these guys just make stuff up to sound complicated. In reality, it looks like someone bolted a fancy girder fork from the 1920s on the front. Hey, if it works, it works. But it’s not without some quirkiness – I just know if it was raining, mud would fling across the entire front of the bike and up your raincoat if you're not careful. Oh, the joys of open-design elements!
Now, here's where things get interesting. They claim this little e-bike has a range of around 81 miles (130 km). Not too shabby, eh? Perfect for zipping to that trendy café across town without the stink of petrol fumes lingering in your croissant. That is, unless the smell of wet dog becomes your new perfume after riding in the rain, thanks to that oh-so-practical front end!
They don't specify any crazy acceleration figures, but hey, it's not like you'll be drag racing this quirky thing at the traffic lights. Besides, with that all-wheel-drive system, you might surprise a few folks when the light turns green. I’d personally love to try a wheelie off the line - imagine the confused faces…
But let's talk about the pink gorilla no one’s mentioning - the price. Motowatt wants €15,000, which translates to an eye-watering $16,152, for this quirky e-bike. Ouch. That's the price of freedom in the land of high-end fashion and overpriced coffee, I guess. To put it in perspective, for that kind of money, you could buy a perfectly good (and used) gasoline-powered car. A real car, with windows. And a roof. Especially important if you like staying dry and warm in the rain…
Look, I’m all for electric. But let's not forget competitors like Zero Motorcycles. Yeah, they stick to the whole "one motor" business, but at least their bikes actually resemble regular motorcycles. Then again, there's the whole "fun factor." Is two tiny motors more fun than one powerful one? Does it give your city commute a little extra... je ne sais quoi when you pass by a café? Hmm, decisions, decisions.
I must admit, after the weirdness settles, this two-motor French oddity intrigues me. I might just have to book a test ride when deliveries begin in 2025. Now, where's the nearest artisanal bakery? My stomach may not agree with this Motowatt contraption, but at least my pastry will be delicious.
