Verge's Electric Bike Does a Whopping Road Trip
Image Credit: Verge Motorcycles.
Every time I see it, I'm amazed by it: a motorcycle with a hole in its back wheel. A huge gaping hole right where all the gubbins were supposed to be. But if that wasn't enough, this crazy contraption, the Verge TS Pro, decided to take a little jaunt from Monaco to Madrid. You know, just a casual 850-mile road trip. In 24 hours.
Haven't we all seen some wild two-wheeled creations over the years? Sure, but they were mostly concept motorcycles. This one, on the other hand, is as real as you and me, and for that reason it takes the cake. Or, the donut. Verge seems to have decided to delete the drivetrain and stick an electric motor in the rim. And honestly, I'm kinda into it.
Image Credit: Verge Motorcycles.
The numbers are spectacular - this electric beast has a mind-boggling 737.5 lb-ft of torque. And it zips from 0 to 60 mph in a snappy 3.5 seconds. Plus, it claims a range of 217 miles on a single charge. Of course, that's if you're not trying to break the sound barrier. As it turns out, going over 60 mph for extended periods will cut that down to around 155 miles. Who knew?
Thankfully, TS Pro can fast charge to 80% in just 35 minutes, which is perfect for a quick pit stop to stretch your legs after riding for a couple of hours - all we need is a reliable charger… And with a top speed of 125 mph, you can outrun most of your problems. Or at least, get to the next charging station really, really fast.
All that fast charging and that range became very useful when the Verge team decided to put their motorcycle through its paces. Usually, 800+ miles on two wheels would take a few days to complete, but the boys went ambitious - 850 miles in 24 hours. All the way from Monaco to Madrid. That's really brave… Anyhow - you can watch how that trip went right here:
Since this is an electric bike, it's got all the bells and whistles: regenerative braking, heated grips, ride modes – the works. And all this cutting-edge tech comes at a price. A cool $29,900. Ouch. But I guess you gotta pay to play, right?
Verge Motorcycles, formerly known as RMK Vehicle Corporation, has been turning heads since they unveiled the TS Ultra. That hubless design? It's like something out of a sci-fi movie. I mean, who looks at a motorcycle and thinks, "You know what this needs? A giant hole in the back!" But I'm so glad Verge did it - it works. Sort of.
I'm not saying this road trip is the new Cannonball Run. Coast-to-coast in the US is still the ultimate test of endurance. But what this European journey does prove is that we're past the point where we're all squinting at EVs, wondering if they'll even make it to the grocery store. Guess what - they're not just making it to the grocery store; they're making it to Madrid. And doing it with a hole in their back wheel. Honestly, I'm impressed.
Image Credit: Verge Motorcycles.
I think the Verge team picked the best way to show off the TS's skills - and who doesn't love a good road trip story, anyway? Especially one that involves a futuristic motorcycle and a whole lot of charging stops. Watching it almost felt like watching a modern-day Odyssey, but with more electric outlets and fewer cyclops.
Seriously, hats off to Verge Motorcycles for pushing the boundaries of what's possible. They've shown us that electric bikes can go the distance, even if they look like they're missing a part.
