Look Dapper & Live Free On These NZ designed Electric Motorcycles
Who would have guessed New Zealand has three brands of electric motorcycles? Ubco, FTN Motion and Arlington each occupy a different spot in this new category. They are doing great things in a typically innovative Kiwi way. I’ve ridden all of them and they all excel. While one is a Farm bike, the other two are really what I see is a new category of Urban Mobility : Compact, speedy, fun, at home in the city, great with your wardrobe.
Ubco
I learned to ride on farms with my best friend Cameron, falling off was a rite of passage and a common occurrence. Mastering control in rain and mud while herding or mustering, taught valuable skills – going slow requires far more skill than speed. With extensive experience in challenging conditions and falling off, I put the bikes through gravel, potholes, dips, and ruts – they remained resolutely stable. Two-wheel-drive gives far more traction in all conditions, you can do more without losing grip, even with first-time riders.
Mt Maunganui NZ based Ubco produces a range of world-first 2-wheel drive from its founding in 2014. They’ve garnered great reviews and many awards, yet I’m never one to take others’ opinions so I looked for a challenge. I took two bikes to a massive festival on a farm, figuring an off-road electric bike would be ideal for navigating the 10-acre site – and for 9 days, these bikes excelled. We didn’t take it easy on them; the bikes endured all conditions, even allowing me to live my dream of riding through evenly planted cornrows, a scene straight out of movies.
Immediately popular among the festival crew, covering long distances across the event space effortlessly. Their silence made them fabulous for navigating through hordes of tents leaving the occupants sound asleep. I see these bikes taking over on farms (and at festivals). And talk about low maintenance… We barely needed to charge them despite constant use.
Proving capable and popular, excelling on challenging terrain with its stability, traction, and ease of use make UBCOs a no-brainer if you have a job offroad. Ubco is having significant international export success, and after riding them I can see why!
FTN Motion
The FTN Motion Street Dog just fitted into my life. During my test week, this stylish vehicle became my go-to for any trip around town for me or with a pillion. With a range of over 70 ks and a top speed that keeps pace with urban traffic, it’s hard not to love.
The suspension and handling are surprisingly good. Quality tyres and predictable handling made it easy and safe to ride. The braking and handling inspire confidence, making it a well-made, compact piece of kit. Officially a moped, it can be driven with a car license and has a capped top speed of around 50 kph.
The storage available in the front compartment is significant. Enough for a jacket, a compact helmet, gloves, and more. There’s even room for a spare battery if needed. Charging is easy and quick from a wall socket, and the charger fits neatly in the storage, you can take it anywhere on city streets.
The FTN Motion Street Dog comes with an attractive touchscreen display, three different power settings, and an alarm with a contact fob to start it. It’s well-appointed and falls somewhere between a scooter and a motorcycle—a new category that’s hard to define but easy to appreciate. FTN Motion Is a Hamilton New Zealand based company aiming to make stylish functional electric motorbikes and from what we can see, they are doing a great job.
You can look them up online or visit the ASUWERE store in Newmarket.
Arlington
Arlington Motorcycles, founded in New Zealand in 2020, is redefining stylish mobility with their unique A1. This ultra-compact bike, designed for urban environments, turns heads wherever it goes. It’s rideable on a car license so just about anyone can ride one. Unashamedly focused on being the most stylish bike out there, Arlington does a fine job.
I had the pleasure of riding the A1 for a week, both in everyday life and for a special event. Its usability and fun factor made daily commutes a breeze, and its distinctive style stood out amongst hundreds of other bikes at the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride where I was proud to be dressed by Ronald of RJB Design himself!
Ian Meredith, the man behind the A1, has a real passion for creating beautiful motorbikes. Based on rider feedback, the company is constantly evolving the bike, with a new vision for the future already in the works as they aim to make the worlds most stylish urban motorcycle. And stylish it is and this sexy little wonder is extremely engaging to ride both for beginners and those who have been riding for decades!
The A1 is a lifestyle statement. Its stylish design and effortless operation set it apart from old-school mopeds, defining this new category of urban mobility. Once you experience the A1’s charm, you won’t want to be without it.
You can often see one at RJB design, or find them online: