While it seems that riders are warming up to electric powertrains more and more nowadays, said riders are still attracted by sleek lines and classic design. That's what French electric startup Sodium Cycles is counting on with the Xubaka, its first electric motorcycle. Channeling vintage BMX energy and with a name only a Wookiee could pronounce correctly on the first try, this new EV combines form and function in one rad package.
Xubaka has been in the works for a few
years now, and is currently on display at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s
powered by a 4kW hub-mounted motor which Sodium says offers between 60 and 80
kilometers of range on a single charge. Top speed is
limited to 45 kmh in the E.U., although the top speed will
be closer to 50 mph in the U.S. Charge time for the battery is four hours using
a standard plug.
The design is simple and clean, with the
battery mounting at the lowest point in the frame, keeping the center of gravity
as low in the unit as possible. A round headlight and small, round, digital
gauge keeps the front of the bike uncluttered. The simple handlebars and
controls pair nicely with the sleek, minimalist look of the tube frame, which
is available in a range of colors to suit rider tastes.
Chrome fenders, wire-spoke wheels, and a
split saddle complete the particular vein of retro-modern styling that Sodium
Cycles seems to have tapped with Xubaka’s design. Interestingly, Sodium says
that most of the Xubaka’s components—as well as the final bike itself—are made
in France. It’s possible to contact Sodium to express interest in this bike
right now. At CES 2022, a representative told YouTube channel Electric Vehicles
that the expected cost should be US$ 5,000.
