BRD
RedShift SM
That’s
where BRD’s creation, the US$ 15,495 RedShift SM may be a game-changer. It’s a
full-fledged race bike, designed to dominate in the 250 classes on Sunday and
then get ridden to work on Monday. It’s the result of an ongoing three-year
quest to produce a home-grown production electric motorcycle, a priceless
prototype representing many thousands of development hours and VC dollars and
we were invited to ride it around town.
It’s a hardcore
competition machine dreamed up when the four-stroke 250 motocross class came
into being. That means
top-notch everything: rigid aluminum motocross chassis, race-spec
suspension,
top-shelf Brembo brakes—it’s the real deal, and riders report reduced lap times
compared to gas-powered bikes with similar power-to-weight ratios (40
horsepower pushing 250 pounds in race trim), thanks to the ease of use provided
by the smooth powerband and lack of shifting.
5.2 kwh is enough for several
sessions on the supermoto track, or 30-60 miles of spirited city riding. The BRD
batteries are the most energy-dense on the market. The
throttle is sensitive and responsive, as are the brakes, it was
actually tractable and pleasant, with the exception of having explosive
acceleration and brick-wall brakes that probably won’t suffer fools. The Super
Plush suspension was…super plush, but controlled, and the handling up Twin Peaks
was as effortless and fast as you’d expect—just like a well-sorted supermoto
should be. Freeway cruising wasn’t as pleasant—it topped out around 75 mph and though the motor didn’t feel strained, it was clear it
was tapped out, as would a 250 supermoto at those speeds.
To appreciate this bike, you have to enjoy the fast-paced,
madcap riding style some urban motorcyclists practice: blasting through
construction zones, crossing over sidewalks, squeezing in between impossibly
tiny gaps in traffic, wheelieing and speeding everywhere, getting big air on
the crests of steep hills. All these things, are, of course, ill-advised and
illegal, but that doesn’t mean we don’t practice
them from time to time. We are, after all, human and subject to moments of
weakness.
The
BRD Redshift would be an ideal partner in crime for the well-heeled urban
motorcyclist—as well as a fun, competitive tool for the supermoto track.
Source
: motorcycledaily
