When you think of it, there’s nothing in common between origami and motorcycles. After all, the former is defined as the art of paper folding, while the latter is a two-wheeled automobile. But Swedish bikemaker Stilride is all set to change that with its new electric motorcycle. Dubbed the Stilride 1, the new EV is crafted from an “industrial origami” process which helps avoid welding and preserve steel. Let’s check it out.
The Stilride 1 Redefines Environment-Friendly
Being good for the environment is a key task for EVs, and the Stilride 1 scores full marks here. Credit here goes to its unique chassis, carved entirely from recycled steel sheets. These sheets are folded together by an “industrial origami” process, instead of traditional welding. Not only does this limit the number of components (thus, the EV is easier to recycle), but it also has a bespoke texture from head to toe. The design itself, however, is….well, unorthodox, especially for a two-wheeler that’s dubbed a light “electric motorcycle”. Nevertheless, it’ll surely turn heads wherever it goes.
Diving deeper, the chassis suspends on upside-down forks and monoshock, alongside 13-inch wheels. Both wheels wear ISR disc brake systems (210 mm front/195 mm rear), complete with a dual-channel ABS. All this helps it tip the scale at 286 pounds, albeit with a rather tall 810 mm seat height (considering its small wheels).
The Stilride 1 Has A 60-MPH Top Speed And 75-Mile Range
Under its sustainable skin, the Stilride 1 employs a PMSM hub motor that produces 8 kW (peak; 10.7 horsepower), good enough for a top speed of 100 kph (60mph). This is mated to a 5.1 kWh Li-ion battery pack, which offers a 75-mile range (WMTC tested). And when out of charge, you’ll have to wait for four hours to juice back to full battery. There’s no word on fast-charging compatibility or the drop in range at high speeds, though. Similarly, the feature list remains unclear, although we can spot all LED lights and a digital instrument cluster. Stilride also claims it has smartphone connectivity, which enables theft protection, geographical positioning, service diagnostics, and battery status control.
The Stilride 1 Retails At Over $16,000
The Swedish bikemaker has priced its first product at 15,000 Euros ($16,292), with deliveries destined for next year. The first lot of motorcycles will be called the Limited Founders Edition, and will feature special details - numbered badges, black details, black fenders - to mark Stilride’s debut. If interested, pre-bookings are now open via the company website. Would you buy this (provided it lives up to the numbers)? Let us know in the comments.