The Vectrix Scooter is advertised as an alternative to gas powered vehicles. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
This electric bike has zip to spare
The Vectrix, available at a handful of dealers across the country, is the latest entry into the American scooter market. Trust us: you'll be wearing a torque-happy grin.
By Clayton Collins | October 26, 2007 edition
Ah, bittersweet October: the year’s best riding weather and a motorcyclist’s thoughts turn to fuel stabilizer and the rites of winterization.
Something to mull over in the off-season: Vectrix, an electric bike (60 miles on a couple hours’ charge) that’s quick, quiet, and emissions-free.
Long staples in Europe and Asia, scooters have grown as an option for US urbanites, with evolutionary models rolling up from time to time. (Britain has a fuel-cell bike, ENV, that we’re eager to try.)
Dealers in a handful of states now offer the US-designed, Polish-built Vectrix ($11,000), which its maker holds up against 400-cc. motorcycles in terms of performance.
With a 14-inch front wheel (13-inch rear), some highway use is possible. Best feature: a “bi-directional” throttle. Roll it back and you’re off. Roll it forward and you save wear on the Brembo brakes with firm engine braking that’s also regenerative.
The 462-lb. bike is agile, its weight well-distributed, seat height a pleasant 30 in.; We snaked left at a city stoplight, twisted the throttle, and wore a torque-happy grin as Vectrix surged to 60 m.p.h. (acceleration is listed as 0-50 in 6.8 seconds).
Plan on tapping the horn to alert pedestrians – it’s quiet.
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