Motorcycle specifications TacitaT-CRUISE 2018 Electron cruising

Sports, roadster, trail, enduro. The electricity fairy is patiently conquering the different ways of enjoying motorcycling. Numerous small start-ups are embarking on the adventure, with the major manufacturers in no hurry to throw any stone into the pond. Oh yes, Harley with its LiveWire......, but when will that be? Meanwhile, on the Italian side, we're digging deeper. Tacita stands out with a surprising machine: the T-CRUISE.

When you see it, you feel the same heavy atmosphere as in the film "Black Rain". The greasy black look reminds us of the old Harley Night Train and 1400 Intruder of a not-so-distant past. This bike smells of wet dog, cold cigars on the bedside table and coal impatient to be crushed. And yet, it's far from gas-guzzling. The T-Cruise is an electric custom, one of the few of its kind. This motorization doesn't pretend to break the neck of competing twins, which are almost timeless and inseparable from the category; but it does offer a DC alternative. The Tacita has several arguments in its favor, and 3 in particular. Customers can choose from several power packs, varying watts, autonomy and price. To sum up:

- The simplest pack, with a 7.5 kWh battery, delivers the equivalent of 38 bhp at 5000 rpm, 60 Nm of torque and a range of 81 km. Battery life is rated at 162,000 kms, and charging time varies from 2 hrs (using a standard 220 V socket) to 40 min with the super-fast charger spitting out 200 Amps. For $10,999 a wheel.
- With the 15 kWh pack, things get more serious. Range rises to 149 kms, power to 41 hp and torque to 70 Nm. The battery will last 298,000 kms, and charging time has been cut to 4 and a half hours - but still 40 minutes with the super charger. For $14,999.
- Moving on to the manufacturer's top model, the 27 kWh pack. Same power as the 15 kWh, but 270 km of autonomy, 540,000 km of life expectancy and a charge time ranging from 7 hrs to 40 min. On the other hand, it comes with a hefty price tag: over $24,999.

There are a few aspects that might make you cringe, such as the spoked wheels (spokes are more suited to the category) and the chain drive. However, certain codes are respected, such as a duo of side shocks on a simplistic swingarm, gussets on the 41 mm fork, DragBar handlebars, front foot controls (adjustable to 3 positions) and the ignition key to be inserted on the side of the machine. Braking is dual-action: during deceleration phases, the drivetrain recharges itself - in parallel, the basic function of slowing down when the lever is gripped is provided by a single 280 mm front disc bitten by a 3-piston caliper. At the rear, it is coupled to a 240 mm disc.

There's even a 5-speed gearbox. Yet electric motorcycles tend to dispense with this transmission intermediary. But that's not the only surprise. There's also a reverse gear and two types of mapping - Eco or Sport.

I was talking about pricing in dollars. After all, this Italian custom is mainly intended for the American market. In fact, that's where it'll have the best chance of breaking through. Nothing has been said about an attempt on the French market.

M.B - Manufacturer media