We haven’t heard much from Bultaco in a long time. Once the darling of the seventies dirt bike, the company faded into the twilight zone only to come back with a zinger… an electric motorcycle.
The Spanish race motorcycle is back
Bultaco is unveiling two prototypes, the Rapitan and Rapitan Sport, both electric motorcycles. Both will also the sport custom-developed powerplant Bultaco Powercore eMK1, putting out a decent 40 kW (53 hp) and 92 lb.-f) of torque (125 Nm) electric motor. Still, we find the weight to be a tad on the high side, considering the performance, with 189 kg (416 lb). They will have a Hossack type of front end suspension. The range looks impressive with 125 miles (200 km) driving around town, plenty for everyday use.
Better regenerative braking
Bultaco claims their regenerative braking technology is superior to that of others. The Bultaco Drive Train System (DTS) allows for a maximum energy recouping from regenerative braking. In essence, the system works by using the chassis to maximize the rear wheels adherence during braking. In other words, the electrical braking torque not only helps slow down the bike, but shunts that lost energy back into the battery pack. We would like to see how this feels on the road.
We’re happy to see another famous motorcycle maker turn its attention to electric motorcycles. As Lightning Motorcycle unveiled the toughest, meanest and most incredible motorcycle we’ve laid eyes on, the LS-218, that happens to be electric, we see a great future for electric motorcycles with Bultaco getting into the game.
