Decades ago, Spanish motorcycle brand Bultaco with its thumbs-up logo was among the leaders at building offroad bikes, especially for trials and early motocross competition. However, Japanese competitors eventually took over the scene. Now, the brand is hoping for rebirth in the electric cycle market In Europe with models like the recently launched Rapitan and upcoming Brinco.
Bultaco calls the Brinco a Moto-Bike, but it's what most people would consider a classic moped with pedals being assisted by some source of extra power. In this case, the grunt comes from an electric motor mounted to the rear wheel hub that produces a peak 4 horsepower (3 kilowatts) and 44 pound-feet of torque. It feeds from a one kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery mounted on the frame. The whole setup gives the Brinco an assisted range of about 19 miles, but obviously that can be supplemented by pedaling. A full recharge when hooked up to a wall socket takes about two hours.
While the concept of an electric bicycle isn't new, the Brinco tries to bring something new to the table by latching onto Bultaco's old school, offroad DNA. Up front the bike has an inverted fork suspension with 7.9-inches of travel, and the rear monoshock offers 8.7 inches. Riders also should be able to stop on a dime too thanks to disc brakes at both ends. The whole thing is packaged onto an aluminum frame and weighs a total of about 73 pounds.
In addition to a modicum of rough road ability, Bultaco also hopes to attract buyers by giving the Brinco a touch of tech. When away, owners can double check the bike's state of charge from their smartphone, and a wristband unlocks the cycle rather than a key. Deliveries in Europe start in April for 4,800 euros ($5,900), which includes value added tax.
Bultaco calls the Brinco a Moto-Bike, but it's what most people would consider a classic moped with pedals being assisted by some source of extra power. In this case, the grunt comes from an electric motor mounted to the rear wheel hub that produces a peak 4 horsepower (3 kilowatts) and 44 pound-feet of torque. It feeds from a one kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery mounted on the frame. The whole setup gives the Brinco an assisted range of about 19 miles, but obviously that can be supplemented by pedaling. A full recharge when hooked up to a wall socket takes about two hours.
While the concept of an electric bicycle isn't new, the Brinco tries to bring something new to the table by latching onto Bultaco's old school, offroad DNA. Up front the bike has an inverted fork suspension with 7.9-inches of travel, and the rear monoshock offers 8.7 inches. Riders also should be able to stop on a dime too thanks to disc brakes at both ends. The whole thing is packaged onto an aluminum frame and weighs a total of about 73 pounds.
In addition to a modicum of rough road ability, Bultaco also hopes to attract buyers by giving the Brinco a touch of tech. When away, owners can double check the bike's state of charge from their smartphone, and a wristband unlocks the cycle rather than a key. Deliveries in Europe start in April for 4,800 euros ($5,900), which includes value added tax.
Featured Gallery Bultaco Brinco
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