| August 7, 2024
The modern world is largely powered by complicated machines. Want to feel overwhelmed? Take a look at the engine bay of a modern car or scroll through the rider aid menus on a current-generation superbike. Great as it might be in some areas, technology can feel too far-reaching in others. What if you don’t need electronic suspension, blind-spot detection, and 200 horsepower on your short commute to work?
The 7 kW hub motor builds on the technology Maeving developed alongside Bosch for its lower-tier RM1. Importantly, the hub motor limits weight and servicing issues related to a traditional drivetrain.
By Lance Colburn
Maeving, an electric motorcycle manufacturer in the UK, believes the answer lies in urban commuting solutions like its RM1S. It is powered by a 7 kW hub motor and dual 2.7 kWh batteries that can reach a top speed of 70 mph and a range of 80 miles.
Those numbers only tell part of the story, according to Maeving, who says its goal is to build practical solutions for the urban commuter, not high-power, long-range electrics that compete with internal combustion engines. Point in mind, attention turns to the removable, 36-pound (each) batteries that can be charged on the bike or in the comfort of your house, office, or any place with wall outlets. Charge time is 2.5 hours when going from 20 to 80 percent, thanks to America’s slower 110v electrical grid versus the rest of the world’s 240v. From fully flat to fully charged, it’ll take almost seven hours.
The RM1S starts at $8995 and will be available in California in August 2024. Maeving says it’ll look to sell the bike in other states down the road but will very much focus on areas where urban commuting is most common.
The “simple solutions” theme carries through the rest of the bike. A steel tube frame is used alongside a non-adjustable fork, preload adjustable shocks, and narrow, 19-inch spoked wheels that work with the solo seat to give the bike its board track racer-esque look. Additional electronics—including a battery for powering on-board systems—are housed inside the smaller of the two center compartments, with high-voltage wiring running through a steel-braided hose.
The tug-of-war between modern and retro inspirations continues with an analog dash and LED lighting. The faux tank offers 2.6 gallons of storage, plus there’s a mount on the left side for Maeving’s accessory bag. Ready-to-ride weight is a claimed 293 pounds, with overall dimensions feeling more like a 300cc bike than anything. That’s important, not only because weight and size affect range, but because the RM1S was designed for new riders just as much as it was for anyone else.
The range is a claimed 80 miles, with Maeving adding that riding continuously in slow-moving traffic will bump range up to around 100 miles and that sustained top-speed riding will bring that number down to around 60 miles.
For similar reasons, power delivery is on the mellow side in either of the three riding modes. On the bike we rode, these modes included Sport, Eco, and a middle-of-the-road mode labeled “1.” The bike isn’t intended to flood your body with adrenaline, but you can jump on the freeway or easily accelerate through traffic on city streets. There’s a sense of joy that comes from doing that with all the ease of a scooter, too.
The removable battery means no waiting around at a charging station.
Much of Maeving’s design team comes from manufacturers like Triumph, and they’ve brought with them that company’s emphasis on handling and fit-and-finish. We rode on Maeving’s accessory K-Tech shocks, but you can tell that the underlying bones are solid, with enough plushness for city streets and plenty of support for when the road opens up. Battery placement can complicate things like weight bias and balance, but the RM1S feels intuitive and easy to ride. More importantly, it’s an incredibly refined and stylish machine, and our only real complaint was a dimly lit LCD panel on the dash that’s hard to see in direct sunlight.
As for range, we traveled 38 miles on 68 percent of the charge, riding through a mix of neighborhoods, congested city streets, and a short section of freeway. Given the 70-mph top speed and lack of edgy acceleration, we wouldn’t have wanted to do much more open freeway riding, but the bike made perfect sense zipping through quiet neighborhoods and busy LA streets.
The RM1S is responsive and sure-footed, with a similar level of composure to the small-displacement motorcycles from well-known OEMs. Linked brakes offer plenty of stopping power, too.
Whether or not the RM1S makes sense for you depends on your needs. What we can say is that the removable batteries are a great solution for anyone without access to a locked (and powered) garage or who doesn’t love the idea of EV charging stations. To remove even more barriers of entry, Maeving is offering direct-to-consumer purchasing, mobile servicing, and in-house financing.
The more interesting story here is that the RM1S feels honest in its intentions. Maeving isn’t promising you the immediate end to internal combustion engines but rather a simple, stylish, and well-built alternative to the complex machines that otherwise dominate our world.CN
Maeving RM1S Specifications
| MSRP |
$8,995 |
| Electric Motor |
Hub-mounted, direct-drive |
| Cooling system |
Air |
| Continuous Power |
7.0 kW |
| Max Power |
11.1 kW |
| Max Torque |
193 lb-ft |
| Powerpack |
Removable lithium-Ion batteries with LG M50LT cells, 36 lbs. (each, two packs) |
| Max Range |
80 miles |
| Frame |
Chromium Molybdenum (CrMo) steel cradle |
| Handlebar |
Aluminum |
| Front Suspension |
Telescopic fork |
| Rear Suspension |
Dual shocks with preload adjustment |
| Front-wheel travel |
4.3 in. |
| Rear-wheel travel |
3.15 in. |
| Front Brake |
300mm disc, 2-piston caliper |
| Rear Brake |
Rear Brake 180mm disc, single-piston caliper |
| Front wheel |
3.25 x 19 in. Dunlop K70 tire |
| Rear wheel |
3.25 x 19 in. Dunlop K70 tire |
| Rake |
26° |
| Trail |
3.94 in. |
| Wheelbase |
55 in. |
| Seat Height |
30.9 in. |
| Overall Length |
84.4 in. |
| Overall Width |
35.3 in. |
| Overall Height |
42 in. |
| Max Load |
262 lbs. |
| Weight |
(claimed) |
