Technically speaking, an adventure is always either good or bad. But it’s never boring. Electric motorcycle development is the same; basically hubris, ambition, and hard work squaring off in a cage match for financial survival.
Energica is banking its niche track prowess in a bet to remake the ADV category. The Energica Experia is, on paper, the first electric ADV motorcycle available for sale in the world. It’s a lucrative category. More than that, it’s a crucible for electric motorcycle technology. If you can deliver a rugged electric ADV bike with plenty of range, features, and travel-ready usability, you’ve reached a real milestone.
Energica’s gambit opens with a bold claim. The Experia supposedly offers the longest range of any electric motorcycle on the market today: 261 miles in the city and 130 on the highway. Energica also claims the fastest charging time of any electric motorcycle, 0–80 percent in just 40 minutes with a Level 3/DC fast charger. Combined with the ability to use Level 2 or 1 charging on the road or at home, it’s the only electric motorcycle to offer riders all three levels of charging.
All the above energy drives a new motor. Instead of using a permanent magnet synchronous motor (primarily based on internal permanent magnets), the bike employs Synchronous Reluctance, assisted by permanent magnets. Lighter than Energica’s previous EMCE motor by 22 pounds, it’s water-cooled, oil-lubricated, and situated lower in the chassis, improving handling.
That’s the exciting news. Press releases tell the rest of the story. The Experia has a possible 112 liters (29.6 gallons in America-speak) of storage, which rides atop 43mm front ZF Sachs with 150mm (5.9 inches) travel and a single rear with 55mm (2.2 inches) travel with 150mm wheel travel. The front fork features adjustable preload, rebound, and compression, with rears featuring adjustable extension and preload. Dual 330mm four-piston Brembos are up front, with a single 240mm two-piston in back. Strangely, no mention of ABS appears anywhere.
Time, rider reviews, and anecdotal tales will tell the rest of this story. Level 3 DC fast charging stations are everywhere in larger cities, but few and far between in the hinterlands, where most adventure lies. Keep that phone charged (and in range of towers) to find the next one. Or better yet, print out that map and tape it to the tank old-school style.
Energica makes the bike, marketing strategy and shiny brochures. But ultimately, riders write the ending to the story. It’s obviously expensive at $23,250 MSRP, with the Launch Edition landing at $25,380. That’s a story as old as emerging technology itself. Will the Experia prove to be a game changer in the ADV category? Energica is betting yes, and backing it up with its 10-year-plus history. Skeptics, start your grumbling. To be continued.
Energica Experia Technical Specifications and Price
| PRICE | $23,250 / $25,380 Launch Edition |
| MOTOR | EMCE Permanent Magnet Assisted Synchronous Reluctance Motor (PMASynRM) |
| BATTERY | 22.5 kWh max.; 19.6 kWh nominal |
| FINAL DRIVE | Regina (16/52) 520 O-ring chain |
| CLAIMED HORSEPOWER | Continuous: 80 hp @ 7,000 rpm; Peak: 102 hp @ 7,500 rpm |
| CLAIMED TORQUE | 85 lb.-ft. |
| FRAME | Front steel tubular trellis, aluminum side plates |
| FRONT SUSPENSION | ZF Sachs 43mm, preload, rebound, and compression adjustable; 5.9 in. travel |
| REAR SUSPENSION | ZF Sachs, rebound and preload adjustable; 5.9 in. travel |
| FRONT BRAKE | Brembo 4-piston radial caliper, dual floating 330mm discs |
| REAR BRAKE | Brembo 2 -piston caliper, 240mm disc |
| WHEELS, FRONT/REAR | Cast aluminum; 17 x 3.5 in. / 17 x 5.5 in. |
| TIRES, FRONT/REAR | Pirelli Scorpion Trail II; 120/70-17 / 180/55-17 |
| RAKE/TRAIL | N/A |
| WHEELBASE | 59.5 in. |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 33.3 in. |
| RANGE | City: 261 miles; Combined: 160 miles; Extra-Urban: 130 miles; WMTC: 138 miles |
| CHARGING TIME | 0–80% in 40 min. w/ Level 3/DC fast charger |
| CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT | 573 lb. |
| WARRANTY | 2 years on vehicle; 3 years/31,000 miles on battery (starting from the date of the motorcycle’s first registration) |
| AVAILABLE | June 2022 |
| CONTACT | energicamotor.com |
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
