Electric motorcycles have not yet struck a chord with buyers since they fall foul of the very factors that bikes cling to our heartstrings. Yet, the need for fast urban transportation cannot be scoffed at and here, we are seeing slowly the rise of stylish yet fun electric bikes. French boutique manufacturer DAB also for example has doled out a stylish offering as a trendy city commute. These electric bikes look cool and are showered with premium materials along with being exclusive too.
Hence, these are unique machines that have been elevated beyond just means of transportation. Called 1α, this bike is named after the first letter in the Greek Alphabet and builds on a futurism theme. It is an expensive limited-edition machine and only 400 units are made along with a price tag of $15,920. For the money you get a bike that looks like it belongs on the Blade Runner set along with a slice of French design being added in.
The DAB 1α looks like a concept with sleek surfacing and comes with details like a double-cradle steel frame plus a trellis subframe along with a cast aluminum swingarm. There are also Brembo brakes, Alcantara splashed on the seat, and wireless charging. Look closer and you see carbon and to match the exclusivity, there are gold plaques. Indeed, the front fender is made with upcycled Airbus Carbon which lends it an exotic persona along with adding a tinge of sustainability. Even the suspension gets the gold treatment with their collaboration with Paioli.
Power is a modest 11kw but you do not need too much and it is after all a funky futuristic city runabout while not being superbike. That said a Nitro button adds in more power and propels it to a serious 80mph speed. It also comes with a removable battery for easy charging and has enough practicalities in it. Plus there is even an on-board charger with the charging cable tucked away in the Alcantara glove compartment. The shape overall is like a robot motorcycle that you see on the sets of a movie and the money that you give is for the design plus the rather exotic materials. It takes a mass market concept and turns it into a boutique luxury offering for those who need something cool to stand out.
