The Chinese language motorbike maker FELO has simply unveiled its latest mannequin on the Tokyo Bike Present, and it’s mainly a modern-day tackle an outdated traditional from Honda generally known as the Motocompo. The brand new FELOTOO M One could be the electrical Motocompo you didn’t know you wanted.
We’ve talked in regards to the Honda Motocompo earlier than on Electrek as we’ve watched different firms, in addition to Honda itself, contemplating resurrecting the traditional bike.
As a fast refresher, the Motocompo was an progressive compact motorbike launched by Honda in 1981. The purpose was to create a novel answer for city transportation. Designed to suit neatly into the trunk of small automobiles just like the Honda Metropolis, the Motocompo featured a minimalist, boxy design with foldable handlebars and seat, making it simply transportable and storable.
It was initially powered by a small 49cc two-stroke engine. Though manufacturing ceased in 1983, the Motocompo’s distinctive design and practicality have earned it a faithful fanbase and an enduring place within the historical past of progressive city transportation options.
So it comes as no shock that the design can be rehashed as new applied sciences permit for enhancements. And with small electrical powertrains changing leaky engines, a trunk-sized folding motorbike is ripe for a comeback.
Now FELO is taking a stab on the traditional design with a surprisingly true-to-form interpretation. Known as the M One, this modern-day folding motorbike is positively pint-sized. It weighs a mere 37 kg (82 lb.). That’s even lighter than the unique Motocompo’s 45 kg (99 lb.) curb weight.
The M One makes use of a tiny full-suspension body and replaces the unique 49cc combustion engine with a 1,000W peak-rated electrical motor. A 48V and 20Ah battery supplies round 1 kWh of capability, which the corporate claims is nice for 100 km (62 miles) of vary. That prime vary determine implies that the M One doubtless gained’t be very quick, as you’d want to take care of a mean pace of round 25 km/h (15 mph) to get that type of vary on an electrical automobile of this measurement and energy degree.
That may not sound very quick, however the unique Motocompo wasn’t a crotch rocket both. Its speedometer went as much as 50 km/h (31 mph), although most sources put the precise prime pace at nearer to 30 km/h (18 mph). Lighter riders had been mentioned to have the ability to eke out a tiny bit extra prime finish pace.
However pace was by no means the purpose of a tiny folding motorbike just like the Motocompo, neither is it for M One. The entire level is to have a small format automobile that may prolong your vary while not having to drive your automobile. Commuters may theoretically drive a small automobile in from the suburbs and park on the outskirts of a metropolis. Then they may use the M One of their trunk like a dinghy on a sailboat, solely they’d be cruising by means of the town as a substitute of rowing to shore.
One other attention-grabbing characteristic of the M One is that it’s going to have V2L (automobile to load) capabilities. With a 220VAC 50Hz energy outlet, it might probably run family home equipment straight from the motorbike’s battery and inverter.
Some would possibly argue the little two-wheeler’s classification as a motorbike, as a substitute preferring to lump it in with scooters or mopeds. Usually the scooter vs. motorbike debate boils down as to whether or not the automobile is straddled like a motorbike or step-through like a Vespa. In actuality although, scooters and mopeds are merely subsets of the bigger motorbike world, making the M One one of many smallest electrical bikes on the market.
The M One is alleged to be priced at round US $2,900, although it appears to be like like it would first debut in China and maybe Japan. The little bike is alleged to turn out to be out there in This fall of this yr, so we’ll need to maintain our eye out for this one.
Within the meantime, you possibly can try the slick unveiling video under to see the way it folds.
