It goes by a rather unimaginative name, the C-Series, and it’s made by an Australian company called Savic. Putting advanced technology into a classic style of a café racer is the approach they took when they first decided to build this unusual motorcycle back in 2018. They were attempting to show something rather unique in the world of electric motorcycles. In the words of the founder, Dennis Savic, their goal was to "disrupt the world’s two-wheeled EV industry as a revolutionary brand and share our passion for carbon-free travel without ever compromising on performance."
Performance And Design Of The Savic C-Series
Performance depends on what version of the C-Series you choose. Delta version makes 54 horsepower and 103 feet-pound of torque. It goes from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. The Delta’s 14.2 kWh battery has a range of around 94 miles, with the charging time of 3.8 hours. The Alpha version comes with significantly better specifications. It produces 80 horsepower and 147 feet-pound of torque and will hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The battery also has an improved capacity of 16.2 kWh which gets you more range, around 30 miles more. Unfortunately, the charging time also increases to 4.5 hours. Those are the only real differences, the rest of the components and dimensions are completely the same. From a cast backbone frame and a single sided swing-arm, telescopic forks with mono-shock suspension to rather impressive Brembo brakes and Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires.
You also get a 7-inch touchscreen to choose different riding modes including setting up your own custom mode. It is worth mentioning that the bike comes equipped with a Bosch ABS unit, traction control and regenerative braking. Another practical thing on this bike is the removable seat cowl that lets you go from a single seat to a comfortable two-seater in a matter of minutes. The whole vintage style of the motorcycle was the idea of the company’s head designer Dave Hendroff. The design is actually more of a mix of styles. The fuel tank (what resembles it anyway since this is an EV), the thin seat and the seat cowl really do give it a 70s café racer style. But the double headlight in a rectangular frame, boxy setup of the battery, and a rear single sided swing-arm give it a more futuristic feel. Anyway, it seems that the C-series has won as much as two international design awards already. That has to count for something.
How Much Does The C-Series Cost?
A lot. It is a premium segment type of motorcycle. It will set you back at around 19,000 US dollars. Should you buy it? Well, the numbers are pretty high, but the C-Series weighs around 617 pounds, and that is a lot. On top of that, the range is so-so, and the charging times are a bit too long, and it is still not DC fast charge compatible (this will probably change in the future). Also, ask yourself, do you really want to buy a bike from a relatively young Australian company, when you can get the Triumph Thruxton RS at around $17,000. If the answer is yes, then go right ahead. All you need is to build your own bike on their website and put down a $100 deposit. Good luck!