Urban Transport

Bultaco puts its motorcycle know-how into a 2,000-watt electric bike

Bultaco puts its motorcycle know-how into a 2,000-watt electric bike
The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
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The Brinco includes an LED computer
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The Brinco includes an LED computer
The Brinco has a rear-wheel motor drive
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The Brinco has a rear-wheel motor drive
The 2-kW rear motor gives the Brinco some oomph
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The 2-kW rear motor gives the Brinco some oomph
The Brinco weighs 86 lb
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The Brinco weighs 86 lb
The Brinco rides on 24-in wheels
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The Brinco rides on 24-in wheels
The 1.3-kWh battery provides up to 50 miles of range (with pedaling)
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The 1.3-kWh battery provides up to 50 miles of range (with pedaling)
The all-new Bultaco Brinco
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The all-new Bultaco Brinco
The Brinco has plastic fenders to keep the rider cleaner
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The Brinco has plastic fenders to keep the rider cleaner
The Bultaco Brinco electric bicycle
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The Bultaco Brinco electric bicycle
The full-suspension Brinco is built to eat bumps
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The full-suspension Brinco is built to eat bumps
Bultaco imagines the Brinco being used as a commuter as well as a performance electric mountain bike
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Bultaco imagines the Brinco being used as a commuter as well as a performance electric mountain bike
The Brinco has nine gears and an overdrive
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The Brinco has nine gears and an overdrive
The Bultaco has three ride modes: Eco, Tour and Sport
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The Bultaco has three ride modes: Eco, Tour and Sport
The accompanying iOS/Android app delivers remote monitoring
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The accompanying iOS/Android app delivers remote monitoring
In eco mode, the Brinco can travel up to 50 miles
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In eco mode, the Brinco can travel up to 50 miles
The Brinco boasts speeds up to 37 mph
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The Brinco boasts speeds up to 37 mph
The Brinco includes a wireless, keyless activation/security system
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The Brinco includes a wireless, keyless activation/security system
Bultaco plans to begin its push by opening stores in major Spanish cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia
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Bultaco plans to begin its push by opening stores in major Spanish cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia
Bultaco mentions intentions of expanding into other European markets and North America
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Bultaco mentions intentions of expanding into other European markets and North America
The "first Bultaco of the 21st century"
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The "first Bultaco of the 21st century"
The Brinco is priced at €4,800
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The Brinco is priced at €4,800
Bultaco announced its return in May 2014, and the Brinco is its first new production model
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Bultaco announced its return in May 2014, and the Brinco is its first new production model
Bultaco has opened its online reservations system for a limited number of Brinco models
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Bultaco has opened its online reservations system for a limited number of Brinco models
The all-new Bultaco Brinco is the latest high-performance, high-speed electric bike to hit street and trail
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The all-new Bultaco Brinco is the latest high-performance, high-speed electric bike to hit street and trail
Bultaco will begin production in a new Barcelona factory
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Bultaco will begin production in a new Barcelona factory
The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
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The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
The Brinco rides on 24 x 3-in tires
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The Brinco rides on 24 x 3-in tires
The Brinco leaves the ground behind
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The Brinco leaves the ground behind
The Bultaco's electric motor supplies 60 Nm of torque in all three ride modes
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The Bultaco's electric motor supplies 60 Nm of torque in all three ride modes
With help from a grip throttle, the Bultaco Brinco flies down and back up hills
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With help from a grip throttle, the Bultaco Brinco flies down and back up hills
The Brinco dines on some dirt and rock
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The Brinco dines on some dirt and rock
The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
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The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
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The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
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The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
The full-suspension Brinco is ready to launch
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The full-suspension Brinco is ready to launch
More nimble than a motorbike, more powerful than a mountain bike
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More nimble than a motorbike, more powerful than a mountain bike
The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
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The all-new Bultaco Brinco e-bike
Bultaco shows how its electric technology can deliver performance off-road riding
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Bultaco shows how its electric technology can deliver performance off-road riding
In Sport mode, the Brinco utilizes all 2,000 watts of available motor output
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In Sport mode, the Brinco utilizes all 2,000 watts of available motor output
Riders willing to push the bike to its limits will enjoy fast speeds and cushy suspension
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Riders willing to push the bike to its limits will enjoy fast speeds and cushy suspension
The Bultaco Brinco wasn't designed to just poke along on the ground
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The Bultaco Brinco wasn't designed to just poke along on the ground
The all-new Bultaco Brinco electric bike
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The all-new Bultaco Brinco electric bike
Bultaco has designed the Brinco to occupy the space between bicycle and motorbike
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Bultaco has designed the Brinco to occupy the space between bicycle and motorbike
Bultaco imagines the Brinco as a "moto-bike"
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Bultaco imagines the Brinco as a "moto-bike"
The front fork provides 180 mm of travel
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The front fork provides 180 mm of travel
View gallery - 45 images

When Spanish motorcycle manufacturer Bultaco announced its return to the market last year, we were expecting some new electric motorbikes. What we weren't necessarily expecting was an electric bicycle. For the first product launched in its second life, Bultaco has shrunk its electric powertrain technology down and put it to asphalt and dirt in the form of a full-throttle electric-assist mountain bike: the Brinco e-bike.

Bultaco calls the Brinco the world's first "moto-bike" – half motorcycle, half bicycle. Super e-bikes like the Trefecta DRT, Stealth B-52 Bomber and EMX argue against the Brinco being the first electric bike with serious motorcycling DNA, but it's definitely a member of that growing crossbreed. It's faster and more powerful than a simple e-assist commuter bike but short of a full-blown electric motorbike like the Lightning LS-218.

At the heart of the Brinco design is an electric drive comprising a rear wheel-mounted 2-kW motor and a downtube-secured 1.3-kWh lithium-ion battery. That motor puts out 44 lb-ft (60 Nm) of torque, and its output is governed by three riding modes. Eco mode gives the rider up to 800 watts to work with and up to around 50 miles (80 km) of electric-assisted pedaling. Tour mode provides up to 31 miles (50 km) of range, capping motor output at 1,500 watts. Sport mode unleashes the full 2,000 watts of motor power, providing a fast ride that gets faster the harder you pedal. All modes offer the full 44 lb-ft of torque.

The Brinco rides on 24 x 3-in tires
The Brinco rides on 24 x 3-in tires

The battery can deliver the rider up to 18.6 miles (30 km) without any pedaling, and the motor can propel the rider to a top speed of 37 mph (60 km/h). That top speed is comparable to some super e-bikes, but it falls short of competitors like the 50-mph Stealth B-52. Frankly, it's a bit disappointing for a "category-shattering" bike built by a motorcycle manufacturer looking to remake its name in the two-wheeled speed industry. Then again, it's really just a number on paper, and 37 mph will likely be more than fast enough for most Brinco riders.

The rider controls the motor via the grip throttle and can also lay off the throttle and rely on the power control system to maintain a constant level of output. The Brinco includes nine speeds and an overdrive function that essentially doubles that number to 18. The rider uses his heels to press the overdrive button mounted to the pedal axle, and the epicyclic gearing system increases or decreases gear ratio as selected.

The Brinco has nine gears and an overdrive
The Brinco has nine gears and an overdrive

Bultaco designed the Brinco's all-aluminum frame and swingarm to meet enduro motorcycle standards. The saddle adjusts via the telescopic tubular subframe hardware. The 86-lb (39-kg) bike puts plenty of cushion between rider and hard ground – 8.5 in (217 mm) of travel in back and 7 in (180 mm) up front. Front and rear disc brakes bring the bike to a stop.

In place of the 26-, 27.5- or 29-in tires that are standard in the mountain bike industry, the Brinco wears 24-in wheels. Those 24s hold onto burly, 3-in-wide tires.

The Brinco rider keeps abreast of bike and performance measures by way of a centrally mounted LED computer. The unit reports speed, motor temperature, distance and battery life remaining. It starts up via a keyless activation system that reads the accompanying wireless bracelet. That system serves as a security feature that locks the bike when the bracelet isn't present.

Owners can also choose to add a SIM card and use the accompanying iOS/Android app as a geolocation-tracking, anti-theft measure. Additionally, the app connects to the bike computer via Bluetooth to keep the owner up to speed on information like remaining battery power.

The lithium-ion battery detaches from the frame in a matter of seconds and takes about three hours to charge. Bultaco plans to offer Brinco buyers an optional second battery for quick-swapping, double-range riding.

The Brinco will retail at a Spanish-market price of €4,800, which includes VAT. Bultaco is offering 175 early bird reservations via its Brinco website. The bike will be manufactured at Bultaco's all-new Barcelona factory and Bultaco will release availability and pricing for other markets as it establishes a distribution network.

Source: Bultaco

View gallery - 45 images
7 comments
7 comments
The Hoff
No video online either. why??
Catweazle
Wow, an electric trials bike.
Over 50 years ago - in 1964 if I remember correctly - at the Blackpool Motorcycle show, on the Lucas stand there were two electric trials bikes - a BSA and a Greeves - and a little trials course. I had a ride on the BSA.
Plus ca change...
jerryd
$8k!!! Kind of steep. Battery price are only $500 and the rest is fairly cheap moped parts.
Joe F
Where you get 8k from?? 4800 euro x 1.12 is $5400 in us.
Not 8k in australian or canada dollars either.
Bob_W
24 inch wheels, really ? It would be nice to have a group test including the Greyp bike!
nimbuzz
Looks to be a very nice ebike. I already have 3 ebikes. I'd prefer a mid motor but this is a good setup. There's a lot of competition out there though!
RajaBushanam
I Need One Bike Where Should i get it...