Motorcycles

2010 Comoto blurs the boundaries between electric motorcycle and MTB

2010 Comoto blurs the boundaries between electric motorcycle and MTB
Somewhere between an electric motocrosser and an MTB, the Comoto sure looks like fun off-road.
Somewhere between an electric motocrosser and an MTB, the Comoto sure looks like fun off-road.
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The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
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The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
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The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
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The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
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The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
Somewhere between an electric motocrosser and an MTB, the Comoto sure looks like fun off-road.
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Somewhere between an electric motocrosser and an MTB, the Comoto sure looks like fun off-road.
The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
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The Comoto, by Hirsch Design
View gallery - 6 images

Once you throw out the internal combustion engine and all the bulky bits that go with it, the definition of a motorcycle can suddenly become a lot wider. Take the Comoto from Hirsch Design - it's even smaller than the Zero S bike, and begins to blur the boundaries between motorcycle and mountainbike. Using an electric motor mounted in the rear wheel hub to eliminate the need for a chain drive, the Comoto can do more than 40mph (65kmh) and do just over 30 miles (~50km) on a charge under normal riding conditions. Best of all, it weighs just 118 pounds (53kg), making it one of the lightest motorcycles we've seen.

Add this to the list of funky new electrics we'd love to test ride - the Comoto is scheduled for launch in Q1 2010, so we can expect to see them available very soon.

The Comoto seems to have been developed with recreational, light offroad use in mind - hance the lack of lights and numberplates, and the large monoshock and Marzocchi MTB forks that combine to give the bike 6 inches of suspension travel at either end.

The brakes are Gatorbrake six-pots running kevlar hoses and clamping single discs at both ends. Overkill? Perhaps, it's only going 65kmh, and 6-piston calipers mean six pistons' worth of maintenance when it's time to strip and clean. Still, they look chunky enough to be reassuring.

As with most brushless electrics, the throttle goes both ways and you can put small amounts of charge back into the motor through regenerative braking. On top of that, you can program the battery management system to set the strength of the regen braking. You can also set the power curve to find your own delicate balance between output power and battery range. A full charge takes about 2 hours.

Good fun stuff, and a nice looking bike. It'll be interesting to see what all that nice componentry and aluminium pushes the retail price up to. More information at the Comoto website.

View gallery - 6 images
12 comments
12 comments
Craig Jennings
It\'ll need some new tyres, you\'ll be able to crank this over further than a mountain bike!! Looks neat :)
RpD
Re: 2010 Comoto... Seems like you\'d be in a world of hurt if you happen to fall off the back of that seat. Looks like it could use a carrier rack, mud fender.
robinyatesuk2003
if you look at a motorcycle and think \" that seat looks dangerous, I might fall off \" motorcycling is not for you ,,,,,, try a librarians chair, much safer
Facebook User
It\'s a valid criticism... that seat is small. If you look at a post and think \"that poster isn\'t \'leet\", posting comments on an article is not for you, try bar brawling.
Facebook User
That is a darn small seat, looks like a b-buster, and an amped up bicycle... hardly a motorcycle.
Facebook User
Take a look at all the other motorcycles... fenders extending over the rear wheel.
RpD
Funny. Especially when you said the following last year...
thank god motorcycle manufacturers are finally doing something to protect the most vulnerable of all road users,,,,,,10 out of 10 Honda !
robinyatesuk2003
RpD
Not to mention the round metal foot pegs.
Vexxarr
I\'m betting the tiny tookus table is a result of radical weight conservation. There has to be an aftermarket seat for a more comfortable ride. Also, I wonder if a carrier rack could be attached with that rear suspension. If not, I\'d like SOMETHING there if I ever slid off the back end.
arnuxii
Unless its got gears he is going to be pushing it uphill My electric bike is in top gear always so without me pedaling I wouldn\'t be able to go up a steep hill.
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