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The world of motorcycles is steadily tilting away from petrol-engines and towards electric – but there is still some way to go before e-motorcycles start flying off the forecourts.
Electric motorbikes offer a range of advantages: they don’t pollute like petrol bikes and they obviously don’t need fuel, saving the owner plenty of cash. However, e-motorbikes take a long time to charge and the initial outlay is considerable.
The Super Soco, then, could hold the answer to at least some of these problems.
Priced at £2,349 with a government grant, it’s certainly cheaper than most electric motorcycles. It can be driven by anyone over the age of 16 with a CBT and it is lightweight and manoeuvrable. But it’s designed for inner city use and accordingly has a top speed of 28mph. Its range is listed at 40 miles.
For those seeking a low-cost urban runabout – perhaps for the daily commute – the Super Soco holds a lot of promise.
We looked at what three prominent voices in the world of lifestyle, tech and motorcycling thought of the bike.
The Guardian's Martin Love appears to be a big fan, calling the bike "fun and frisky". Love is a big fan of the bike's "traffic-dodging, commute-conquering" qualities, pointing out you can double its range by carrying an extra battery.
In his video review, Tech Radar's Jon Porter was impressed by the Super Soco's green credentials, and after riding it around London was won over by its low weight and manoeuvrability, calling it "a lot of fun". However, Porter says the listed range is a little "optimistic", especially if Sport mode is used. He also says that using the bike on faster roads did not feel very safe. The "hard seat" was also a negative, along with the rigid suspension. However, for those seeking a "fun commuter bike" with zero fuel costs, Porter says buyers "could do a lot worse".
MCN's Liam Marsden focusses on the fact that you can remove the battery and charge it at home, eliminating any need to park it near a charge point. And while the bike has little in the way of "good looks or street credibility", it is nevertheless a "cheap city transport that's incredibly easy to ride". Marsden also reckons bike thieves will give the low-cost Super Soco a wide berth.
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