Energica Unveils New ‘Experia’ E-Powered ADV-Styled Touring Bike
The full-sized electric tourer from Italy can go up to 261 miles on a charge.
Italian e-bike manufacturer, Energica, is welcoming us to the future with the introduction of its all-new electric touring model, Experia. Now wait, before you thumb your nose, this e-powered entry promises to be a legitimate traveling bike with one of the longest ranges of any e-motorcycle on the market and specs on par with some segment favorites. Let’s take a deeper look.
Unveiled at the FIM MotoE World Cup race in Mugello, Italy, the Experia looks the part of an adventure touring bike, albeit a road-biased version that rides on 17-inch cast wheels. Limited suspension travel (5.9 inches front and rear) also keeps this bike in the 90/10% category, although that half a foot of cush provided by a ZF Sachs fully adjustable setup, might be enough to scratch your itch for some fire road riding.
One element that makes this new e-bike especially interesting is its range, which should offer as much as 261 miles in the city and 130 miles on the highway for a combined range of 160 miles. And keep in mind that high “city” number comes when an electric vehicle regenerates battery power when coasting and under braking, which means sticking to the twisty bits might also give you a much longer range than full throttling down the Interstate.
And that’s a lot of gas-free ground covered by a bike of this stature. For example, Zero’s DSR “adventure” dual sport offers only a max 163 peak “city” mile range — and it’s a tiny thing by traveling standards. Because c’mon, a true “Adventure Tourer” should be slathered in amenities and hit several marks, including being able to potentially carry two people and their luggage whilst being comfortable enough to ride multiple days.
Energica, which has been building up a line of very fast and sustainable streetfighter and superbikes since 2014, is using a new lithium-polymer battery (rated at 22.5 kWh maximum and 19.6 kWh nominal) in its Experia. It’s a unit that’s claimed to be the largest-capacity battery used in any electric bike to date, and this larger battery has been coupled with a new, smaller water-cooled motor for a setup that weighs 22-pounds less than the system currently used in Energica’s sporty Ego, Eva Ribelle and EsseEsse9 models.
Jettisoning this weight helps the Experia come in at a fighting weight of 573 pounds. Heavy, yes, but lighter than a BMW GSA. The new battery rides lower in the chassis too, which improves low speed handling on the Experia. In addition, there is a reverse function for pain free parking.
When plugged into a Level III DC fast charger, seen more and more often along roads here in the U.S. (and findable with many apps), the Experia is said to take on the ideal-for-battery-life 80% charge in 40 minutes. But a potentially cool thing is, if you’re riding tight backroads, you’re likely to have enough charge to make it from hotel to hotel, where you can charge the bike using the 120V Level I, aka wall charging, option. Level II 240V charging capability is also built in.
In the performance department, this new e-bike has a power output of 102 hp and 85 ft lbs of torque, which is surprising only in the sense that EVs have a reputation for being ridiculously fast. And this bike will do 0-60 in a claimed 3.5 seconds to reach a governed top speed of 112 mph. Power management is intentional of course, to protect range. These output figures are competitive with Honda’s Africa Twin or KTM’s 890 Adventure, though both of those ADV bikes will obviously ride circles around the Experia in an off road setting.
Brakes are Brembo, a 330mm front and 240mm rear, complemented by a Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that controls the bike’s cornering ABS function and aids a 6 level traction control system. A 5-inch TFT screen nestled behind what looks like an adjustable windscreen will allow activation of four pre-programed ride modes (Eco, Urban, Rain and Sport) as well as three customizable modes. Engine braking and battery regeneration levels can also be adjusted throughout the range of modes. Cruise control is standard and works additionally to maximize the regenerative charging effect created by speed variations.
So what will initiation into our world’s e-fated future cost you? Energica is currently taking fully refundable, $3000 deposits for a $25,880 “Launch Edition” to be delivered this fall. It comes tour-ready with panniers, top box, heated grips and look-at-me red wheels. A lower priced standard version will follow.
Energica, with fresh backing from future forward partner Ideanomics, is undoubtedly headed for the kind of expansion and increased production that will drive prices lower.
An even bigger incentive? No more getting robbed at the petrol station. Of course bikes are always fuel sippers, not guzzlers, but filling up anything today feels like a slap in the face.
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Looks cool. But falls short in every single category, with the possible exception of $/mile, than a gas bike. Including price.