Coming soon: Maeving RM1S Blackout

Coventry-based Maeving has earned plenty of praise for its distinctive RM1 electric motorbike , the CBT-friendly power output and nifty portable battery pack you can charge anywhere you can find a three-pin socket addressing two common issues with battery-powered two-wheelers. It doesn’t hurt that it looks cool as well, the hipster-friendly retro style broadening its appeal. Maeving won’t have this field to itself a whole lot longer, though, the pending Royal Enfield Flying Flea promising its own twist on retro looks combined with electric power.

We were impressed when we rode the uprated RM1S around London and it seems we’re in good company, Adolescence actor Ashley Waters the first to put his name down for this new limited-edition Blackout version with its stealthy monochrome aesthetic.
This, Maeving says, harks back to custom traditions and is a look popularised by modern-retro petrol-powered bikes from Triumph, Harley-Davidson and Indian to name but a few. Putting an electric twist on the same feels very on-brand in that context, the Blackout’s unique features including silver-tinted carbon mudguards and trimmings, a gunmetal finish for the exhaust-replicating electric cable and black powder coating for the case containing the removable batteries and control systems. As standard Blackout also gets the upgraded K-Tech rear suspension units optional on the regular RM1S. Just 300 will be built for sale worldwide, UK pricing coming in at £8,995. Which is a chunk more than the £7,495 starting price for the regular RM1S but one fans may worth consider paying for the exclusivity factor. Paid for on a monthly basis Maeving will point out that burly looking starting price actually makes more sense, given you can fuel it for pence and get around faster than you might on the monthly travel card you might be paying for now.

Like the regular RM1S, the Blackout has a ‘combined’ battery range of 80 miles, though that drops to more like 50 if you indulge yourself with the Sport mode and test the claimed 70mph top speed. While the rated power output is a modest sounding 10 horsepower it means you can ride on an A1 licence with a CBT and L-plates while the peak power is actually a fraction over what you’d be allowed on an equivalent petrol bike, while torque is actually much greater. All of which makes it surprisingly nippy, and particularly well suited to zipping about the trendier parts of town where a bike of this nature will go down well.
If you like the look of it get your name down now!