70mph Maeving RM1S: Retro Electric Commuter | ROAD TEST

It’s got the styling of a classic bike, the power of a 125 and the build quality of a Hinckley-built modern classic.

Maeving’s first crack at a bike was its classically styled RM1, a machine that won a lot of fans in the UK (and further afield), and regularly topped the small-capacity electric bike sales charts.

It was though also limited in what you could do with it, and while its 45 mph top speed was okay if you never ventured out of the inner city, it wasn’t a bike you’d want to be hitting the dual carriageway on.

80-mile range

The Coventry-based company’s second bike looks to change that inner city-only image, as the Maeving RM1S boasts a 70mph top speed, a newly designed battery system, recharge times of around four hours, and still a maximum range of about 80 miles. It is though visually very similar to the RM1, meaning you’re still getting one of the most eye-catching electric bikes on the road.

Hipster Central

For the launch ride of the new version, there was only one place to go, Hipster Central – also known as Shoreditch, London. That meant this wasn’t going to be the most exciting product launch I’ve ever been on, although we would at least be getting to test the bikes on the roads they are designed for.

Price

The new RM1S starts at £7,495 for any of the solid colour bikes (there are seven of those) which rises to £7,995 for the black and gold option, and £8,195 for the white, red and blue machine. Maeving doesn’t use dealerships to shift its stock and instead uses a direct-to-consumer model that allows you to buy the bike directly through the official website.

Battery and motor

The main technical difference between this bike and the RM1 is the battery and motor. Where the RM1 had one battery mounted in the fake fuel tank and one where a petrol bike’s engine would sit, the RM1S now has both batteries mounted in the nicely machined aluminium battery casing beneath the top-tube of the frame.

10-litres of storage

This not only means you now have 10 litres of storage in the fuel tank, but the centre of gravity of the bike has dropped, helping to improve the handling.

Charge on or off the bike

The two batteries together provide you with 5.46kW of capacity and can both still be removed from the bike and taken inside for recharging or charged in the bike, which is a new feature only available on the RM1S. Claimed charging times are six hours from zero to full, and two and half hours from 20 to 100 per cent. Each battery weighs in at 15kg, making them fairly chunky, as the kids would say. That weight will make itself known should you need to charge them out of the bike, especially if you have to haul them up multiple flights of stairs.

Bosch power

Powering the bike is a Bosch-built hub-mounted motor, with a rated continuous output of 7kW or 9.5bhp. The peak power, though, which is the one you want to know about (that’s what the motor can output in short bursts) comes in at 10.5kW or 14bhp. That means the new bike is on par with the current range of 125cc CBT-friendly electric machines – and in most cases, it’s already much lighter.

How did it handle London?

After a quick briefing and a coffee, we are handed our bikes and ride off into the throng of central London traffic. We spent about an hour just taking 90-degree turns and stopping at traffic lights, but it did give me a chance to get a feel for this new bike’s motor. It’s got more power than the first Maeving (10.5kW instead of 4.4kW) but acceleration isn’t what you’d call quick. Pin the throttle fully from closed and the bike will gently take off and only start to get going once 10mph has been reached. Once there though it feels more brisk, and will whisk you up to 40mph quickly enough to stay out in front of the traffic.

Lightweight?

It is a super light little bike, and at 133kg flicks from left to right extremely quickly and loves darting through the traffic. That light weight also means it stops on a dime, and for most of the ride, I only need one digit on the lever. It’s a single 240mm disc up front and a 180mm item at the rear. The front brake is a conventional system, operated off the right handlebar, while the rear brake, on the left handlebar, is a combined braking system (CBS) sending 40 per cent to the front wheel, and 60 per cent to the rear.

There’s also no ABS to get in the way, meaning all of the stopping power you ask for is sent to the brakes, and not squandered by the electronics. It doesn’t have any regenerative braking, either, and that means you can coast on a closed throttle for extremely long periods. You do though have to recalibrate your riding a bit to not having any engine braking, especially in the first couple of miles.

Traction control?

The Maeving is also without any form of traction control, although I don’t think that’ll be a problem for most as the initial delivery from the bike is very soft and the grip from the Dunlop K70 tyres seems, in the dry at least, to be good. The rest of the handling experience is what you’d expect from a bike like this. There’s no single thing it does phenomenally well, although it is supremely easy to ride and with a 785mm seat it’s also extremely accessible.

K-Tech upgrade

The ride quality on the bike I rode wasn’t the best, and that’s despite it being fitted with high-spec K-Tech adjustable rear shocks, although I’m not sure they are as well set up as they could be. Over some potholes and cobbles the rear suspension seemed to crash its way through, and with minimal padding in the single seat, my lower back is taking a bit of a pounding. I did get a chance to sample a bike that was fitted with standard shocks and the comfort was better, although rebound damping was nowhere near as good as the more trick K-Tech bike. My conclusion is that should you opt for the £725 rear shock upgrade, spend some time getting them set up for your size, weight, and riding style.

Top speed

The main selling point of the RM1S over the RM1 is its ability to keep you out of trouble on a dual carriageway. So a quick dash up the A12 was organised to get a feel for national speed limit riding on the little electric. As mentioned, the progress up to around 40 or 45mph is the most brisk, and while there is a little in reserve for overtaking when cruising at 50mph, it takes a bit of time to get to the bike’s 70mph top speed. Stability at these speeds seemed to be good, and there was little I could do to the handlebars to upset the Maeving’s composure.

It could though buzz along happily, and I never felt intimidated by the hoards of HGVs and Chelsea tractors. Would I risk it on a motorway? Well, yes, there’s no reason why not, and I’ve spent all day on a motorway on a 125cc bike before. Riding at 70mph is going to hammer your batteries quite quickly though, meaning it might be better, if you can, to seek out a route that takes in some B-roads.

Riding modes and electronics

In keeping with the classic British styling of the Maeving, the electronics on offer are sparse. You get three riding modes, Ride, Sport, and Eco. The only difference between the modes is the top speed, the power output and throttle map of each is exactly the same. We spent all day in Sport mode, although should you want to, you can flick through the modes easily on the go via the button on the right handlebar.

The dash of the bike is also suitably retro with a small analogue speedometer that features an inset LCD screen to display the bike’s state of charge (SoC), selected riding mode and trip information. Not having a TFT is a little unusual for a modern electric bike, but for this model, it feels like a more old-school analogue dial is much more fitting than a flashy colour screen.

British-built, stylish, superbly put together

The Maeving RM1S handled its day out in London well. Like all electric bikes, with no gears or clutch, riding it is as easy as it gets, and without anything to distract the rider, all you have to think about is what’s going on around you. Yes, the ride quality on the bike I rode was a little harsh, although I think that’s down to the way the bike was set up, and with full adjustability on hand from the K-Tech rear shocks, I’m quite sure you’d be able to set it up just the way you like it. The handling is light, the stability good, and the braking system is extremely powerful.

Like all electric bikes, the RM1S doesn’t look cheap on paper, and if you compare it to the petrol-powered competition it’s not. Pitch it against the other 125 equivalent electric bikes though and it’s a better story, with the RM1S beating the BMW CE 02 and Kawasaki Z e-1 on price, top speed, range, and recharge time.

The Maeving is also a much easier-on-the-eye proposition, and while many electric bikes look like they have caught fire and been extinguished with a cricket bat, the Maeving looks classy. It also seems to be nicely put together and utilises quality equipment throughout. Finally, it is completely designed and built here in the UK, not some far-flung factory in a city I can’t even pronounce on the other side of the world. Surely that’s something even the most ardent petrolhead can appreciate!

Words: Matt Adamson

Images: Too Fast Media