Retrorides By Lourenço well known in the world of customizing the BMW K-series. The Brazilian workshop has crafted some of the sharpest K-series cafe racer around, and even wrote a book on how to do it. Now, they are looking to establish themselves in a whole new niche.
After 30 years of customizing gasoline-powered motorcycles, Retrorides By Lourenço is launching its own little product electric motorcycle company. And their first offer looks pretty good.
Based in a town a few hours drive from São Paulo, Retrorides is run by Gustavo and Rodrigo Lourenço, and their father is José. “We always dreamed of having our own motorcycle brand,” says Gustavo.
“But with the internal combustion engine, this is not possible for a small company like ours, due to the complexity of the parts and mainly because of the cost of building the internal combustion engine. With the advancement of technology and the advent of electric motors, this dream has become a reality.”
“We want to fill a gap in the electric motorcycle industry. We’re tired of seeing electric bikes that look like MegaBeast, Juspion, or drab Investigators. We believe electric motorcycles can truly have the DNA of custom motorcycles, combined with performance and cutting-edge technology, without sacrificing individuality and style.”
The new Retrorides company is called RTR Electric Motorcycles, and this is the RTR 799e. Sitting somewhere in the middle of neoclassical disturbance person and modern supercarThe 799e will be made to order in Brazil, with a range of customization options available to buyers.
“The original idea was that the bike had Retrorides (custom motorcycle) DNA, so we decided that this bike had to be a race car,” says Gustavo. “This style is very versatile for urban use and offers a super comfortable riding position.”
“With the opportunity to customize, we were able to keep the ‘craft-made’ spirit, while using new technologies to enhance safety. We also believe that our bikes should be built with premium materials that aren’t harmful to the environment—so our bikes are built to last and engineered to be upgradable. Okay.”
Instead of adapting an existing internal combustion bike platform to run with an electric powertrain, Retrorides designed the 799e from the ground up. This process involves a significant amount of 3D design—including digital simulations to ensure the bike will behave correctly in the real world.
“The technique of electric motorcycles is completely different. There is no vibration and we can change the focus, among many other concepts,” adds Gustavo.
The first important decision is whether the bike should have a ‘fuel tank’. It’s a common argument: does it make sense to install a gas tank on a bike that doesn’t carry fuel, or does the tank serve a purpose other than aesthetics?
In the end, the team decided that they would only add one if it brought overall practicality to the car. So they built a 7-liter glove compartment, big enough to carry some essentials or tuck a set of rain gear in when it’s urgent. It, along with almost everything else on the 799e, is shaped in aluminum.
Retrorides also built the tubular steel frame and swingarm. It’s an elegant design, with upper frame rails embracing the ‘fuel tank’ and bottom bars wrapping around the battery box. The battery is further protected by two custom guards—integrated with the bike’s sump guard, they are coated with a military-grade scratch-resistant coating.
Comes with the chassis is a set of Showa forks, 17″ wheels wrapped in Pirelli MT60RS tires. Retrorides has specified the 799e has disc brakes, with integrated regenerative braking.
The bike is powered by an 8 kW hub motor, with a 72 volt/60 Ah battery. Initial numbers indicate a top speed of 127 km/h [79 mph]120 km [75 mile] range and five-hour charging time. The motor can be boosted to 12 kW via the boost button; Retrorides calls it ‘Road Runner Mode’.
All the parts in between — like the engine mounts, yoke, levers, mirrors and footrests, are CNC machined from aluminum. The bike has all the necessary LED lighting and the saddle is covered in weather-resistant synthetic leather.
With the goal of going into production in December, Retrorides—or rather, RTR Motorcycles—is currently seeking investors, while also working on the analogy in Brazil, the United States and Europe. They are also testing and tuning the 799e as they go, by trying out different engines and setups.
When ready, the RTR Motorcycles website will include a bike configurator, allowing customers to customize their look with colors, seat materials, tires, headlights and trim options. different ribs.
Gustavo praises the bike’s sense of torque and the joy of quietly traversing the countryside. But what really impressed him was the feedback from others.
“We broke a lot of stereotypes with this bike,” he said. “I have to confess that many bearded men in leather vests who have ridden this bike come back with a smile on their face and ask for a price!”
