There’s a lot of debate around the aesthetic of electric motorcycle. Should they stick to traditional motorcycle design standards or should they leverage their radically different powertrain to step into a new realm? This sharp prototype from NUEN MOTO in Vietnam does both and we are here for it.
NUEN MOTO is an electric motorcycle startup with strong roots in the design world. Co-founder Gia Nguyen first founded NUEN as a design studio, later adding a clothing brand and a custom motorcycle business. Now, they’re looking to roll out their first production electric bike.
You’re looking at their first prototype, the NU-E. But it doesn’t quite look like the bike they’ll eventually hit the market with. The NU-E was built as a proof of concept and as a testing ground for driver feedback gathering and improvement.
Gia said: “We focus on designing and building the most beautiful and innovative electric motorcycles for the Vietnamese and Asian markets. “We are a group of true motorcycle enthusiasts, experienced builders and engineers from Vietnam, Sweden and the United States. We are really passionate about building a bike that we want to ride and be proud of.”
The biggest customization on the NU-E and the heart of its design is the modular aluminum frame. It creates a slim silhouette while providing enough structural mass to eliminate the need for an additional bodywork. Its top line mimics the shape of a gas tank, but it doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.
Gia reports that the initial design was completed in less than a month but then the real work began. The team’s sketches formed the basis for a full CAD drawing, which was used to 3D print a chassis model. Once finished, the final parts are CNC machined using aviation-grade aluminum, and then assembled.
Complementing the bespoke frame is a combination of top-of-the-line parts. Custom yokes hold a set of racing forks from K-Tech Suspension at the front, which match the 17-inch wheels of the Triumph Trident 660. Modified Yamaha R1 swingarm takes care of duty at the rear, connected with EMC shock absorbers via custom links.
NUEN selected Swedish-made ISR brake components for fabrication. The set includes a twin six-piston caliper at the front, a four-piston caliper at the rear, and ISR master cylinders everywhere.
NUEN also made a set of covers to enclose the central area of the bike, which houses the battery and controller. The only other real bodywork is the modified BMW S1000R front fender and a neat rear bumper behind the leather bench. Oh, and a beautiful set of rear wheel covers, inspired by the jet rims of the 80s.
The team has added new grip conveniences, equipped with Hookie Co. push-button controls and handles, along with a Quad Lock phone mount, so you can use your smartphone as a table control. Finishing touches include a clear number plate, a small rear wheel spacer, custom footswitches, and French-style LED taillights at the rear.
As for the powertrain, the NU-E uses a rear hub motor with rated outputs of 6 kW (nominal) and 10 kW (peak), suitable for a top speed of 150 km/h. [93 miles]. Its battery is good for a minimum range of 100 km [62 miles] Riding on the highway. But NUEN estimates that it can manage 200 to 300 km [124 to 186 miles] in the city.
Those numbers don’t mean too much, though, because NUEN is already working on the next prototype — which will likely feature a very different powertrain.
Gia chose this particular hub motor because it caters to the minimalist design he wanted. And since this build isn’t street legal, he only tested it on the track. So the rear-wheel weight penalty that can interfere on rougher roads is not noticeable on a groomed track surface.
It also helps that the bike weighs only 160 kg [353 lbs]. Despite that, NUEN is planning to install a mid-mounted motor on the next NU-E, with a higher power output.
If they can do that without spoiling the NU-E’s neo-futuristic Scandinavian feel—and add some light to it—they could hold a winner.
NUEN MOTO | Instagram | Taken by NUEN and Rafik Duy at Revons Studios
