Tarform Outdoes Itself With the Ultra-Versatile Vera: On-Road, Off-Road, No-Road Fun

Folks, if you live in North America, the name Tarform is sure to ring a bell. Considering this crew has been stirring motorcycle industry waters for the past couple of years, it's really no wonder. The way they did this was with their Luna, an electric motorcycle that not only looks absolutely amazing and modern but performs on a level that seems to have exceeded just about anyone's expectations.

But, there's one big problem with the Luna: its hefty price tag. According to Tarform, the Luna starts off priced at $28,000. By the time you're done adding a few bells and whistles, you could easily go beyond $30K. Quite a bit, if you ask me, and just about anyone else who has read this article. Well, cue the Vera!

According to Founder Taras Kravtchouk, the Vera is meant to be "...an electric motorcycle aimed at higher production volumes, aligning with our strategic vision to grow into a leader in the premium EV mobility space." In short, this one's for the masses, showing up with a starting price of no more than $16,000 (€14,700 at current exchange rates). Now, that's more like it!

To get a feel for what the all-new Vera is about, I want to direct your attention to the images in the gallery. There, you'll be able to compare and contrast the two Tarform machines, and once you do, come back to the text to go a tad deeper.

Right off the bat, we can tell that the Vera follows a design pattern that breaks away from Luna's. For example, that massive battery bay no longer sweeps around the front wheel as it did on the Vera but is pulled back, much like it is on your average dirt bike; you'll understand shortly why I'm comparing the Vera to a dirt bike.

Then, there's the aluminum framework upon which the Vera is crafted. Unlike Luna's rather bulky looks, Vera's frame comes across as a tad more minimalist, but again, in a very off-road motorcycle kind of way. If you've ever seen a Sur-Ron, you know what I mean.

Still, we can't deny Vera's whole retro scrambler look, which has been so popular in recent years, and all this melding of different design styles means only one thing: Vera is a multi-purpose machine! According to Tarform, that was precisely the idea: to build a bike that can perform in an urban setting and, if needed, break the confines of city life. No joke; Vera is even meant to be suitable for trail use.

Now, most people may start to think that at nearly the price of a Luna, the Vera would showcase components that aren't as top-shelf as what the Luna may showcase. Well, that's not the case. Thankfully, Vera uses quite a bit of the same tech as its brethren.

For example, Brembo is the brand responsible for the braking power needed to bring this 360 lb (163 kg) beast to a halt, and we all know this brand's place in the motorcycle and even automotive world. An optional suspension shows us the name Ohlins, and just like the Luna, Gates is responsible for directing all the motor's power into that rear wheel.

Speaking of power, let's explore a bit of what Vera has in store. According to the manufacturer's website, a standard e-motorcycle will be rocking a mid-mounted, 35 kW (47 hp), air-cooled motor that can spit out a peak of 160 Nm (119 lb-ft) of torque. That's what the $16,000 gets you, but if you go beyond that number, you can access as much as 55 kW (74 hp) of power.

What does this mean in terms of speed and performance? First off, it means a 0-60 mph (0-97 kph) time of 3.5 seconds, enough to get that hair of yours flying, and secondly, it means a top speed of over 85 mph (137 kph). Well, that's one reason why my interest has peaked. No clutch or gears also means a simple twist-and-go experience.

As for range, Tarform states that 100 miles (161 km) of range are possible within the confines of city streets. This is made possible by an 8kWh battery pack that can recharge from 0-100% in just two hours with level 2 charging. Not 20-80%, but a complete recharge in just two hours. All that's a win in my book.

Oh, and let's not forget all about the eco-friendly and green tech used to bring this puppy to life. This includes "re-upcycling" tea leaves to craft the seat upholstery and flax weave and bioplastics for some of the bodywork. It's modern, it's fresh, it's electric; what more could you want?

As for how we got here, Tarform has actually been in the works for some time, and only after six years of R&D did they bring the Luna to light. With the Vera, their place in the electric motorcycle industry seems to be catching some rather solid roots.

All that's left to do from here is get lined up for delivery by placing a preorder or just wait until these babies start popping up, take a test drive, and go from there, but that should be around the beginning of 2025 when deliveries take off. Be sure to bring your checkbook because you could very well be leaving the dealership with a new two-wheeling EV.