Empulse TT is the first electric motorcycle to bear the Victory badge, a street-legal machine that's been infused with authentic Isle of Man TT genes and technology. We have been expecting it after Polaris bought the electric motorcycle division of Brammo, and we sort of suspected that the Empulse platform will be the one on which Victory will build their new two-wheeler.
Victory Empulse TT is the end result of a collaboration that began in 2011 and which came to fruition this year, when Lee Johnston finished third in the Zero Challenge TT race at the Mountain Course.
A true sport bike, the Empulse TT provides the greatest lean angle in the class, cast aluminium wheels, adjustable suspension with upside-down forks, dual disc front brakes and an aluminium beam frame derived from the superbike world.
Victory claims the quickest charging battery on the market
The Empulse TT carries a 10.4 kWh Brammo Power Lithium Ion battery that can be fully recharged in just under 4 hours if using a Stage 2 accessory charger with the standard SAE J1772 plug and a 240V outlet.
When ridden by the typical motorcyclist, the Empulse TT will provide a range of about 65 miles (104 km), but tests showed that throttle management and the use of regenerative brakes can lead to almost 100 miles (160 km) range on a single charge. Using the Stage 1 charger, the 103.6V battery charges fully in eight hours.
Welcome shifter-happy riders
Brammo has always favored allowing the riders to shift gears themselves, so the Victory Empulse TT carries on the tradition, adding a 6-speed gearbox actuated by a hydraulic wet, multi-plate clutch.
The peak power of the motor is only 54 hp, while the peak torque is 61 lb-ft (82.8 Nm). Not exactly impressive, but Victory says that the Empulse TT can reach 100 mph (160 km/h) without breaking a sweat.
Brakes come from Brembo and use radial calipers and dual 310mm front rotors worthy of any superbike and capable of providing just the right amount of stopping power for the 213 kg (470 lb) bike. Instrumentation uses an LCD display that provides extensive readouts on speed, tach, odometer, gear position, energy consumption, battery status, estimated range and system status.
Empulse TT also comes with dual riding modes, Eco and Sport, with the latter providing up to 20 percent more energy to the motor for a more thrilling ride. The Victory Empulse TT will be available for purchase in the US in late 2015, as the company is "in the process of determining global demand for the bike before announcing its international sales plan." The price is yet to be announced.
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