Confederate becomes Curtiss Motorcyles and moves towards electric motorcycles
The president of Confederate has just announced that his singular motorcycles will swap their big V-Twin for electric motors supplied by his new partner Zero Motorcycles. This radical change is accompanied by a change of name: Curtiss !
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, the president of said his mind-blowing aluminum motorcycles, as original as they are expensive, would no longer be powered by S&S V-Twins, or even internal combustion engines….
- MNC of September 10, 2015 –
The P51 Combat Fighter will therefore be one of the last of the line. Of the 61 models put on sale almost two years ago, only one "Black" remains available on the brand’s official website. Recall that according to its technical sheet, this motorcycle has a 56 ° V-twin which cubs 2163 cc (2.2 liters), develops 145 mustangs (147 hp) and 160 ft-lb (217 Nm).
One last "thermal" for the road
During the Pebble Beach Concourse of Elegance which was held two weeks ago near Monterey (California, USA), the big boss presented his latest super-production: the FA-13 Bomber, even weaker than the "fighter" P51 since the "bomber" spits 150 horsepower and 224 Nm !
As usual with Confederate, this spectacular motorcycle enjoys an incredible look, materialized by a parallelogram front axle and a huge central beam serving as a backbone for the frame, air box and gas tank..
As always, this muscle-bike charges dearly for its exceptional finish and very limited character (only 13 units will be built): the ultimate Confederate is exchanged for a check for over € 130,000! Nice last stand, no ?!
In terms of pure performance – but no price? -, "we can not go further than that", considers Matt Chambers: "we have reached a ceiling, that’s all". An observation that also refers to … But beware, if Confederate gives up the gas, the head of the Birmingham workshop (Alabama, USA) certainly does not surrender !
A post shared by Curtiss Motors (@officialcurtissmotors) on Aug 8, 2017 at 10:25 am PDT
An agreement would have actually been found with in order to produce new "power-cruisers" whose double electric motors would ensure a power of 175 horsepower and 393 Nm. For the small manufacturer of proudly American motorcycles – as were the Buells. .. -, the sky "becomes" the limit again !
According to our colleague from the great Californian daily who saw the first sketches of the future model of the future named "Hercules", the style would remain resolutely Confederate. But the engine will have nothing to do with it … And the name of the brand will not be the same either. !
#NoConfederate #CurtissIsBack
This summer, an impressive wave of #NoConfederate hasstags flooded social media. Except that this campaign was not intended to ban the motorcycles of Mister Chambers, but to interrupt the project of the HBO channel: a new TV series imagined by the creators of the already cult Game of Thrones…
Called Confederate, this television series must feature a North America where the Confederate States of the South have obtained their independence, and in which slavery is still legal! A whole program, therefore, whose controversy arose at the end of July was fueled by the events in Charlottesville and the death of a counter-demonstrator…
According to Matt Chambers, however, the name of his brand of motorcycles has held him back since its inception: "I think we have lost a lot of sales because of this name", testifies the president, "our brand image has suffered and it is time to stop it ".
In the minds of some bikers, the name Confederate can also be associated with white supremacism movements, an aspect that is not very conducive to business. Especially since the arrival of Donald Trump as President of the United States, so much the tumultuous leader of the first world power multiplies the comments and the controversial intentions on this subject. !
Future motorcycles, which will perhaps come directly from the Zero Motorcycles factory in Scotts Valley (Califonrie, USA "of course"), will therefore bear the name of … Curtiss! An ambitious surname since it refers to Glen Curtiss, an American pioneer of aviation who began his activities as an engineer pilot in the bicycle before setting impressive speed records..
In 1907, Curtiss would thus have reached the – dizzying – speed of 219.45 km / h on the handlebars of his motorbike – airplane! – V8 of 4.4 liters of displacement for 40 horses. Unapproved, this then absolute record (air-land-sea) was not officially broken on a motorcycle until 23 years later, by the British Joseph S. Wright on an OEC-Temple-JAP … Curtiss is therefore back … have better watch out !
Alexandre BARDIN and Matthieu BRETILLE
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