40 amcn.com.au
MOTOR
ConfigurationE-Twin format with
2 x electric, air-cooled, brushless,
permanent-magnet 3-phase DC motors
BatteriesLithium-ion 14.4 kWh
high-energy T-Block battery packs
with integrated thermal management
system
ControllerThree-phase brushless
controller with regenerative braking
CoolingAir
Power127kW @ 8000rpm (claimed)
Torque393Nm @ 1rpm (claimed)
TRANSMISSION
TypeDirectsingle speed
ClutchNot applicable
Final driveChain
CHASSIS
Frame materialAluminium
Frame layoutMonocoque
Rake27.5 ̊
Trail106mm
SUSPENSION
Racetech G3
Front:Double-wishbone parallelogram
fork with tubular aluminium struts and
linear-rate monoshock, fully-adjustable,
125mm travel
Rear:Monoshock, adjustable
compression and rebound,
133mm travel
WHEELS/TYRES
WheelsBST Carbon
Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 8.5
TyresPirelli Diablo Rosso II
Front: 120/70ZR17 (58W)
Rear: 240/45ZR17 (75W)
BRAKES
Beringer
Front:Four 230mm discs,
four-piston radial calipers
Rear:Single 240mm disc,
two-piston caliper
DIMENSIONS
Weight269kg (claimed)
Seat height762mm
Max widthNot given
Max heightNot given
Wheelbase1480mm
PERFORMANCE
Charger1.3kW integrated charger
with 10.3 hours charging time to 95%
charged from zero
Range190km (urban), 110km (hwy)
Top speed245km/h
CONTACT & SALE INFO
Tes tbikeCurtiss Motorcycle Co.
Contactwww.curtissmotorcycles.com
Colour optionsNot applicable
WarrantyTwoyears,unlimitedkm
PriceFrom $US30,000 ($A39,200)ZEUSEspecs
sportsbike, and I occasionally had a hard time
remembering that.
Its steering and handling are already dialled in,
straight out of the box, with no need for a steering
damper. That’s despite the fashion statement
of a huge rear tyre inf licted on the Zeus – a
240/45ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II – which didn’t
heav y up the steering as much as I expected.
I couldn’t make the same assessment in
terms of how well the Zeus will lay down the
humungous torque available from those twin
motors once these are functioning properly, but
Curtiss has surely made a head start with their
choice of tyres and suspension
settings. But the need for
traction control will be
overwhelming, and Chambers
is right to insist on this.
However, he also must tell
his R&D guys to dispense with
the trendy iPad that doubles
as a dash. Though not yet
functional for obvious reasons,
it will be completely illegible
in bright sunlight, and easy
pickings for thieves when you
park unless you unclip it and
carry it around with you – but
where? Too much of a good
thing, it needs to be replaced
by a fixed, permanent dash
with every bit of data the
rider could ever want to know
displayed on it.With such a lot of weight to stop, the 230mm
Beringer Aeronal f loating cast iron front discs,
which are doubled up each side, earn their keep,
gripped by four-piston Beringer radially mounted
Aerotec calipers.
Interestingly, the Zeus weighs exactly the same
as the Confederate Bomber that these brakes
formerly equipped, though with a more desirable
53/47 per cent weight distribution, which helps
load up the front wheel in corners.
These distinctive French brakes do an excellent
job of stopping the Curtiss, with the rear brake
lever having been moved to the left handlebar in
place of the now absent clutch
lever. The brakes aren’t as
snatchy as they could be, a sign
that Curtiss has used its years
of experience in fitting these to
all models to get the choice of
pads just right.
Cornille has reinvented
the electric motorcycle with
the Curtiss Zeus, and within
the context of how it rides
and handles, the result is
dynamically satisfying, as well
as visually arresting.
The old-but-new brand is
off to a good start with this
motorcycle, and it will be
very interesting to see how it
progresses once they get the
electric powerplant properly
dialled in.Curtiss has reinvented
the electric motorcycle
with the Zeus
CURTISS
SUCCESS
Curtiss Aeroplane
and Motor Company
was the largest aircraft
manufacturer in the
worldby1916,when
it was floated on the
stock exchange,
employing 21,000
workers. It produced
10,000 aircraft during
World War I, often
more than 100 a week.