We told you about the Hybrid Electric CD70 at the Pakistan EV Expo in a previous story. But there was another motorcycle at the same expo that caught our attention, though for entirely different reasons: the VLEKTRA Bolt Dark.
At first glance, it looks good, sports aesthetics, and overall, a sporty electric motorcycle. But the more we looked at it, the more one design choice made us stop and say, “Wait, why?”
First Impressions on the VLEKTRA Bolt Dark
From the front, it looked decent. A proper sports bike stance, good proportions, and the electric powertrain specs were reasonable, too.
The company told us its top speed is 105 km/h, which, if true, would make it one of the fastest brand-new electric bikes in Pakistan
So, on paper, nothing wrong, in fact, the specs-wise it’s a great electric motorcycle:
| Specification | Details |
| Motor Type | BLDC Motor |
| Motor Power | 3,000W |
| Top Speed | 105 km/h |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Capacity | 72V 38Ah |
| Range | 150 km per charge |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Brakes (Front) | Disc brake |
| Brakes (Rear) | Disc brake |
| Display | Digital LCD display |
| Special Features | Dual exhaust speakers with engine sound simulation, Bluetooth connectivity and LED fire animations |
| Price | Rs 600,000 |
The Weird Part
Then we walked to the back, and things got strange.
This electric motorcycle had dual exhaust silencers. Actual exhaust-shaped units, just like you’d see on a twin-cylinder petrol bike. Except there’s no combustion happening here, it’s electric:
The representative told us that inside those fake exhausts were speakers that play fake engine sound. We asked the representative to turn it on, and the first thing we heard was that familiar Bluetooth pairing beep, the same sound you get from budget MP3 players.
When he played the fake engine sound, it didn’t sound particularly convincing. It was nowhere near as loud or authentic as a real motorcycle engine. Just thin and artificial.
Not to forget, those exhausts can also play songs, and you could connect your phone via Bluetooth to play music through them. Yes, really:
Moreover, both exhaust tips had small LED screens wrapped around, displaying animated flames, like flickering fire effects. They looked basic, like a Windows 7 screensaver.
The Price Problem
Here’s where it gets harder to justify: Rs 600,000.
At that price, you have many better options in the petrol bikes that are far better than this EV:
- A brand-new Carrera 250cc adventure bike imported from China
- Entry-level LIFAN motorcycles
- Several other 150-200cc bikes with money left over
For 600K, you’re getting fake exhausts that play fake engine sound and display pixelated fire animations. That’s a lot of money for features that don’t add real value, and don’t forget it was an EV after all, so you can’t take it on long tours.
And if you want an EV motorcycle with sporty aesthetics, other options from VLEKTRA and Horwin that cost less than this and are better value for money.
The 600,000 is only justifiable if you like the Bluetooth exhaust concept and its animations, which is something unique at least.
Follow us on Google News to stay updated.
Comments are closed.