Bultaco Rapitan Electric Driven Bike

Don Paco Bultó or just Bultaco (what a name) is announcing its return to the motorcycle market. This is the Rapitan, Bultaco’s all-new e-bike, a truly nifty presence and a bike we’d certainly like to see rolling down the street as soon as possible. One of the cool things about the Rapitan is that Bultaco really tried to create a motorcycle which really looks like its internal combustion counterparts. To the untrained eye, it could in fact easily pass like a traditional bike, at least until someone figures out that there’s no silencer hidden in the belly pan. With no extravagant design, but sporting a rather inviting and tidy streetfighter attire, the Bultaco Rapitan proudly shows off its yellow trellis frame, and the telelever-like front suspension.

With a sporty, light feeling about it, the Rapitan also comes with a digital dash the size of a smartphone, adding to both the nimble feel and the modern looks. With a tubular swingarm and forks, the Rapitan is definitely an eye-catching presence and the bike’s look will surely be one of the strong selling points.

On the tech side, Bultaco says that everything under the hood is original componentry, including the BCU, which stands for Bultaco Control Unit – the brain of the Rapitan. The heart of the Rapitan is a PowerCore MK1 air-cooled brushless motor which is good for just north of 53 horsepower and can produce a maximum torque of 125 Nm (92 lb-ft).

The BCU is controlling how much torque is used for optimal riding, but at the same time it also manages the recharging using the regenerative principle. The Bultaco Rapitan uses an energy recovery system called EndurancePACK, similar to those in Formula 1. It packs together storage based on high-tech Lithium cells and ultracapacitors, making the most of the “stop and go” urban riding style.

Now, Bultaco claims a whopping 200 km (125 miles) city range, with 110 km (68 miles) on the highway and a combined range of 140 km (87 miles), which are definitely nice figures in case they turn out to be true. No capacity for the battery pack was revealed, but some expect it be over 10kWh. Dual-channel ABS is standard for the 320mm front and 240mm rear rotors, with the 800mm (31.5”) seat seemingly comfortable for pretty much all riders. The bike weighs in at 189 kg (417 lbs) and the top speed is electronically limited to 145 km/h (90 mph). The fake fuel tank can accommodate a helmet or other belongings, and a charger is also present on board, with 3.5-5 hours for a full recharge, and 45-60 minutes for a quick load.