The electric motorcycle Aurus Merlon will enter service in the Special Purpose Garage (GON) as an honorary escort in 2024. An official representative of Aurus told the socialbites.ca correspondent on the sidelines of the MIMS Automobility Moscow exhibition that Russians should see the first eight motorcycles at the presidential inauguration after the 2024 elections.
“We already produce Merlon individually; In May, the first eight copies are supposed to accompany the inauguration of the President of the Russian Federation. And by 2024, about 40 motorcycles will be in service: half [боковым] “with the trailer, the other half without the trailer,” an Aurus representative said.
According to the interlocutor, there are no specific commercial plans yet finalized for the development of the Aurus Merlon project. But there is already a ready-made design that will remain with the team after the motorcycle enters service as an honorary escort.
“A commercial version of the power plant will be available, but so far there is no appearance (of a commercial version – socialbites.ca), nothing else is available. Theoretically, the entire design is patented, certified and has passed all tests. The demand will be examined to see how interesting it is for the consumer. Maybe a dealer or a street fighter, there is no final concept yet,” a company representative stated. — Among our main competitors we see Curtiss motorcycles and, to a lesser extent, motorcycles such as Harley Davidson LiveWire (discontinued – socialbites.ca).
In terms of price, Merlon is positioned as Curtiss. If the cost of American analogues is currently from 125 thousand dollars (14-15 million rubles), the estimated price of Merlon will be 10-12 million rubles.”
The local production rate of Aurus Merlon is 80%, aforementioned Vladislav Ovchinsky, head of the Moscow Department of Investment and Industrial Policy, at the beginning of the Innoprom exhibition.
What will he be like?
Previously, Aurus had provided more detailed information about the version of the Merlon motorcycle produced exclusively for GON’s needs. Within the scope of this project, it is planned to produce a single version motorcycle with a sidecar in which an additional traction battery is placed. The side trailer is not designed to carry passengers.
A single bike has a mass of 350 kg, can reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h and travel 200 km on a single charge.
The maximum power of the electric motor is 190 hp.
Designed using foreign components
The motorcycle engineer noted that the motorcycle within the framework of the “Cortege” project (or Unified Modular Platform, EMP) has been designed since 2017, and during its creation foreign components were actively used, and in current conditions there are few options for replacing them. and columnist for Expert magazine Alexander Astapov.
“How Russian is depends on how to count; in his case, 80% is barely achievable. The engine is not Russian, the controller is not Russian, the brakes are not Russian. But still, development is domestic and so is production,” Astapov said in an interview with socialbites.ca.
According to him, previously the engine and controls of this motorcycle were British-made, the brakes were Brembo, and the electronics were Bosch.
“Maybe they went to other suppliers, but there is still no specific alternative.”
– suggests Astapov.
Independent automotive industry consultant Sergei Burgazliev believes that this motorcycle will likely be assembled on the basis of a ready-made component, but in principle it is quite possible to localize frame parts and other mechanical parts in Russia.
“It is difficult to make a Russian engine for such a motorcycle, control electronics and battery. But it is quite possible that there will be elements of suspension, drive, tires and body kit,” Burgazliev notes in an interview with socialbites.ca.
Private traders will not buy
According to Alexander Astapov, the Aurus electric motorcycle is not suitable as a recreational vehicle due to its large mass and high center of gravity, and more compact and lighter models are often used as an everyday motorcycle for urban riding. Given the high price, he believes Merlon’s sales to private customers will be limited to units to be added to museums and collections.
“They will produce 20 units each, with and without strollers, for the Honor escort battalion. Perhaps the Ministry of Internal Affairs will order some of them to be accompanied to public events such as cycling,” Astapov predicts.
Aurus Merlon explains that compared to foreign models of electric motorcycles of the same power, it exceeds them in weight by approximately 90 kg.
Even Harley-Davidson hasn’t gone electric
Ivan Vladimirov, editor-in-chief of Moto magazine, says that the heavy electric motorcycle concept has not yet taken root among well-known world brands.
“A few years ago Harley-Davidson introduced the LiveWire electric motorcycle. I’ve used one and it’s pretty good. But even under the Harley-Davidson brand, such a product did not become popular and commercially successful. Now they have reduced production and will use their developments under a separate brand,” Vladimirov told socialbites.ca.
Heavy motorcycles are often used for long-distance travel, but the Aurus Merlon has little range for this and there is a lack of electric charging stations on Russian highways, he adds.
“Due to limited range and lack of charging stations, St. It is even impossible to reach St. Petersburg by electric motorcycle. Therefore, Aurus Merlon will most likely be used only for entertainment needs,” concluded Vladimirov.