2021 Super Soco CPx Review

The 2021 Super Soco CPx is the latest effort from a company working hard to bring practical and affordable electric motorcycles to the masses. The Chinese brand is a relatively new player, but it is quickly growing, and the CPx is the next step in its evolution.

If you believe all the hype, electric motorcycles are the future, with lightweight, practical and affordable electric machines to become particularly common in the coming years. That is where products like the Super Soco CPx are of great importance, as they give us a glimpse at an electric future.

But with electric motorcycles facing plenty of criticism, the question on everyone’s mind is, are we there yet? Sure, electric is the future, but do the current examples give us any reassurance? Or do we still have mountains to climb?

The Super Soco CPx is certainly an interesting prospect, but does it live up to the expectations of performance, practicality and affordability that urban motorcyclists have? Well, it definitely makes a decent go of it. Let’s take a closer look…

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2020 Super Soco TC Max Review

Powered by an electric hub motor and removable lithium ion battery, the Super Soco CPx is designed as a kind of electric maxi scooter – albeit a little smaller and lighter than most maxi scooters.

It features a large windscreen, a luggage rack, and a sizeable two-part seat that can easily carry a pillion passenger. There is also a storage compartment for your phone and keys, a USB charging point, under-seat storage, keyless ignition, LCD screen, and a clever reverse function as standard.

Like most scooters, the CPx is convenient, practical, and easy to ride, and would be a great fit for urban commuters. It’s far from perfect, but there is still lots to like.

Starting the CPx is as simple as pressing the button on the key fob and flicking the ignition switch. Of course, you won’t know its running unless you look at the screen, thanks to its electric motor, and even when riding, the CPx is dead silent.

At slower speeds, the scoot is zippy enough and it moves and handles effortlessly through traffic and around urban streets. The brakes get the job done, and the ride position is nice and spacious.

Things become a little less fun when you require a bit more oomph. The CPx has three ride modes, but unless you’re riding around a carpark or your front yard, you can pretty much forget about the first two modes. The third mode gives you the most power, which obviously depletes the battery quicker, but in my opinion it is the only mode that is practical on most Australian roads. And even then, don’t expect any freeway riding.

Power on a bike like this is naturally affected by the weight of the rider. I am on the heavier side, so perhaps the CPx isn’t for me, but the CPx is still really only useable at sub-80km/h speed limits. On a downhill, with a tailwind and the throttle pinned, I could only eek out about 80km/h. A lighter rider might have more success, but Super Soco only claims a top-speed of 90km/h anyway – so don’t expect too much more.

Acceleration is also a slight, but tolerable, issue. While it moves quickly around side streets and off the line, you’ll likely be holding up most vehicles behind when you need to accelerate to 60-70km/h from a standing start.

Now, before we move on, it is important to remember that this is designed for urban use. If you live in a built-up area, and have no plans to tackle roads with speed limits above 70km/h, then the CPx will serve you just fine. In fact, it probably isn’t that far removed from many of its petrol-powered equivalents. But the CPx is electric after all, and battery range is a big talking point.

Super Soco claims a max battery range of 70km at a constant speed of 45km/h. This range can be doubled by adding a second battery (which will naturally increase the bike’s weight). While I didn’t get the chance to run the CPx completely dry (thanks lockdown), I did notice that the battery percentage drops quickly. In Mode 3, with someone of my weight, I doubt that a 70km range is achievable in most urban and suburban environments.

That said, even a 50km range would still serve this bike's intended purpose. If you’re just going down to the shops, to the doctor, uni, your parents’ house, or work, and that is all within a 10-20km radius, then you’re laughing. As a lockdown-friendly mode of transport, it is perfect.

And it helps that the battery has a claimed charge time of 3.5 hours. The battery is easily removable and plugs into a standard wall outlet, meaning you can plug it in at work, ride home and then charge again overnight.

The battery setup is probably my favourite thing about the CPx. To remove it, you simply life the seat (which is lockable), unplug and then pull the battery out via the grab handle. There is even a little bit of room to store the charger. When I tested the Super Soco TC Max last year, I found the battery a little awkward to remove or replace, but the Chinese firm has nailed it with the CPx – it really is a convenient system.

Sadly, the size of the battery means there isn’t a huge amount of storage under the seat. Some scooters can fit a helmet, but the CPx will really only take a handbag or maybe a six pack if you’re lucky. And if you purchase a second battery, then there is basically no storage. As a small consolation, there is a hook underneath the handlebar to hang a shopping bag and the rear luggage rack can also accommodate a topbox.

The CPx does have a few other minor faults. Firstly, the centre stand doesn’t give a lot of ground clearance and I scraped it several times when cornering. Also, the need for both a key fob and a traditional key is a little baffling – just have one or the other. Some more functionality with the LCD screen would be nice and there are also some minor build quality issues. Interestingly, I also couldn’t get the reverse function to work, but I’ve seen other reviewers make use of it, so I’ll give Soco the benefit of the doubt.

For all its faults, the Super Soco CPx is a cool little machine. It is convenient, practical (well, mostly), and puts a smile on your face (even despite the lack of power). It is not a bike for tried and true motorcyclists, but rather a useful tool for urban commuters, university students, and delivery riders.

It gives us a small glimpse into an electric world – notably with the brilliant removable dual battery system which hints at a swapabble battery solution to range issues in the future.

Sadly, the CPx is let down slightly by its price tag. At $7690 ride away, it is still relatively affordable for many people, but it could do with some refinement and a few extra features to really justify that price. There are many petrol-power alternatives that check in at half that price tag.

With all of that said, I honestly believe that Super Soco has the beginnings of something great in the CPx. The faults that I have mentioned are not unfixable, and if Soco continues to grow and progress, then I think we could see a greatly-improved CPx in the near future. And I can’t wait!

Specs: 2020 Super Soco TC Max

ENGINE
Type: Electric hub motor
Max power: 4.8kW
Max tourque: 171Nm
Battery type: Removable Lithium Ion

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: N/A
Front suspension: N/A
Rear suspension: N/A
Brakes: CBS braking system
Tyres: 100/80-16 (front), 110/80-14 (rear)

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed weight: 107kg
Seat height: 760mm
Wheelbase: 1366mm
Ground clearance: 154mm

BATTERY/PERFORMANCE
Range: 75km (claimed) or 140km (claimed) with dual batteries
Max speed: 90km/h (claimed)
Charge time: 3-4 hours (claimed)
Charging: 90V-240VAC

OTHER STUFF
Price: $7690 ride away
Test bike supplied by: Urban Moto Imports
Colours: Black
Warranty: 24 months or 10,000km