Davinci Tech's new electric motorcycle is a robot in disguise

A tech company based in Beijing has developed an electric motorcycle that apparently doubles as a two-wheel robot. Yes, you read that correctly.

Transformers jokes aside, the Chinese start-up Davinci Tech says that its new DC100 is a “two-wheeled dynamic robot that is able to understand its environment and translate the information it gathers into an optimized, smart and high-performance riding experience.”

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The company goes on to explain that the DC100 features advanced sensors that track a wide range of information including ambient temperature, lean angle, speed and acceleration, load, type of terrain and difference in wheels speeds. This data is then used to ensure optimum performance.

On closer inspection, many of these so-called ‘robotic features’ are commonly found on many modern motorcycles. These include hill-start assist, downhill assist, reverse assist, linked braking, regenerative braking, and traction control.

But here's where it gets interesting. According to Davinci Tech, there a few extra features that will be made available in the future. These include self-balancing capabilities, self-riding and target recognition and remote control. Yep, the DC100 will be able to ride itself.

What’s more, Davinci Tech will allow creative software developers to develop and share innovative new features that can be directly uploaded to the bike. In simple terms, the DC100 is something of a rolling super computer that can be upgraded and updated along the way.

Of course, it is still a motorcycle, and Davinci Tech haven’t held back on performance. The DC100 apparently features peak power figures of 135hp and 850Nm, and will accelerate from 0-100km/h in about 3 seconds. It also has a top speed of 200km/h.

Even better is the impressive claimed range of 357.51km. Interestingly, Davinci provided a second claimed range of 400.75km. These figures were obtained using two different methods (the first figure is WLTP and the second is NEDC), so we’re not sure which is more accurate.

The DC100 is also compatible with Level 3 DC fast chargers, as well as standard home outlets. A full fast charge apparently takes just 30 minutes. The bike is complete with high-end equipment such as Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension and Pirelli rubber.

Would-be customers can reserve a unit on the Davinci website, and multiple international outlets are reporting a price tag of $27,500USD for the standard version, and a ridiculous $90,000USD for the fancier DC Classic café racer.

On the surface, this new high-tech machine sounds great, but it’s fair to say that not everything is adding up just yet. Whether the DC100 is the real deal or just another concept with no future remains to be seen, but we’ll be watching on with interest nonetheless.