Evoke Urban S Review

When we talk about electric motorcycles, we often talk about the major manufacturers. But there is a growing number of smaller companies that are producing affordable and practical electric bikes that are perfect for urban commuting.

One such company is Evoke, which is based in Hong Kong. Founded in 2018, Evoke has an R&D centre in Beijing and operates in 18 countries including Australia.

Evoke is imported into Australia by Chris and Peter Hull, and they have made it their mission to not only work with Evoke to improve and promote its products, but also be advocates for electric motorcycling and its benefits.

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There are currently two electric models in the local Evoke range – the Urban Classic and the Urban S – but there are more on the way. The Classic and the S are almost identical mechanically, but the Classic offers a café racer look and a more-powerful battery charger.

While Evoke is still growing its presence in Australia and expanding its dealer network, we were lucky enough to get our hands on the Evoke Urban S to see what it is all about.

Unfortunately, the 2021 model was not ready for us to test, but we did swing a leg over the 2020 model. According to Chris and Peter, there are only minor refinements that have been added to the newer version – some of which were recommended to the factory by them.

The 2020 Evoke Urban S is a streetfighter-style machine powered by an air-cooled hub drive motor and a 9.05kWh lithium ion battery. It puts out a claimed 25hp and has a claimed top-speed of 130km/h.

Evoke claims a battery range of 200km at an average city speed of 35km/h and with a 70kg rider on board. Unfortunately, due to lockdown restrictions, I didn’t get to test this claim, but from the limited riding I did do, I found the machine to be quite economical.

With Level 1 charging available, a 0-80% charge apparently takes 3 hours. Once again, I was unable to test that claim, but 3 hours is pretty decent if accurate.

Elsewhere, the bike is equipped with all the usual fair. It features linked braking with dual 300mm discs at the front and a single 220mm disc at the rear, while suspension is handled by a 42mm inverted fork and a mono-shock with preload adjustment. It also has 17-inch front and 17-inch rear cast aluminium wheels.

Checking in at $14,990 plus on-road costs, the Urban S isn’t exactly cheap, but it is still affordable and well within the reach of the average punter. And when you add three ride modes, a reverse gear, LED lighting, TFT screen, and regenerative braking to the equipment list, the price tag is definitely in the ballpark.

Of course, it is easy to write a machine like this off as just another cheap Chinese product. But if brands like CFMOTO are anything to go by, Chinese-built motorcycles are coming of age, and Hong Kong-based Evoke is no exception.

The Urban S is a nicely-built product with some clever equipment, and while it isn’t on the same level as Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire (we’ll get to that shortly), it is still an attractive electric option at a decent price point. But how does it go on the road? That is the big question, after all.

A couple of weeks prior to my test on the Evoke Urban S, I rode the Harley-Davidson LiveWire. The LiveWire is the first production road-going motorcycle from a major manufacturer, and it has taken the electric motorcycle conversation to a whole new level. Quite simply, the LiveWire is an amazing machine with blistering performance and impressive technology. And the Evoke guys know it.

In fact, the Evoke team encourages people to test ride the LiveWire. It seems like an unusual marketing strategy, but here is the kicker – the LiveWire costs $49,995 ride away. Not many people are able or willing to afford that kind of money for a motorcycle. But Evoke’s theory is that, once people ride the LiveWire, they’ll immediately see the benefits of electric motorcycling and want to track down a cheaper alternative. Enter the Evoke Urban S. Ta-da!

But how does a $14,990 bike from Hong Kong compare to a $49,995 Milwaukee-built rocket ship? In short, it doesn’t. But the Evoke Urban S really surprised me, and when you break it down, it arguably offers much better value for money.

Right off the bat, the electric benefits of the Urban S are obvious. The torque is instant, but it accelerates at a steady and smooth pace. Obviously it is lacking the blistering acceleration of the LiveWire, but the Urban S is still quick enough to keep you smiling.

If anything, I found the throttle response to be just a touch slow, but it didn’t detract from the bike, and I’m sure this will be fine-tuned on future models.

The three ride modes – Eco, Sport and Pro – offer three different experiences, but I found myself leaving it in Pro mode, as it offered more fun and more practicality at higher speeds. But in city environments with range in mind, Eco and Sport will still cut the mustard.

I found the Urban S to be quite comfortable to ride. It takes on a streetfighter-style stance and while I didn’t get to put many kilometres on it, I could easily see myself commuting reasonable distances without fatigue or discomfort.

The bike handles well too, with a nimble chassis and solid suspension package. The front fork wasn’t perfect, but a little adjustment and tinkering should fix that pretty quickly. The brakes also weren’t necessarily top-shelf, but they too performed their job without much fuss.

The TFT display is quite simple, and its purpose is really only to display important information. For future models, I’d love to see Evoke use the TFT display to allow more customisation and adjustment, and maybe even add smartphone connectivity. Electric bikes are the future, so it’s important they feature the latest technology where possible.

While the Evoke Urban S provides a fun and solid riding experience, the machine isn’t perfect. It is important to remember that it is still early days for Evoke, and the local distributors are working closely with the factory to make improvements. But there are a few finishing issues (such as dodgy paint) that, while they don’t detract from the ride experience, are a little frustrating.

Another gripe is the lack of safety features like traction control. These features are now commonplace on road-going motorcycles, and the Urban S could certainly benefit. My only other issue was the confusing inconsistencies in information online and in the brochures. It is only early days for the company, and it will improve, but clear communication and transparency are absolutely necessary.

As the motorcycle worlds begins to transition towards electric solutions, companies like Evoke offer an exciting prospect. Machines like the Harley-Davidson LiveWire will get tongues wagging, but it is smaller and more affordable brands like Evoke that will give everyone the opportunity to own an electric motorcycle.

If not for lockdown, we would have spent a bit more time with the Urban S, but it was clear from the outset that this would be a great bike to live with. Sure, there are still the pesky range and charging issues, but they will improve, and with a sub-20k price tag, you can probably accept those limitations.

The Urban S is an exciting machine for the simple fact that it gives us a glimpse at how accessible electric motorcycling can be in the future. And with passionate local distributors like Chris and Peter, we expect Evoke can only go from strength to strength. Watch this space.

Specs: 2020 Evoke Urban S

MOTOR AND CHARGING
Type: Evoke Power 800A FOC-SVPWM, 120v, CAN 2.0b
Cooling: Air
Battery: Lithium Ion 9.05kWh
Charging: Level 1 (Standard), 3 hours (0-80%)
Range: City 200km, mixed 144km

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 25hp (19kW)
Claimed maximum torque: 116.6Nm
Claimed top speed: 130km/h

TRANSMISSION
Type: Single speed
Final drive: Hub drive

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular steel
Front suspension: 48mm upside-down fork, fully adjustable, 95mm travel
Rear suspension: Single monoshock
Front brake: Dual 300mm discs with four-piston calipers
Rear brake: 220mm disc with twin-piston caliper CBS
Wheels: Cast aluminium

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Rake: 23.5 degrees
Claimed on-road weight: 179kg
Seat height: 760mm (unladen)
Wheelbase: 1380mm

OTHER STUFF
Price: $14,990 (plus on-road costs)
Local distributor: Evoke Australia