Rider SR8: new 125cc-equivalent electric bike from young French brand

The French brand, Rider, has launched a new electric bike, the SR8, which is scheduled for first deliveries in February.

Rider is a brand created by another brand, Go2roues, in 2018. Go2roues says the point of Rider is to make electric mobility both fun and accessible. 

The Rider SR8 is the second motorcycle produced under the Rider brand, and goes with the previous SR6 alongside a range of six electric scooters which includes both two- and three-wheelers. 

The comparison between the SR6 and SR8 is easy to make. The SR8 shares its aesthetic design with the SR6, but has more power, more torque, more range, and more battery capacity. 

While both the SR6 and SR8 fit within the 125cc-equivalent category, the SR8 an 8kW nominal power output to the SR6’s 5kW, and 11kW maximum compared to the 6kW of the SR6. 

As for the torque, the SR8 produces 148Nm (the SR6 118Nm), helping the 150kg bike to a top speed of 150kph (93mph). 

A 7.2kWh lithium battery means the Rider SR8 has a range of 120km, although this battery is not removable and takes around 10 hours to charge with a standard charger or five hours with fast charging “from the overwhelming majority of public charging stations,” Go2roues says.

At the chassis, we find adjustable suspension front and rear, with an inverted fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear; while braking is assisted by ABS, and conducted by dual 300mm discs at the front and a 240mm rear disc. There is no regenerative braking.

The Rider SR8 is available in blue, and black colour options, and prices begin at €9,249 (around £8,200 at time of writing, January 2023). However, the bike is not yet marketed in the UK.

Find out more at: www.go2roues.com

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