By Dustin Wheelen , RideApart Are we worthy? In May 2018, Confederate Motorcycles changed its name to the less politically-charged Curtiss ...
Are we worthy?
In May 2018, Confederate Motorcycles changed its name to the less politically-charged Curtiss Motorcycle Co. and exchanged internal combustion v-twins for electric powertrains. As newbs in the electric vehicle market, the company partnered with Zero to develop motors for the future direction of the company. Curtiss recently forged a new partnership, a manufacturing pact with Fast Radius to bring the Zeus concept to the public.
Introduced in 2018, Curtiss designers have given the Zeus project numerous facelifts. From the original prototype to the futuristic bobber and cafe racer to the current V8 rendition, the exercise has been a tour de force in design. Now, the company wants to go beyond renderings.
Utilizing 3-D printing, or as Fast Radius and Curtiss like to call it “hybrid manufacturing processes”, the two companies hope to achieve the distinctive V8-styling of the concept. As of now, 100 units are already in production with Fast Radius producing 60 parts and components at a yield of 95 percent.
“Our partnership with Curtiss is ideal because it allows them to do what they do best—designing stunning motorcycles—while we do what we do best—matching the project with the right technology and getting quality parts made quickly,” said Briann Simms, VP of Sales at Fast Radius. “We’re looking forward to innovating with Curtiss as they grow their brand.”
All that innovation and quality will come at a price, with an ultra-premium MSRP of $75,000. Touting the largest battery in an electric motorcycle at 16.8 kWh and a 160 kWh motor producing 219 horsepower, the Zeus certainly lives up to its name, but it might only be accessible to those with a checkbook of the gods.
To address the issue of attainability, Curtiss plans to market their Psyche concept as a more feasible option at $30,000. With the Harley-Davidson releasing the LiveWire in 2019, the two American companies could soon duke it out for electric supremacy. That’s a funny statement considering the traditional background of both brands.
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