Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, USA



The 2014 Brammo Empulse has made its official entrance and, as you can see by the photo above, it's looking just as sweet as ever. Perhaps even a tad sweeter. That's because it's done the electric-motorcycle equivalent of preparing for a high school reunion. Yup, it's had a bit of a make over.

There's no serious nip-and-tuck going on here, but there are actual improvements that see its already-great handling improved, its range ever-so-slightly increased and its top speed raised. For instance, it's gone on a diet and, at 460 pounds, weighs 10 lbs less than the original. Also, for 2014, its hoops come swathed in SportAttack 2 high-tech rubber from Continental to helped keep it glued to the road. Even the riding position is adjusted, at least on the Empulse R, thanks to a new tapered aluminum handlebar.

The view from behind those bars has changed a bit too, with an updated dash now showing RPMs in analog and other info, such as speed and state of charge, featured on an incorporated LCD display. The boost in bling even extends to the battery brackets that are one of the bike's strongest styling cues. They've received a slight redesign and are now nickle plated for a more enduring shine.

Spec-wise, the 2014 is similar to the previous model year. This means the battery holds 10.2 kWh (9.31 nominal) and takes 3.5 hours to go from completely empty to slap full while plugged into a 220-volt power source. Range is given as 128 miles in the city, 58 miles on the highway and 80 miles combined. Its said to achieve an impressive 438 MPGe. While both the base Brammo and the R-spec have motors that peak at 40 kW (54 horsepower), the unit in the R features more torque - 66 pound feet versus 46.5 lb-ft - for snappier acceleration. They both feature a 6-speed gearbox and now top out at 110 miles per hour.

Despite the improvements, the price tags read the same: $16,995 for the Empulse and $18,995 for the Empulse R. For more details on the official press release, scroll down a bit further.Continue reading Brammo Empulse gets a modest makeover for 2014

Brammo Empulse gets a modest makeover for 2014 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 07 Feb 2014 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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