San Francisco-based Mission Motorcycles has unveiled two brand-new electric bikes which it bills as the most advanced on the market: the Mission RS and Mission R. The track- and road-ready RS is produced in an ultra-limited edition of 40, but the R will be manufactured in larger quantities at a cheaper price, while still retaining the key specs of its edgier sibling. However, if the name Mission R seems familiar, well that's because it is ...
What's in a name?
The Mission RS is a direct descendent of the Mission R prototype race bike that snagged Mission Motors a win at Laguna Seca’s 2011 FIM/TTXGP electric-vehicle race event. It’s sold in a run of just 40 to celebrate the 40-second lead that rider Steve Rapp enjoyed when crossing the finish line.
However, confusingly, this original Mission R was produced by Mission Motors, not Mission Motorcycles – so what's going on here? It's more than a name-change, as Mission Motorcycles is a wholly new, independent company that's taken the technology developed by Mission Motors and ran with it.
Whoever is in charge, the result is a bike that looks much the same as the one we were drooling over back in 2010, but with updated 2013 specs.
Infinite Drive
Both the RS and R bikes are hand-built in the US, and sport a custom electric drivetrain, labelled "Infinite Drive." This provides 133.4 ft lb/180.9 Nm (0 – 6400 RPM) torque, and over 160 hp (150 kW), to push each machine to a top speed of around 150 mph (241 km/h). Acceleration from a standstill is similarly healthy, with 0 - 60 mph (96.5 km/h) clocking in at three seconds.
The Mission RS and R are powered by a 17 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers a 140-mile (225 km) range, though lower-capacity 12 kWh and 15 kWh iterations are also available for the Mission R to enable a lower retail price.
The on-board charger is the same for both models and is reckoned by Mission Motorcycles to be "the most advanced on-board charger ever designed for two wheels." PR spiel aside, the optional twin charger system does offer impressively quick charging times, and can have the bikes fully-juiced within two hours.
Mission OS
The Mission RS and R both feature a fully digital instrument cluster with an on-board computer system dubbed "Mission OS." That system makes use of a touchscreen-based UI to offer turn-by-turn navigation, communications, ride telemetry data, and track-mode setup.
There’s also GPS and Bluetooth integrated within the dashboard, and support for a heads-up-display (HUD). The unit receives free automatic over-air software updates, via free cellular data.
Arriving next year
The flagship model Mission RS will begin shipping in mid-2014, and prices start at a U$56,499, depending on which extras you choose to splurge on. The Mission R is said to be slated for release soon after the RS has sold out, and will in turn be available from $29,999 – though be aware that both quoted prices are based on a US tax credit reduction of $2,500.
Further details and an option to pre-order are available via the source link below.
Source: Mission Motorcycles via Uncrate
San Francisco-based Mission Motorcycles has unveiled two brand-new electric bikes which it bills as the most advanced on the market: the Mission RS and Mission R. The track- and road-ready RS is produced in an ultra-limited edition of 40, but the R will be manufactured in larger quantities at a cheaper price, while still retaining the key specs of its edgier sibling. However, if the name Mission R seems familiar, well that's because it is ...
What's in a name?
The Mission RS is a direct descendent of the Mission R prototype race bike that snagged Mission Motors a win at Laguna Seca’s 2011 FIM/TTXGP electric-vehicle race event. It’s sold in a run of just 40 to celebrate the 40-second lead that rider Steve Rapp enjoyed when crossing the finish line.
However, confusingly, this original Mission R was produced by Mission Motors, not Mission Motorcycles – so what's going on here? It's more than a name-change, as Mission Motorcycles is a wholly new, independent company that's taken the technology developed by Mission Motors and ran with it.
Whoever is in charge, the result is a bike that looks much the same as the one we were drooling over back in 2010, but with updated 2013 specs.
Infinite Drive
Both the RS and R bikes are hand-built in the US, and sport a custom electric drivetrain, labelled "Infinite Drive." This provides 133.4 ft lb/180.9 Nm (0 – 6400 RPM) torque, and over 160 hp (150 kW), to push each machine to a top speed of around 150 mph (241 km/h). Acceleration from a standstill is similarly healthy, with 0 - 60 mph (96.5 km/h) clocking in at three seconds.
The Mission RS and R are powered by a 17 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers a 140-mile (225 km) range, though lower-capacity 12 kWh and 15 kWh iterations are also available for the Mission R to enable a lower retail price.
The on-board charger is the same for both models and is reckoned by Mission Motorcycles to be "the most advanced on-board charger ever designed for two wheels." PR spiel aside, the optional twin charger system does offer impressively quick charging times, and can have the bikes fully-juiced within two hours.
Mission OS
The Mission RS and R both feature a fully digital instrument cluster with an on-board computer system dubbed "Mission OS." That system makes use of a touchscreen-based UI to offer turn-by-turn navigation, communications, ride telemetry data, and track-mode setup.
There’s also GPS and Bluetooth integrated within the dashboard, and support for a heads-up-display (HUD). The unit receives free automatic over-air software updates, via free cellular data.
Arriving next year
The flagship model Mission RS will begin shipping in mid-2014, and prices start at a U$56,499, depending on which extras you choose to splurge on. The Mission R is said to be slated for release soon after the RS has sold out, and will in turn be available from $29,999 – though be aware that both quoted prices are based on a US tax credit reduction of $2,500.
Further details and an option to pre-order are available via the source link below.
Source: Mission Motorcycles via Uncrate
