The Innovative Verge TS: A Motorcycle Without A Rear Hub!

[advrider]

Looking at the Verge Motorcycles TS, it is immediately apparent that this is not a conventional bike. The styling is futuristic; there is no visible engine in the middle, where one usually finds at least a hint of mechanical bits. The rear wheel is very unique, with a “hubless” design that is more often found in concept drawings or on one-off show bikes, and that fat rear tire is not your typical production fitment, unless we are talking Ducati Diavel. Yes, it is electric, and no, it is not a pure concept. Verge Motorcycles have reportedly begun production in their factory in Finland, with deliveries set for later this year.

On paper, the TS packs quite the punch: 1000 Newton-meters (737 pound-feet) of torque, and 103 kiloWatts (137 horseower), but it also weighs 249 kilos (549 pounds), so acceleration numbers are a bit underwhelming at around four to five seconds, 0-100 km/h.

That large torque number is necessary, since the electric motor is mounted in, or rather, is the rear wheel, so there is no mechanical advantage added from gearing or a gearbox. Instead of a mid-mounted motor powering the rear wheel through a chain and sprockets, a belt, or a shaft, and instead of a conventional hub motor, the TS builds the motor right into the rim of the rear wheel, with a bearing system and an array of electromagnets that create repelling forces that drive rotation of the outer rim and tire.

Verge TS in yellow.Photo: Verge Motorcycles

The result is the hubless look you see here, as well as a very low maintenance design that has a minimum of moving parts. No chain to oil or shaft to lubricate, not even a single gear between the motor and the road.

This simplicity extends to the controls as well, with the rear brake on the left handlebar, the front brake on the right, and the throttle. The footpegs are control free, and there are actually four of them—two set to the rear for a standard-style foot position, and two forward pegs for a cruiser-style position. Verge also notes that the bike can carry a passenger, in which case the pilot uses the front pegs and the passenger uses the rears.

The range is claimed to be between 200 to 300 kilometers (124 to 186 miles), with a five-hour charging time on AC, 40 minutes on DC, and a top speed of 180 km/h (111 mph). Verge Motorcycles, formerly RMK, have been showing concepts and prototypes for several years now. This one seems to have been on the verge of production for some time, but now it appears to almost be finished. For more information, visit https://www.vergemotorcycles.com/.

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