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Mavizen TTX02 at Zolder Circuit, click to enlarge. Picture: FEMA

It's an early Thursday morning in Brussels when I start the engine of my Triumph Tiger 1050. The triple awakes and the familiar sound is pleasing to my ears. In peak hours the European capital is hopelessly congested and I'm glad when I finally leave the traffic jams behind me. I'm going to Zolder circuit to test the Mavizen TTX02.

The opposing lane leading into Brussels is still completely congested. My lane is clear and I'm enjoying the sound and the power of my English lady. How is it going to feel to accelerate without any noise, without any explosions causing vibrations? It's the first time that I will ride an electric bike and the last time I've been on a racetrack is already two years ago. I'm excited and a little nervous.

You can hear the birds singing on the racetrack

It is still a chilly morning when I arrive at the racing circuit. I switch off the Triumph and I am surprised by the silence around me. On a bridge I cross the track and the safety car flies by accompanied only by a buzz, it looks like an electric Toyota. It's Clean Week in Zolder, all vehicles on the track are driven alternatively. The silence is only interrupted by screeching tires and birdsongs. When I finally arrive at box 23, Azhar Hussain and his engineer David are already there. Azhar is the inventor of the TTXGP, a racing series for electric motorcycles.

The emergency butten is mandatory on race tracks. Picture: FEMA

Last year he managed to astound the racing community with a successful event on the Isle of Man TT - definitely the toughest road racing circuit in the world. Azhar smiles at me and shakes my hand: "there's nobody out there and the batteries are fully charged. Are you ready?"

I turn my attention towards the Mavizen which looks quite familiar to me. It's all black with a big red button on the tail, indicators and mirrors are removed. While I'm tapping the tank David explains: "the Mavizen is based on the KTM RC 8. The tank is used to store part of the battery pack, the red button allows track marshals to interrupt the current flow in case of emergency." David instructs me on the functioning: "Turn the key, next to the throttle a red light flashes up, switch off the kill switch and here you go."

Light, easy, surrealistic

I'm sitting on the Mavizen already while David shows me all kinds of numbers and units on the display, mentioning Watts and Ampères but physics had never been among my favourite subjects. Finally David releases me: "Just return to the box after the first lap so we can check the parameters. Be careful with the throttle, it reacts immediately." I slightly open the throttle and all of a sudden the Mavizen ruggedly rushes forward. The sound is similar to remote controlled electric cars.

The Mavizen leaving the box. Picture: FEMA

I accelerate carefully on the fast lane and turn into the runway. Before the sharp turn I try to change down, but then I remember that there is no clutch nor gears so I hit the anchors. The deceleration almost bucks me off. Slightly stressed I wobble around the corner.

I accelerate and squint at the speedo. Wow, 110 km/h, it feels more like 70 km/h! The following chicane is mastered, I'm starting to feel comfortable and I make myself familiar with the track. The Mavizen is easy to handle and does exactly what you want it to do. Turning in, righting moment when cornering, directional stability: everything impeccable. In the last curve before the start/finish straight I'm already too high spirited and the tail flutters anxiously, but the 160 kilograms are brought to heel without difficulties.

All parameters in the pink

Back in the pit lane, David checks the data switching through different menus of the instrument display. "Everything ok, two more laps to go until the track is closed again." Without bucking I'm back on the fast lane and lean into the first curves. Everything feels so familiar already. The long straight leads over a slight hill. I'm at full throttle duck down on the tank, the power characteristic is exactly linear, no explosions no dips.

The speedo says 170 km/h, I can't believe it! It just does not feel that fast. Is it because usually high speed is accompanied by huskily roaring motor sound? Or is it because the superb chassis can easily handle the lightweight? I don't care, I have to concentrate on the next chicane.

I absolutely enjoy the last turn. It's the purest racing feeling I've ever had. All you hear is speed, the fight against aerodynamic resistance and rolling drag. No nervous blinking of the gearshift indicator, all concentration can be dedicated on the track. That's how it feels to ride the future!

Within five years we'll be able to compete with GP-bikes

Back in the box I report my impressions to David and Azhar. Their meaningful smiles indicate that other testers must have reported quite the same. When asked about the linearity of the power characteristics, David explains me that in theory every imaginable power characteristic could be chosen. All the user has to do is to transfer the desired setting via USB. "In future you'll be able to download the settings of your preferred race driver, the installation is as simple as adding an app to your iPhone."

The Mavizen is based on the chassis of the KTM RC 8. Foto: FEMA

Azhar checks the instruments. "174 km/h topspeed? In the current setting you could have gone up to 193 km/h! On the dynamometer we already achieve up to 220 km/h." It took the developers of TTXGP bikes only one year to compete with 125cc bikes. "Within five years we'll be able to compete with MotoGP bikes". Azhar says that without any irony in his voice.

The Mavizen TTX02 is not a fatuous and horrendously expensive prototype built for the museum. Road legal versions can be purchased at a cost of around €30.000. Worldwide delivery has started already.

Back in presence I find myself filtering cumbersomely through the sea of cars congesting all arterial roads leading to Brussels. The fan has to cool down the Triumph's triple, just the same way all the cars around me have to be prevented from overheating. Everybody is wasting precious time and precious resources while gnawing on the stressed climate of our precious planet. Despite all the noise and smog I have to smile: the future is going to be different!

At the Zolder Circuit: Philip Vogt, FEMA Policy and Communication Assistant

Azhar Hussain will be present at the International Motorcyclists Conference as a speaker. Up to three Mavizen bikes will be available for test rides.

Mavizen TTX02 technical details

Dry weight: 110kg (without batteries)
Seat height: 805 mm
Ground clearance: 110 mm (depending on battery and suspension configuration)
Wheelbase: 1,430 mm
Frame type: Powder coated Chromium-Molybdenum trellis
Rake (fork angle): 23.3°
Trail: 90 mm
Front suspension: WP-USD, 43 mm
Front suspension travel: 120 mm
Rear suspension: WP-Monoshock
Rear suspension travel: 125 mm
Front tyre dimensions: 120/70-17 (Marchesini wheels)
Rear tyre dimensions: 190/55-17 (Marchesini wheels)
Front brakes: Double disc. Brembo
Front brakes diameter: 320 mm
Rear brakes: Single disc. Brembo
Rear brakes diameter: 220 mm
Range: up to 50 miles (track) and 130 miles (road)
Top speed: 130+ mph

For more information visit the Mavizen homepage.