“It’s red, like a Ferrari,” was the reaction from the publisher of Hello Lifestyle Magazine when I scooted down the driveway, arriving at the office on my latest mode of transport, the 150cc Big Boy Scooter on loan to us for a long-term test.
Pulling the trigger on trying two wheels in the weekday commute was indeed no easy decision. It started with the realisation that the dailyrun inside the Northern Suburbs was all of six kilometres each way, and the healthy option was the first go-to: cycling. I say ‘healthy’ with a pinch of salt, as pukka cyclists scoff at the mildest suggestion that an electric bicycle should even have the word ‘bicycle’ associated with it. Be that as it may, my electric bicycle was superb in getting me to the office, while also affording me the sometimes-unwelcome opportunity to reach my cardio quota for the day.
The shortcomings of cycling, though, are the sadly lacking dedicated cycling lanes our roads need, the poor condition of our pavements, and naturally, that slower speeds mean longer commutes. Also, sticking to the suburbs for safety, given the challenges just described, makes for longer routes. And shew, let’s be honest, bicycle seats offer so little comfort for the nether regions. Hence the introduction of my little redcity warrior, which, when I ‘math’d the math’, felt like the perfect solution to all my electric bicycle woes.
It certainly is a zooty little number, offering a 150cc engine that, in this kind of iteration, can feel like a 500cc, with a modest 6.5kW on offer at a staggering 7000rpm. That latter number you would have to rely on your earbuds to relay, as there isn’t a rev counter – but let me assure you, with a bike weighing a tad over 100kg, the power to weight ratio here is solid, and there is more than enough voomah for you to skittle through traffic at city speed limits.
The sweet spot is around 40-50km/h max: it’s where the engine purrs and you still feel quite safe and stable. I can’t tell you what stability feels like any faster, as I prefer the slow and steady approach (not that the taxis appreciate this mindset, I may add). Maximum speed is claimed at 95km/h, and interestingly, the spec sheet lists a cruising speed of 60-75km/h. Why anyone would want to do close to 100km/h on a scooter, though, is beyond me, even if technically it can go that fast.
