Image Credit: Captain Electro.
The fashion industry has a lot to answer for. One minute we're all wearing flared jeans, the next we're told that a two-wheeled machine that looks like a classic café racer - the kind that sped down cobblestone streets in the 1960s - is now a "style statement." These days, having a vehicle that goes fast and far is out of the question. It's all about looking good while moving at a sensible pace. Why would you buy a fabulous pair of Louboutin heels to only wear them while sitting on the sofa? Beautiful, but very confusing.
This trend of e-bikes playing dress-up has delivered us to the Tromox M05, which the company has affectionately dubbed the "Electric Latte." Now, I adore a good latte, especially one that doesn't spill on my vintage driving gloves, but I'm afraid the name is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. When a company from China, one that has made a name for itself crafting surprisingly decent and affordable electric two-wheelers, presents something that looks like a proper motorcycle but has the heart rate of a garden gnome, yours truly gets her gently-skeptical-yet-still-optimistic notepad out.
Image Credit: Tromox.
I'm not saying it isn't cute! Honestly, it's ridiculously charming. It takes the "café racer" aesthetic and turns the volume up to a solid eight. The design team clearly understood the assignment for that genuine Italian look. We've got the necessary round, claw-style LED headlight - because nobody wants a square headlight, that's just gauche - a single-bench-type seat that's perfect for one person (or two if you're keen on being incredibly cozy), and handlebars that curve just so. If you're going to crawl along at suburban speeds, you may as well look like you're waiting for a checkered flag to drop, right?
But a motorcycle this is not. The numbers reveal that the "Latte" is more of a tiny espresso cup. Tucked into that rear wheel is a 3-kW brushless motor. Three. Kilowatts. To put that in perspective, that's about four horsepower, which is roughly the oomph you'd expect from a very determined washing machine. Tromox also claims it has a 92% energy efficiency in urban settings, which I suppose is wonderful, but I'm willing to bet my best wrench that efficiency is sky-high because it simply doesn't have the energy to be inefficient…
Image Credit: Tromox.
The good news is that you have options for your thrills. The top-of-the-line model can zip you along the road at a neck-snapping 43.5 miles per hour. If you happen to live in a place with stricter regulations, there's an L1e-B trim that maxes out at a hair-raising 28 miles per hour. I'm not sure what kind of "acceleration times" we're discussing here, but I imagine you could make a cup of tea while waiting for it to reach its top speed, so let's focus on the fun bits instead.
The juice box. Powering this runabout is a swappable 2.3-kWh LFP battery pack - and yes, it runs on 48 Volts. This is all very respectable e-bike stuff. But the true star of the show has to be the "Cube 2.0 Smart BMS" battery management system, which apparently provides 25 layers of protection. That sounds less like a battery guard and more like a Russian nesting doll of pure safety. I fully expect the 26th layer to be a tiny, friendly security guard waving a flag.
Image Credit: Tromox.
Under ideal conditions - and "ideal" usually means downhill with a strong tailwind - Tromox suggests you'll get around 50 miles on a single charge. Given that the battery pops right out, you can detach it and charge it up right next to your bedside table. Think of it: no more awkwardly dragging a charger through the kitchen window and tripping over the cat. Small luxuries, people.
Physically, the M05 is a featherweight contender, weighing in at only 194 pounds. This makes it unintimidating for a first-time rider, especially when compared to those grumpy, heavy combustion bikes. Despite its light stature, it can carry 330 pounds, so it can haul quite a bit of takeout and still manage to look chic. The seat height is perfectly accessible at 31.3 inches, and the ground clearance of 9.8 inches means you won't be scraping on every speed bump - a surprisingly grown-up detail for such a playful machine. All of this is held together by a lightweight frame, a high-strength dual swingarm, and an inverted fork.
Image Credit: Tromox.
Here's where my skepticism gets a little wiggle room: the tech. For a machine that only achieves the legal speed of a small suburban backroad, it has ABS, Electronic Traction Control (E-TCS), and mmWave Blind Spot Detection (BSD). That last bit is just wonderful. It's like having a dedicated, tiny radar system to warn you that someone is about to pass you - even though they're already going to be doing that because you're topping out at 43 mph. This two-wheeler brings a full tuxedo to a pool party - overdressed, over-engineered, and plain adorable.
Tromox has introduced this lovely little "motorcycle" at the equivalent of about $3,500. I'm not saying that's a king's ransom, but there are plenty of Class 3 e-motos out there doing similar speeds and delivering 40+ miles of range for around $2,000. This has to be the main rub... Branding this beauty as a motorcycle and not an e-bike feels like a desperate attempt to justify the price tag and squeeze into a larger market category. You just can't call a poodle a wolf to charge triple the price.
Image Credit: Tromox.
Yet, I can't be too hard on the Electric Latte. It's absolutely gorgeous, it's packed with safety tech that rivals machines three times its size, and even at $3,500, it is still relatively more affordable than most entry-level motorcycles that run on dinosaur juice. Maybe looking fantastic and being just quick enough to get you to the coffee shop without breaking a sweat is enough. I guess that sometimes, we all need a little lightweight, over-protected, beautifully-designed latte to start the day.
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