This E-Bike Thinks It's a Time-Traveling Motorcycle
Image Credit: Beachman.
For the most part of it, my life has been a symphony of internal combustion, a delightful cacophony of roaring V8s, and screaming superbikes. So, when the world went electric, I'll admit I was intrigued. The silence was certainly new. But when someone tries to sell me an "e-bike" that looks like a rejected prop from a sci-fi movie, I tend to smile, nod, and slowly back away.
Then, a little number from a Canadian company called Beachman slid into my inbox. It's called the '64 E-Bike, and my goodness, it stopped my cynical little heart. It doesn't look like it's trying to predict the future; it looks like it just rolled out of the past. It's a 1960s cafe racer, all sleek lines and vintage cool, but without the oil leaks and the questionable reliability I remember from, well, the actual 1960s.
Image Credit: Beachman.
This machine is a classic case of judging a book by its incredibly handsome cover and being absolutely right. It's built for those of us who want the wind in our hair and the thrill of the ride, but maybe not the grease under our fingernails or the need for a mechanical engineering degree to keep it running.
The starting price is a rather reasonable $4,800. Think about it. It's more than a bicycle you'd use to fetch organic kale, but it's a whole lot less than a mid-life crisis convertible. And it's probably more fun.
Image Credit: Beachman.
The real party trick of the Beachman '64 is its split personality. It has three modes, which I've decided to rename for my own amusement. First, there's "Pretending to Be a Law-Abiding Citizen" mode. This is your standard e-bike setting, which caps you at a respectable 20 mph.
Then there's the "Oh Gosh, I'm Late for Mimosas" mode. This bumps the speed up to 30 mph, legally classifying the '64 as a moped. It's the perfect speed for flying through city traffic and feeling just a tiny bit rebellious.
Image Credit: Beachman.
Finally, my personal favorite: "Let's See What This Thing Can Do" mode. Officially called Off-Road, it unlocks a top speed of 45 mph. On something that looks this chic! It's fast enough to make you feel alive, but not so fast that you need to start writing your will. It's the perfect speed for an empty country road and a tiny bit of escapism.
It all sounds lovely until this point, but I thought the '64 would probably run out of juice halfway to the coffee shop. I was wrong. The standard battery is a 2.88 kWh unit that'll give you up to 55 miles of range. If you're a real explorer, you can upgrade to a 3.6 kWh battery for a proper 70 miles of range. That's more than enough for a full day of adventures, detours, and getting fashionably lost.
Image Credit: Beachman.
The Beachman has regenerative braking to slurp up a little extra power on the go, and when you do need to plug in, it'll go from empty to 80% charged in about three hours. That's just enough time for a long lunch and a bit of window shopping.
The part that truly made me swoon was actually a big surprise. Our world is all about apps, connectivity, and screens that demand constant attention from us. The Beachman '64? It has none of that. It's elegantly simple. You get on, twist the throttle, and go. This detox on two wheels is designed to help you disconnect from your phone and connect with the ride. What a delightfully old-fashioned concept.
Image Credit: Beachman.
The Beachman '64 is so much more than an e-bike. It's a perfect two-wheeler for the person who appreciates timeless style but is not ready to give up modern convenience. It delivers a taste of motorcycle life without the intimidating learning curve. It's pure, silent fun, wrapped in the prettiest package I've seen in a very long time.
