Tarform Makes the Right Electric Cafe Racer Motorcycle

• Founded in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Tarform makes an electric motorcycle unlike anything else on the market.

• A trellis frame, 120 miles of range, and sustainable material construction make up the character of the hand-built motorcycle.

• Citing performance, Tarform has equipped the bike with adjustable Ohlins suspension, biting ISR brakes, and a Triumph Bonneville-like geometry.

Once a hub for World War II-era warships, the Brooklyn Navy Yard is reminiscent of the old school, from dry dock steel workers to rubber goods production. These days the ultra-desirable plot of land along the East River is mostly home to tech startups, film production, and rooftop gardens—the new school. And while these new businesses may seem antithetical to the original mission of the centuries-old shipyard, they're exactly what will carry on its industrious lineage.

Tarform is one of these businesses that carry on the manufacturing legacy. Situated on the eighth floor of a new building in the Navy Yard, the electric motorcycle startup operates out of a medium-sized block space overlooking the skyscrapers and suspension bridges of Manhattan. A small group of engineers, programmers, and technicians work to create what seems like the right electric motorcycle for today.

The specifications of Tarform's Racer and Scrambler models are largely identical, with slight differences in tire choice. A trellis frame that could win a beauty contest against a 1990s Ducati 900ss creates the backbone of what is a relatively light electric motorcycle, weighing in at 440 pounds. Power levels are adequate, with 75 hp produced by a 55-kW electric motor, and the three ride modes (City, Cruise, and Cheetah) accentuate the relative ease of electric power tuning. Though it is not DC fast-charger functional, the 11.8-kWh battery packed is compatible with Level 1 and Level 2 charging, claiming a L2 charge rate of 0-80% within 50 minutes. In an impressive show of symmetry, 120 miles is both the top speed and maximum range, with a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds.

A billet aluminum handlebar and integrated 3.4-inch digital dash bolt to inverted and adjustable Ohlins forks with an accompanying Ohlin mono-shock in the rear. Wire spoke or billet aluminum 18-inch wheels come equipped with beefy ISR dual-disc front and single-disc rear brakes. That's in addition to the regenerative braking inherent to the electric motor while driving. Other important figures include a 33-inch seat height and 25-degree rake, which is nearly identical to a Triumph Bonneville.

Take into account the performance hardware and the Tarform is by all accounts competitive with the neo-retro bikes flooding the two-wheel market. Those quick to disavow the mid-range power number must remember that the power is electric, thereby instant. By all metrics, this bike is something that carb-cleaning, kick-starting motorcyclists should love. Nonetheless, proving the cultural and worldly relevance of EVs has been an uphill battle, and the company knew it had to deliver something unique.

It could be a hit with Harley and Ducati riders alike. Riding around the Navy yard during a test session, Tarform founder Taras Kravtchouk explained that skeptics often leave with a new outlook on electric motorcycles. Having spent time with Tarform's most recent production version, Autoweek concurs that both the Scrambler and Racer versions are transcendent motorcycles.

Character, the sensory feedback and engineered behaviors a vehicle possess, is as important as drivetrain or speed, and the Tarform has an undeniable character. Metrics only tell so much of the story, but the feeling is a continuous measurement of enjoyment. A short jaunt with the Tarform Racer and then Scrambler prototype revealed the sort of slick playfulness devoid of many electric motorcycles on the market today.

Climb onto the stripped-down but clean-looking motorcycle and a few key characteristics are immediately present. It is exceedingly comfortable with the fruit-derived leather seat and forward-set handlebars. Sure, the folding all-metal footpegs feel a bit too sporty, like a race-prepped SV650, but the mid-height peg setting paired with the slightly forward handlebar reach was mindlessly comfortable for this 5-foot-9-inch rider. The steering is heavy but predictable at low speeds while the higher speed on-road tracking is without a hint of wobble.