In 2021, boutique French marque and customs shop DAB Motors unveiled an electric street tracker prototype known as the Concept-E. And after DAB was bought out by fellow French firm Peugeot Motocycles last year, it’s now announced that its concept will be entering limited production as the DAB 1a.
At the heart of the bike is a 25.5-kW electric motor cranking out 34.6hp and 291ft-lbs of torque — at the rear wheel — allowing for a top speed of 80mph. Mated to a Gates Carbon belt drive, the motor draws from a repairable and recycle-able 72-volt LI-ION battery that affords a 93-mile range and can receive a complete 0-100% recharge in as little as 3 hours. Also included is a Brembo braking system, a DAB x Paioli suspension setup, multiple ride modes, a “Nitrous” button offering brief boosts in power, a reverse function, an Alcantara seat, and a forged carbon front fender made from up cycled carbon fiber sourced from Airbus.
There are several factors that make the 1a so incredibly noteworthy. For starters, the thing is basically a carbon copy of DAB’s original Concept-E, looking exactly like it in practically every way. This essentially means you can now purchase a production bike that’s identical to one of the most heralded custom bike designs in recent history, albeit at a much more affordable price. In fact, the only thing it lacks is the exclusivity of the one-off, but is otherwise the same in every other way. Additionally, it’s just a stunning motorcycle, as well as something if the ultimate urban e-bike, having clearly been engineered from the ground up for commuting in the city.
Limited to just 400 units worldwide, the DAB Motors 1a is slated for a launch in the coming months. Interested parties can register to reserve a spot in line on the DAB’s site. Pricing for the DAB 1a has been set at €14,900 (~ 16,000).
