Café racer or e-moped? Testing the Brekr Model B

Petrolheads don’t care about improving the world – and not all those who do want to have a boring green image. This is where the Brekr Model B comes in. With its café racer inspired design and locally emissions-free electric motor, it targets both groups. Can it unite these seemingly opposite worlds?

Key Facts:

• Price: € 4,749
• Weight: 79 kg
• Battery capacity: 2 kWh
• Max. Power: 4 kW
• Max. Range: 50–80 km
• Wheelsize: 17”

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Imagine you’re a petrolhead. There’s no shame in that. After all, most of us grew up in a time when fuel was still cheap and climate change activists were still quiet. We can relate to that. Although the rational arguments for reducing our CO2 emissions make sense, we’re driven by emotions. And all too often these get stirred by the growl of a combustion engine. Particularly with our test rider Paulina for whom these emotions are deeply rooted as she grew up in a family that worked on two-wheelers and took them to the racetrack at the weekends. That’s her thing. So, it’s all the better that there are bikes that manage to convey emotions not by how they sound but by their look and feel. Enter the Brekr Model B e-moped, which looks like a café racer and manages to attract the attention of die-hard petrolheads like Paulina despite its silent motor. We put the € 4,749 bike to the test to find out if it can convert that attention into enthusiasm through its performance.

The Brekr Model B in detail

The Brekr Model B is beautifully minimalistic: a bench seat, two tires, an electric hub motor at the rear and a lightweight aluminium frame to hold everything together, including the box containing the battery. Of course, the bike also comes with brakes, a handlebar and suspension, but it generally has a very simple silhouette. The heart of the Brekr Model B is the powerful hub motor at the rear, capable of putting out a continuous 2.5 kW with a peak output of 4 kW. This, in turn, is powered by a 2 kWh battery, which is hidden in the box under the bench seat. In exchange for storage space and € 1,499, you can add a second, equally large battery to double the maximum range specified by Brekr from 70 to 140 km. On our test bike, we were impressed with the sturdy motorbike components for the tires, suspension fork and brakes. Speaking of which, when using the motor or brakes to slow down, the Brekr can convert kinetic energy back into electrical energy. With this regenerative braking process, the bike can charge its battery while rolling downhill or when braking, thus increasing the range.

The Brekr Model B wants to change the way we move around in our overcrowded and car-burdened cities while making a statement and creating awareness. And for all Brekr fans to stand out in their own way and express themselves, the bike’s look can be customised at an extra charge, giving you a choice of colours for the frame, the coil on the rear suspension and the seat. You can also choose more aggressive off-road tires. Along with the bike, you get the Brekr app, which uses the GPS module installed in the bike to track your rides, show the current location of the bike and warn you of suspicious activity, such as when someone moves the bike after it’s been parked. When buying the Brekr Model B, you get free access to the app for one year, after which you’ll have to pay a monthly fee of € 3.95.

The Brekr Model B day-to-day

The Brekr Model B has nothing to do with bicycles as it was inspired by a motorcycle. That said, it’s intuitive to use and all buttons can be reached while keeping your hands on the handlebar, which is both convenient and safe. To charge the battery, you can either remove it and take it inside with you or simply plug the charger into the bike. Removing the battery and connecting the charger are both very easy to do.

Unfortunately, the bike’s luggage concept isn’t as practical. Although the Model B has a small basket in front of the seat, it’s completely exposed to the elements. Moreover, the adjustable rubber band for securing your luggage in the basket is either very tight or very loose. The storage space under the seat is also limited to small, narrow objects, and you have to give it up completely when using a second battery. Another downside is the poor readability of the display in direct sunlight. On the upside, the range and charging time of the Brekr Model B usually correspond to the manufacturer’s specifications. Riding in mode 4 on level terrain, you can reach 70 km on a single charge, and recharging takes just under 5 hours.

Riding the Brekr Model B

Simply turn the key to the right and pull the brake once to switch from neutral to drive and the Brekr Model B is ready to go! For this, there are four modes available, between which there are several noticeable differences. In mode 1, the acceleration is leisurely, taking its time to reach the 45 km/h limit – uphill, you won’t break the 40 km/h barrier. In mode 4, on the other hand, the thing really moves, both when pulling away from a standstill or just accelerating. You’ll quickly reach the 45 km/h limit on an uphill and, according to the speedometer, the bike even exceeds this limit on flat roads and descents. In the city, you can easily flow with the other cars or leave them behind as you pull away from traffic lights. The same applies to the regenerative braking: it’s very gentle in mode 1, whereas it kicks in noticeably in mode 4, which can be a bit startling if you’re not expecting it. Modes 2 and 3 are evenly spaced between modes 1 and 4.

The suspension fork up front and shock on the rear should soften the ride, the latter being adjustable to the weight of the rider. Nevertheless, the bike sags quite far into its travel the moment you climb aboard, the fork dipping even further when you brake and quickly rebounding when you accelerate, which can feel a bit like a seesaw when you stop and go – it feels more like a sofa than a sporty racer. Despite the long travel and adjustable shock, the bike doesn’t cope well with quick successive hits, which makes the rear end bounce and pass the impacts onto the rider.

The seat is comfortable enough to make it suitable for long journeys. That said, there’s no defined sitting position. On the one hand, this allows you to vary your position a little, so you can stretch or flex your legs and arms if needed. On the other hand, you can slide back and forth on the seat unintentionally. There’s plenty of room for a passenger, though the bike is somewhat underpowered for two people. Thanks to the excellent light system with beautifully integrated daytime running lights, brake lights and taillights, the Model B can be spotted easily amongst daytime traffic, and you’ll have plenty of visibility in the dark. At least to the front as the view to the rear is limited by the rather small one-sided rear-view mirror. The sound generator contributes just as much to road safety as the lights, warning pedestrians as the almost silent e-moped approaches.

If someone’s careless enough to cross the road in front of you anyway, the brakes will quickly bring the bike to a halt. However, you’ll have to stay on the ball anyway since the brakes are arranged the other way around than on most bicycles – rear brake lever on the left, front brake lever on the right – and the rear wheel tends to lock out quite easily due to the absence of ABS. The tires offer sufficient grip on asphalt and you’re more likely to scrape the footrest on the ground than reach the limits of the tires when cornering. Nevertheless, the Brekr Model B is a lot of fun to ride, especially through city traffic, putting a smile on your face thanks to its acceleration and handling through the corners, regardless of whether you’re cruising along leisurely or riding more aggressively. It also attracts a lot of attention. Beyond city limits, the Brekr prefers quiet winding roads as it’s simply too slow for straight country highways.

Our conclusion on Brekr Model B

The Brekr Model B is an agile e-moped, offering quick acceleration and sufficient range. As such, it’s the right vehicle for those who like darting through the city, celebrating that motorcycle feeling and self-expression. Although it isn’t the most comfortable, the Model B is a lot of fun and will likely get petrolheads excited about the future. Those who are less about self-expression and more about cargo-hauling convenience are best advised to look elsewhere.

For more information about the Brekr Model B, visit brekr.com.

Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf