New Details for Fuell Fllow Emerge

[Hugh Janus]

Time to order your Fuell Fllow electric motorcycle—it’s coming soon (we’re told). (Fuell/)

The last time we checked in with Fuell—Erik Buell’s latest electric vehicle outfit, in case you forgot—it was 2021, in the eye of the pandemic. Assembly lines were shuttered, supply chains were snarled, and normal life as we know it was generally turned upside down. In short, the future was unknowable, and Fuell put its long-awaited electric motorcycle, the Fllow, on standby, choosing instead to focus on its Flluid ebike. It turned out to be a smart move, as demand for ebikes exploded in that time; some models of the Flluid have since sold out. Meanwhile, sometime in late 2022, Fuell quietly announced it was reopening preorders for the Fllow, Fuell’s first electric motorcycle. Now comes word from the company that the new model (in prototype form) has achieved validation success on prelaunch.com, and preorders are re-reopening (yeah, we’re confused too). In short, the Fllow project is proceeding apace, with production expected soon.

Fuell touts the Fllow’s 30-minute charging time, but that’s only if you use a Supercharger/CCS (Combined Charging System). It’ll take several hours longer (10) using the home wall outlet. (Fuell/)

Does that mean we can expect a production model in 2024? Hopefully, but the company is still dancing around an actual date, saying only that they have a “functional prototype,” and that “the Fuell Fllow is available for preorder at $9,995″—a sizable $3,000 discount off the $12,995 MSRP. Curiously, the company’s website cites a $11,995 MSRP, with a $2,000 discount if you preorder and put down a $200 reservation deposit.

Otherwise, the technical info Fuell released about the Fllow late last year remains relatively unchanged. A few numbers have been updated, but other specs are still vague. As with most electric motorcycles, the torque numbers are eye-watering: 553 lb.-ft. in the Fllow’s case; the acceleration is head-snapping (0–60 in 3.5 seconds); and the top speed of 85 mph is just so-so. Fuell is emphasizing that the Fllow’s range is better than most of its peers, claiming a 150-plus mile range in urban conditions. And frankly, the fact that this thing is still going to be produced after a protracted shutdown and global pandemic is impressive.

The Fllow’s 10kWh battery pack gets its own structural magnesium housing down below. The brand calls the bike’s styling “minimalistic, and utilitarian,” but maybe “polarizing” is more accurate. (Fuell/)

Back to the Fllow’s specs, though. The latest numbers from Fuell claim an output of 47 hp (35kW) from the transverse flux motor mounted in the rear wheel, and backed up by a high-capacity 10kWh battery pack in a structural magnesium housing. There’s 53.9 inches between the wheels and a rider-friendly 30.1-inch seat height, and weight is a claimed 400 pounds, which should make the Fllow fairly nimble. For comparison, the LiveWire One weighs 562 pounds and outputs less than 90 lb.-ft. of torque (but it’s also good for 100 hp). Fuell says charging time is 30 minutes using a Supercharger/CCS (Combined Charging System) but will take considerably longer (10 hours) using the home charging system.

Fuell says the dashboard is always connected and able to receive regular software updates. That “fuel tank” actually opens to reveal 10 gallons of storage space. (Fuell/)

Also of note is the Fllow’s fairly large storage capacity, which leverages the space normally taken up by a fuel tank on an ICE bike to good use. Here you can expect a 50-liter storage capacity, which the company says will fit a full-face helmet and a large bag among other things. In its current state, the Fllow has the luggage capacity and practicality of a large scooter but looks like (and presumably handles) like a midsize motorcycle. The company says it “accelerates like a superbike, and is highway capable…with a very low center of gravity,” but the commuter market is clearly the intended target, given the 10 gallons of storage, space for a passenger, and the quick charging port allowing use of existing stations.

Patent-pending: The Axially Integrated Transverse Flux motor is housed in the rear wheel, thus removing a secondary transmission source. (Fuell/)

As you might expect on a project run by Erik Buell, the Fllow packs all kinds of advanced innovations. The integrated wheel motor, for example, is a patent-pending original cooked up by Buell himself specifically for Fllow. The wheel-motor refers to the Axially Integrated Transverse Flux motor uniquely integrated into the rear wheel, which removes the secondary transmission (a chain or drive belt) while maintaining power and keeping weight acceptably low.

Says Buell: “We knew we needed wheel designs that would work with the large-diameter electric motor technology; a design that keeps everything as light as possible and allows wheel/tire changes without disturbing the motor seals. Also, a design that would prevent any wheel rim and spoke deformation from lateral and vertical loads from being transferred to the motor housings. Because the drive motor is a large diameter, the drive torsion forces go from the rotor out to the rim, therefore the spokes from the rotor carry no torsional loads, only road loads.”

A single shock and single-sided swingarm handles suspension duties out back. (Fuell/)

Also of note (and patent-pending) is the 10kWh battery pack that’s integrated into the chassis, acting as a structural element. The Fllow will also have the ability to update battery packs for new technologies and upgrades as they become available, says the company. Also on the chassis side is what Fuell calls “integrated chassis and powertrain management with traction/wheelie control and patent-pending Optimized Powertrain Integration—to optimize chassis handling and power,” which we assume is an electronic system that can be adjusted to suit, We also get references to an “Advanced Braking System…with rear wheel regenerative braking activated automatically by the linked braking system,” but no other details or specifications.

Also not clear are some of the more specific chassis and electrical details, like rake and trail, braking and suspension component configurations, and switch gear and lighting details. But we do know that there will be advanced electronic safety options available for the Fllow developed in partnership with tech company iRider, promising collision warning, blind spot detection, active road navigation, and more.

The single disc up front is part of the linked braking system on the Fllow. (Fuell/)

According to Buell, the design brief for the Fllow was relatively narrowly focused, targeting urban users who have to contend with emissions constraints/regulations. The machine would need to be comfortable, easy to ride, quick to accelerate, and have storage capability, and visually, it would use a minimalistic, utilitarian design language that was still modern and beautiful. The range and price would be especially crucial, with targets of under $15,000 and at least 150 miles range in real city traffic conditions. Additionally and just as importantly, says the company, the bike would need to be able to charge as fast as a “traditional stop for gasoline.”

Erik Buell considers the Fllow to be just one part of an overall strategy for the future of transportation, given the growing restrictions in urban spaces. (Fuell/)

The Fllow is just one part of a bigger picture for Buell however. He’s tried to put the future of transportation in general into some context, saying: “There is no argument that currently, with battery technology as it stands, gas-powered motorcycles designed and used in traditional ways seem to be a more rational choice. Yet when you take into account the growing restrictions in city centers, and you focus on the duty cycles on urban/suburban use...urban motorcycles make a lot more sense. Even more so when you integrate high-voltage systems into your design, to make them compatible with automotive fast charging stations already installed in those areas.”

There will of course continue to be arguments for and against this line of thinking in the near-term, but it’ll likely be worth revisiting in the next decade or so.

We’re gonna assume those Buell-like stacked headlights are LED. The Fllow’s preorder price of $9,995 includes the exclusive Fuell x Veldt carbon helmet. (Fuell/)

According to the company, the Fllow will be assembled for production in the US, with parts and components emphasizing US and/or Western provenance. Fuell also adds that, compared to a gas-powered bike, Fllow has 60 percent fewer parts, and is assembled in 40 percent of the time.

Will the Fuell Fllow be a 2024 bike? Let’s hope. Right now, though, the company is accepting preorders at a $9,995 price ($12,995 MSRP) for the Fllow, which also includes an exclusive Fuell x Veldt luxury carbon helmet ($1,060 retail value).

Stay tuned.

The Fuell Fllow is expected to reach production (very?) soon. (Fuell/)

2024 Fuell Fllow Technical Specs

MSRP:	$12,995
Motor:	Proprietary axially integrated transverse flux motor in wheel (patent pending)
Battery:	10kWh lithium-ion cylindrical cell array in structural
magnesium housing	79.0 x 50.9mm
Charging:	Quick charge or home w/ Onboard or
accessory fast chargers	5-speed/chain
Charging rate:	750W on board, 3.3kW & 6.6kW available
accessory fast charger	17.8 lb.-ft. @ 9,300 rpm
Charge time:	100% (home): ~10 hr. (Onboard),
~2.5 hr. (3.3kW optional),	Wet, multiplate; cable actuation
~1.25 hr. (6.6kW optional)	Aluminum twin-spar
~30 min. (Supercharger: CCS Type 2, DC)	Showa 49mm coil-spring fork, compression damping and rebound damping adjustable; 12.2 in. travel
Power (claimed):	47 hp continuous (Fllow-1S)
15 hp continuous (Fllow-1)	Nissin 2-piston caliper, 260mm disc
Torque (claimed):	750 Nm (553 lb.-ft.)
Range (claimed):	150 miles (urban conditions)
Maximum Sustained Speed:	85 mph (140 kph)
Frame:	Magnesium monocoque
Front Suspension:	40mm inverted telescopic fork; 5.1 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Single-sided swingarm, single shock, preload adjustable
Front Brake:	Hydraulic disc w/ ABS
Rear Brake:	Integrated
Wheels, Front/Rear:	17 x 2.5 in. / 17 x 4 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	Michelin Pilot Street Radial; 110/70-17 / 140/70-17
Rake/Trail:	N/A
Wheelbase:	53.9 in.
Seat Height:	30.1 in.
Claimed Weight:	400 lb.
Contact:	fuell.us

Source

[Sir Fallsalot]

Looks like it was designed by people who hate motorcycles 

[Pedro]

1 hour ago, Sir Fallsalot said:

Looks like it was designed by people who hate motorcycles 

You can certainly see Buell in there, though. It’s cool if you can look at something and know who makes it.