VOL. 55 ISSUE 25 JUNE 26, 2018 P113
Motorcycles after the legendary American motor-
cycling and aviation pioneer Glenn H. Curtiss. His
most notable achievement on two wheels was to
set a World Land Speed Record of 136.36 mph
in January 1907 at Ormond Beach, Florida on a
40 bhp, 4410cc V8-powered motorcycle, which
he'd designed and built himself, before thereafter
transferring his attention to aircraft, and to emulat-
ing the feats of the Wright Brothers. His motor-
cycle speed record would stand for another 23
years before it was beaten.
But whereas Confederate's various models
have hitherto all featured muscular engines that
were as loud in action as they looked to be at
rest, the born-again Curtiss brand's debut Zeus
E-cruiser model is a Rebel with a Cause, which,
in pursuit of combining zero-emission transpor-
tation with also looking cool, wafts along to the
brand of two-wheeled choice
for America's rich and famous,
at prices up to $155,000. Serial
celebrities ranging from Holly-
wood A-listers Tom Cruise, Brad
Pitt and Nicholas Cage, through
to rock idols Bruce Springsteen,
Steven Tyler, and country music
star Tim McGraw, are to be
found in Confederate's roster of
high-profile owners, often with
more than one of these exqui-
sitely crafted and consequently
costly two-wheeled works of art
in their garages. Matt Chambers
is hoping they'll be equally ready
to go green with Curtiss.
"Curtiss Motorcycles will
focus on producing a range of
electric-powered two-wheelers
which will fit every pocketbook,
with the Zeus as the prototype,"
says Chambers. "The Curtiss
models will deploy a modular
architectural system, the design
of which we've filed numerous
patents on. Our all-new E-Twin
powertrain and batteries will
have superior weight manage-
ment compared to any other
two-wheeled EV. The geometry
and ergonomics will be bench-
mark level, too, empowering the
rider with effortless control, as
well as massive acceleration, top
speed, handling and comfort.
Whole new levels of safety have
been designed into the Zeus.
We're turning many pages here,
and our mission is to future-proof
the all-American hot rod."
Chambers' foresight in ac-
quiring the Curtiss trademark
seven years ago parallels the late
Claudio Castiglioni's purchase
(Above) Machined
beauty? Depends
who you talk to,
but the Curtiss
Zeus is certainly
unique. (Right)
There's more than
a touch of the
old Confederate
design in the
Curtiss Zeus.
sound of silence while delivering an all-new look
to the electric bike marketplace. It also breaks
new ground in being powered by not one but
two air-cooled, brushless, permanent-magnet
3-phase DC motors which offer a combined
output of 170 bhp, linked together in a patented
modular system with a single common output
shaft, to potentially deliver massive torque and
vivid acceleration. The Zeus is the kickoff model
in a series of Curtiss E-motorcycles with varying
levels of performance, and sticker prices start-
ing at $20,000—a further contrast to Confeder-
ate's previous status as the mucho expensivo
