In May 2020, Verge Motorcycles, a Finnish firm formerly called RMK Vehicle Corporation, landed in the small world of the so-called “big cubes” electric motorcycle. This unveiled the amazing TS, an electric roadster without a rear wheel hub. The objective was to find a place among players such as Zero Motorcycles, Harley-Davidson, Damon Motorcycles or Energica.
Since then, the TS has undergone many changes before being presented many times throughout Europe, notably in Paris and Lyon recently, followed by the Principality of Monaco.
Today, the successful launch of a new product depends either on a limited series or on the assistance of a — real — celebrity. At Verge, we opted for both. Thus the Finnish firm has signed a collaboration with his compatriot Mika Häkkinen, double Formula 1 world champion, nicknamed “flyingfinn“, or the flying Finn. Note that Mika Häkkinen is one of the shareholders and member of the board of directors of the manufacturer.
A limited series of 100 copies
Mika Häkkinen was not content to put his famous signature on the 100 dedicated copies. The Finn personally collaborated in the birth of this Verge. The protagonists took as a base one of the three models offered, namely the TS Pro.
Originally, it is equipped with an electric motor developing 102 kW (138 hp; torque of 1000 Nm) for a maximum speed of 200 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h reached in 3.5 seconds. This is powered by a lithium-ion battery (18650 cells) with a capacity of 20.2 kWh, as on the basic TS model. The theoretical range is 350 km.
Braking is provided at the front by a double 230 mm Galfer disc housing twin Brembo calipers with four pistons each. The rear wheel features a single 380mm Galfer disc and a single in-house four-piston caliper.
The Verge Signature X Mika Häkkinen, only in silver grey, stands out from the original model by the presence of a 100% carbon cover. This one is treated with ceramic for better protection against scratches. The saddle is made of two types of leather while the shock absorbers are painted black. The icing on the cake, a numbered and signed plate is affixed to the motorcycle.
Still, this limited series has a cost. The Verge Mika Häkkinen will be available in France for the modest sum of €97,000, including €16,000 VAT (20%) and €1,000 of “Destination fees & documentation“. As a gift, the lucky customer will be offered a leather card holder and a collector’s book. Delivery is scheduled for October 2023.
The TS Verge, a hubless electric motorcycle
The TS Verge stands out from other productions by its enormous rear tire without a hub – called an orbital wheel – held by link wishbones and brake clamps.
The orbital wheel, or hubless wheel, is an invention of the Italian car designer Franco Sbarro presented in 1989. Concretely, it is a huge bearing signed by the Swedish SKF (specialist in ball bearings) accommodating a tire. This orbital wheel has nothing to do with style: the absence of a central axis “supports the vehicle at the lowest point. The center of gravity is lowered for better handling”, explains Philippe Calvet, specialist in the work of Franco Sbarro who has created a dedicated website. This same Franco Sbarro will use his invention to create three motorcycles and a car called Osmos.