Suzuki applied for patents on a new electric motorcycle that was probably inspired by its well-known RM-Z motocross bike.
The platform on which it will be installed, the battery and the motor’s power output are all left out of the patent, which is labelled simply “Power Unit.” Rather, it concentrates on the specifics of the gearbox, which lowers the end drive via several gears before arriving at the front sprocket.
Suzuki is essentially attempting to patent the design of the reduction gears. This is especially intriguing because it lowers the bike’s final gear ratio for improved handling and faster acceleration. Additionally, it maintains the powertrain’s lightweight and compact dimensions.
A further noteworthy observation is that the front sprocket is situated nearer the bike’s centerline than the output gear of the motor. Suzuki will therefore be able to keep the Suzuki RM-Z’s chain location and all of its corresponding anti-squat characteristics.
Practically speaking, this means that the existing swingarm and rear wheel design can simply be carried over from the ICE model.
Well, it seems that Suzuki is doing what no other manufacturer is doing—building an electric equivalent of an ICE motocrosser. It’s something we’ve seen aftermarket specialists do in the past, with bikes like the Husqvarna EE18 and Electro & Company’s electric Yamaha YZs.
The fact that Suzuki is working on an existing platform means that the time it takes for them to develop the bike will be much quicker. And to top it all off, R&D costs will be much lower than if it were building it from the ground up—something that we hope will translate to the sticker price on the finished product.