Savic’s Sam Carter and Victoria Brown with the new Australian-built C-Series electric motorbike. Photo: James Coleman.
For the first time, I’m waiting for the roar. But it never comes.
As the gleaming black motorbike glides down this Mitchell street, the sound isn’t the characteristic off-burble of a Harley, or even the scream of a Yamaha.
It’s more like Tron – a high-pitched electronic whirr.
“A lot of people look a bit confused and especially intrigued,” says Savic Motorcycles marketing manager Sam Carter.
“We always get people shouting out their windows: what is that?”
That is Australia’s first homegrown, full-sized electric motorcycle, the Savic C-Series.
Inspired by the café racers of the 1970s and designed and built in Melbourne, it’s said to blend old-school styling with very much new-school EV technology – and it’s currently on a national tour, including a stop in Canberra last week.
Founder Dennis Savic dreamed of building a motorcycle while still in high school, and despite warnings from his teachers that it was too complicated, he ignored them and spent nearly a decade researching and developing it.
“He’s one of those crazy people who sets a goal and chases it relentlessly,” says chief growth officer Victoria Brown.
“It was back in 2014, when the first manufacturers began talking about the idea of electric bikes. And so unlike a lot of start-ups, which have to use donor engines and stuff from the larger manufacturers already in the field, electric allowed Dennis to start from scratch”.
So far, the C-Series has already picked up the Victorian Premier’s Design Award of the Year in 2024, praised by judges for “the attention to design details – from its elegant lines, handcrafted chrome and aluminium finishes right through to the design of their website and branding”.
The bikes themselves weigh about 280 kilograms, heavier than most petrol equivalents, thanks mainly to the battery pack.
However, Carter assures that the low centre of gravity and custom suspension, developed with input from Australian Superbike racer Jed Metcher, make the weight far less noticeable once riding.
“Every single person that comes back from a test ride is surprised at how nimble it is,” he says.
Several drive modes adjust the distribution of torque. Photo: James Coleman.
Range is around 200 kilometres on a mix of city and highway riding. And apart from the distinct lack of noise (meaning you can chat to your co-rider quite easily at traffic lights), no gears means all of its 200 Nm of torque is delivered instantly.
“You just roll on the throttle and the power’s there,” Carter says.
“On a combustion bike, you’re always chasing the power band. This is completely different.”
“It’s a much better experience,” Brown adds.
“Sam and the test rider can stop at the lights and actually chat without yelling over the engine.”
In much the same way as a Tesla, each bike pairs with a rider’s phone via an app, has a PIN-based security system and proximity unlocking, and receives over-the-air software updates.
Maintenance, Carter says, is “next to nothing”.
In the early days, Brown admits there was initial “stigma” around electric bikes, but this has quickly faded in recent years as EVs have become more commonplace.
“Nearly everyone understands them now,” she says.
The main drive wheel. Photo: James Coleman.
However, the company also acknowledges that the C-Series is not intended to replace internal-combustion engines.
“Everyone on our team owns at least one petrol bike,” Carter says, shortly after telling me he’s had several Yamaha MT09s in his garage over the years.
“We’re not saying give up your old bikes. This is just something new. It’s a different kind of ride.”
Savic sells directly to customers through its website, with bases in Melbourne and Perth, and service partners are being established elsewhere.
For now, they’re on track to sell about 100 bikes across Australia by the end of the year, with a goal of 5000 bikes a year in the future.
The price is $29,990 plus on-road costs, although the ‘tank’ and other bodywork can be finished in an exposed carbon-fibre weave for an additional $3000.
