2024 Verge TS Pro Is A Nordic Motorcycle That Challenges Convention
Finland, the country that gave us the sauna, Nokia phones, and the Angry Birds game, is the unexpected source of one the most intriguing motorcycle designs to stem from the dawning electric era. Verge Motorcycles (formerly RMK) unveiled its prototype in 2019 at the annual EICMA exhibition, where its all-electric sports cruiser garnered widespread attention thanks to its revolutionary rim motor. After refining its patented technology, the firm began the series production of its first TS model in November 2022, christened in honor of Teemu Saukkio, who penned its unique design. After further development, Verge announced two follow-up models: the TS Pro and the new TS Ultra, which are now available to order in North America through its website.
Guy Pickrell
I recently met Verge COO, Pekka Pärnänen, as he opened their second US-based store in Westfield Century City, Los Angeles. Pärnänen walked me through the various functions and features available on both Pro and Ultra models and the gob-smacking performance they offer. With an MSRP of $29,900, the TS Pro is a niche model in a niche electric market. Nevertheless, it is a striking machine, thanks to its hubless rear wheel and futuristic design, not to mention its unparalleled performance. The less powerful of Verge’s two US models boasts 738 foot-pounds of instantaneous torque. No, that is not a typo, and I'm not high. I took this curiously forbidding stead for a test ride in the Santa Monica Mountains and discovered that the TS Pro is less of a wild Bronco and more of a refined thoroughbred.
2024 Verge TS Pro in yellow front quarter view
2024 Verge TS Pro
8/10
The Verge TS Pro, developed by Finland-based Verge Motorcycles, is a groundbreaking electric sports cruiser featuring a revolutionary rim motor. This unique design frees up space in the frame for more batteries and eliminates the power-sapping drivetrain. The TS Pro boasts 137 horsepower and, ostensibly, 738 foot-pounds of torque, delivering blistering acceleration. Its 20.2 kWh battery offers a city range of up to 217 miles and can charge to 80% in just 35 minutes using a DC fast charger.
The bike's futuristic design, highlighted by a hubless rear wheel, is both visually striking and functional. The TS Pro is equipped with advanced features such as a large touchscreen interface, multiple riding modes, and customizable regenerative braking. However, the firm suspension setup can be harsh on rough roads, and the LCD instrumentation lacks the readability of more advanced displays. Despite these minor drawbacks, the TS Pro offers a unique and exhilarating riding experience, making it a standout in the niche electric motorcycle market.
Model TS ProSegment MotorcycleEngine 102 kW PMAC 3-Phase MotorTransmission N/AHorsepower 137 HPTorque 738 FT-LBDriveline N/ARange 217 (city) / 124 (hwy)Starting Price (MSRP) $29,900Charge Time 35 minutes (80% fast charge / 5 ours (Level 2)0-60 MPH 3.5 secondsTop Speed 125 MPH (limited) Pros
- Revolutionary design is practical and eye-catching
- Practical range meets blistering performance
- Outstanding software and interface
- Manageable weight and customizable power add control and confidence
Cons
- LCD instrumentation doesn't belong
- Rim motor design makes for a stiffer ride
- Brakes lack progression
- $30K MSRP is steep
In order to provide you with an honest and unbiased review, the vehicle reviewed in this article was ridden on a daily basis throughout the course of daily life for a period of one week. For detailed insight into testing procedures and data collection, please review our methodology policy.
2024 Verge TS Pro First Impressions
2024 Verge TS Pro in yellow side viw
Motorcycles have evolved exponentially over the 130 years since Hildebrand and Wolfmüller designed the world’s first production model. Nevertheless, virtually every machine that followed shared the same architecture: Fuel tank up top, engine below, and a drivetrain delivering power to the rear wheel. Although this proved the optimal solution for ICE machines, Saukkio wondered if the same was true for electric motorcycles. Whereas the heaviest component in a traditional gas-powered bike is the engine, electric motors are relatively light and compact, while the batteries powering them contribute most of the weight. Conventionally locating the battery pack high in the frame makes electric bikes top-heavy, limiting their capacity and effective range.
Lightning LS-218 Action side right shot
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The rim motor was Saukkio’s revolutionary answer to the problem. At the center of the TS Pro’s rear wheel, where, for over 5,000 years, a hub traditionally resides, there is nothing but a gaping hole. While this ensures the bike makes a resounding impression everywhere you take it, the rim motor is no crowd-pleasing gimmick. Saukkio's innovative solution frees up space in the lower frame to house a large battery without making the bike overtly top-heavy. It also eliminates the need for a drivetrain, and the TS Pro has no chain or belt to maintain. Likewise, with no gears to change, it needs no clutch, allowing Verge to allocate the left-hand bar lever to the rear brake. This also means the TS Pro has no foot controls, facilitating an alternative set of pegs for a second, feet-forward leg position.
Where you might typically expect a filler cap, a sizeable touchscreen provides the interface with the TS Pro’s Starmatter software, and a simple LCD tucked into a minimalist nose cowling conveys the essential information while riding. The bike’s angular design suits its radical architecture. A hub-mounted license plate bracket bestows a bobbed silhouette and draws (yet more) attention to its unique rear wheel. The TS Pro shares attributes born of both the naked roadster and cruiser segments, reminiscent of Ducati’s stunning Diavel V4. The bike I tested came finished in Obsidian Black, but customers can choose from five additional color schemes, including the Vibrant Yellow (shown here), Snow White, Blazing Red, Reptile Green, and Electric Blue. A limited California edition finished in Poppy Orange is coming soon.
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Motor and Battery Performance
Tomi Keinnen
While hub motors, commonly found in e-bikes, are an existing alternative, Verge's rim design utilizes an uncommonly large circumference stator, the stationary part of an electric motor housing the electromagnetic copper wiring. This layout imparts significantly more surface area, which improves cooling and efficiency. The TS Pro’s permanent magnet, three-phase motor produces a peak output of 102 kW (137 horsepower) and a claimed 738 foot-pounds of torque. However, these impressive torque figures are somewhat misleading compared to motorcycles with crankshafts and geartrains. How do you measure comparative RPM when the rear wheel is also the motor?
Still, when I found enough road to whip open the throttle, the TS Pro proved it has all the grunt you need and pulled away with vision-blurring acceleration. An electric motor delivers peak torque from a standstill, and there is a tractor-beam quality to the feeling imparted by the Pro’s immediate power. It isn’t the familiar escalating thrust of a fast gas bike but more like the sudden rush of freefall. And the torque just keeps on coming. No matter the current speed, with a twist of the wrist, the bike surges ahead with the same blistering urgency.
Verge claims the TS Pro’s 20.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack affords a range of up to 217 miles in the city and 124 on the highway, considerably more than the LiveWire One and the Zero DSR/X we tested. However, as with all electric motorcycles, the actual range is dictated by the pace you set. A CCS charging socket, compatible with the Tesla Supercharger network, is located under a flap in front of the seat. Verge says a DC fast charger requires just 35 minutes to reach 80% of the battery’s capacity, while level-two charging at home takes approximately five hours to reach maximum capacity.
Motor And Battery Performance Specifications
Ride And Handling
Tomi Keinnen
The TS lineup benefits from a lightweight aluminum monocoque frame which houses the battery pack. Verge offers both the Pro and Ultra models with a choice of Wilbers or Öhlins components with identical performance specifications, making the choice solely aesthetic. The fully adjustable Öhlins suspension adorning our test bike included a 43mm USD FRGT fork and a TTX RT piggyback monoshock. I didn't have time to adjust the suspension settings during my short ride, and the setup felt decidedly firm. While ideal for smooth roads, I would soften the spring and damping rates on imperfect surfaces.
Dual Brembo Stylema four-piston calipers clamping 320mm brake discs keep the TS Pro in check. At the rear, a single, proprietary, four-piston caliper clamps a 380mm peripheral disc. Getting acquainted with the rear brake lever didn’t take long and soon became second nature. The ABS-equipped brakes are necessarily powerful, adding confidence, but offer limited progression. At slower speeds, the braking response to a light application of the levers was abrupt and could become tiresome in city traffic.
As with the TS Pro’s styling, its frame geometry includes elements common to cruiser and naked segments. With a sporty rake of 20.5 degrees and a 4.5-inch trail, the bike bestows quick steering, while the 60.6-inch wheelbase provides a stable platform for the immense power on tap. Wide high bars and a low seat height make for a relaxed body position with just enough forward lean to offset headwinds. The deeply padded stepped seat offers plenty of room and comfort with much-needed support to counter the immense G-forces imparted by the bike’s performance.
Tomi Keinnen
The TS Pro uses a lightweight, 17-inch, O.Z. forged aluminum front wheel, while for the rear, Verge developed a proprietary pre-impregnated carbon-fiber rim to host the electric motor. Necessarily, the rear wheel is wide, at 7.5 inches, and the bike’s sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires come in a 120/70 up front and a giant 240/45 at the rear. As I swung a leg over the Nordic missile for the first time, the prominent question running through my mind was: will that hefty rear wheel affect the TS Pro's handling?
The powerful magnets and copper wiring housed in the TS’ rear wheel add unsprung weight, meaning the rear suspension has to work harder to maintain grip on imperfect roads. It also magnifies the gyroscopic forces imparted by the spinning mass, theoretically robbing the bike of agility. On my (admittedly short) test ride, the TS Pro’s pleasant road manners and responsive steering defied expectations. At higher speeds, the rear wheel’s tendency to telegraph surface imperfections became more noticeable, but overall, the bike felt planted. In the corners, the TS responds as a sporty cruiser should, and although somehow different, the handling soon feels familiar.
The TS Pro weighs significantly less than all the standard cruisers, even the relatively light Indian Scout Bobber. It is also lighter than similar electric bikes, including the Energica EGO+. Nevertheless, at 540 pounds, it is still a heavy motorcycle, but thanks to its unique architecture, it hides its weight well and is easy to maneuver at slow speeds. Another distinctive characteristic of Verge’s electric sports cruiser is its silent motion. Of course, there is no engine or exhaust noise, but in my experience, most electric bikes reveal a bunch of unfamiliar sounds that can be disconcerting for the uninitiated. Perhaps because the powertrain has only one moving part, even riding over rough paving failed to elicit anything more than a subdued whine from TS Pro’s motor.
Chassis Specifications
BMW Vision DC Roadster Concept 1
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Technology And Equipment
2024 Verge TS Pro showing interface home screen
Increasingly, software is becoming a crucial aspect of motorcycle design, which is truer still for electric motorcycles. Verge’s in-house Starmatter application affords a rich, intuitive user experience via a generous touchscreen, and manages the various sensors and connectivity hardware. The screen provides access to rider mode and aids settings, battery status, bike information, and customization. OTA updates enable Verge to continue refining the software while seamlessly upgrading post-sale features and performance completely hands-free.
The TS Pro offers three (aptly named) preset performance maps: Range, Zen, and Beast mode. A fourth Custom mode allows riders to choose from four traction control and regenerative brake settings, set a speed limiter, and dial in absolute torque (between 40 and 100 percent). I began our backroads test ride in Range mode, which applies medium torque and regen settings while maximizing traction control. Range mode also limits top speed to 87 MPH and offers a relaxed throttle response, making it a good setting for city riding. Cleverly, the system dynamically adjusts regen levels to maximize efficiency at different cruising speeds.
Guy Pickrell
I used the bar-mounted toggle switch to select Zen mode on the fly, providing a more responsive throttle and increasing the maximum top speed to 112 MPH. In Zen, the TS unleashes all the torque while limiting regen and maintaining maximum TC settings. In Range mode, the bike was still very quick, but the leap to full torque took it to another level. Beast mode was the ideal setting for the twisty backroads on my test ride, where limitless torque offered startling acceleration out of the corners, and the maximized regen took care of all the rear braking, allowing me to focus on the turn-in and front brakes. Beast mode sets TC intervention to low, and it was worth taking a moment to mentally adjust to the power and brakes before getting too leary with the throttle.
A great deal of thought went into developing the Smartmatter software and rider experience, which makes the TS Pro’s rudimentary LCD instrumentation all the more surprising. It dutifully provides current speed, mileage, and time of day, but not much else. Checking the current riding mode or battery level requires glancing down at the touchscreen between your knees, which is difficult to read in bright sunlight. While this presents no problem when the bike is on its stand, it is not ideal when riding. As you might expect, all-around LED lights are standard equipment and include the smallest turn signals known to man. Placing the battery pack low in the frame leaves room for a generous storage compartment under the seat, and the TS Pro’s credit card key handily slips into your wallet, adding another cool feature to brag about in the pub after your ride.
Standard Equipment
- Fully Adjustable Wilbers or hlins Suspension
- Forged Front Wheel / Prepeg Carbon Fiber Rear
- Customizable ABS and Traction Control
- Four Rider Modes
- DC Tesla Compatible Fast Charger
- Smartphone Connectivity
- OTA Software Updates
- Full-Color Touchscreen
- LCD Instrumentation
The Verge TS Pro Vs Its Competitors
Tomi Keinnen
At nearly $30K, the TS Pro is far from cheap. However, few electric bikes are, and machines offering similar performance and range include the $35,000 Damon Hyperfighter, which claims more power and less weight, or the $29,680 Energica Ego+, which attests to a range of 261 miles (city). Neither are cruisers, though. In many respects, the TS Pro shares at least some of the same attributes that have won Ducati’s Diavel V4 a dedicated following and made a legend out of the 2,500cc Triumph Rocket. Nevertheless, the new Energica EVA Ribelle naked roadster is a worthy electric adversary.
How The Verge TS Pro Compares To The Ducati Diavel V4
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2024 Verge TS Pro 2023 Ducati Diavel V4 Model TS Pro Diavel V4 Engine 102 kW PMAC 3-Phase Motor 1,158 cc, V4 Granturismo Transmission N/A 6-Speed with Up/Down Quickshift Horsepower 137 HP 168 at 10,750 RPM Torque 738 FT-LB 92 FT/LBS. at 7,500 RPM Driveline N/A Chain Starting Price (MSRP) $29,900 $26,695
The Ducati Diavel V4 completely eclipsed the previous V-twin model, carrying less weight and delivering much-improved performance. With 168 horses available and 93 lb-ft of torque, the Diavel is a cruiser with the heart of a hyper-naked. The base model has an MSRP of $27,000, putting it on par with the TS Pro. Thanks to its aluminum monocoque frame, the Diavel tips the scales at 520 pounds, fueled and ready to ride, which is exceptionally low in the cruiser segment and comparable to the naked class. However, the TS weighs only 20 pounds more and likely affords a lower center of gravity. Both machines offer similarly aggressive sports-cruiser styling, but nothing will turn heads like the TS Pro’s hubless wheel. On the road, the Ducati offers a plusher ride and is quick enough to stay abreast of the Verge but can’t impart the same tractor-beam feeling of acceleration.
How The Verge TS Pro Compares To The Energica EVA Ribelle
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2024 Verge TS Pro 2024 Energica Eva Ribelle Model TS Pro Eva Ribelle Engine 102 kW PMAC 3-Phase Motor EMCE HSM (Hybrid Synchronous Motor) Liquid-Cooled 3-Phase 300 V 12,000 rpm with Adaptive Control Inverter Horsepower 137 HP 169 HP Torque 738 FT-LB 164 LB-FT Range 217 (city) / 124 (hwy) City: 261 miles, Highway: 130 miles Starting Price (MSRP) $29,900 $23,800 0-60 MPH 3.5 seconds 2.8 seconds
The EVA Ribelle is Energica’s naked version of the EGO+, offering the same 147 horsepower and 164 foot-pounds of torque. The TS Pro and EVA Ribelle have similar price tags and deliver comparable performance, and DC fast charging at similar rates. Energica claims the Ribelle’s 21.5 kWh lithium-polymer battery can achieve a range of up to 261 miles of urban riding, 40 more than the Pro. However, its oil-cooled, permanent magnet AC motor adds weight and complexity, and the 573-pound EVA Ribelle weighs 33 more than the TS Pro. The Italian offers a traditional yet advanced design with high-quality components such as Marzocchi forks and Bitubo rear shocks. Both machines are top-tier electric motorcycles with unique strengths. The TS Pro excels with its innovative design and exceptional torque, and the EVA Ribelle stands out with its higher battery capacity, faster acceleration, and comprehensive feature set. Choosing between them is a question of priorities.
Should You Buy The Verge TS Pro?
Tomi Keinnen
Most electric bike manufacturers have mirrored the conventional architecture used in gas bikes; installing the battery above the motor in the frame and using a drivetrain to deliver the power. Verge’s design offers numerous unique benefits; it leaves just one moving part, promising reduced maintenance and improved reliability. It also allows for more batteries, enhancing range and performance while maintaining a low center of gravity. Additionally, the rim motor’s extensive surface area offers exceptional air-cooling and does away with a drivetrain, which improves efficiency.
While the TS Pro’s LCD is a letdown, I could live with it. Note that the TS Ultra has a splendid TFT, not to mention a cutting-edge suite of cameras and radars, which add a whole other level of functionality. To offset the wheel-mounted motor’s weight, the rear suspension requires faster spring rates to keep the tire planted, which makes for a stiff ride, but I could live with that, too. With enough mileage to knock out a spirited morning’s ride, DC fast charging, and an obscene performance envelope, the TS Pro offers practicality and thrills in equal measure.
Verge expects to start shipping the first TS Pro models by the end of this year, with the TS Ultra following in the first quarter of 2025. The firm backs its machines with a two-year parts warranty and a five-year warranty on the battery. But, If the thought of buying a revolutionary design from a Finnish firm you’ve never heard of still causes some apprehension, take comfort from the fact that Nokia phones were indestructible, the Angry Birds game is the most downloaded in history, and just about everyone likes a sauna.