Equipped with an electric drivetrain, a single-sided front end, the daintiest wheels ever fitted to something purporting to be a motorcycle and styling clearly influenced both by Husqvarna dirt bikes (the seat, the angles, the front numberplate), but also the Intelligent Energy ENV (the shape of the protruding front plastics), this Husqvarna E-go concept is BMW’s dirt bike brand’s idea of the ideal urban supermoto. Unveiled today at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it sure is neat, which is why it’s a shame it’s so far from being production-ready.

As far as technical details go, BMW (which owns Husqvarna), is only saying that the machine weighs 80kg (176lbs) all-up. That’s extraordinarily light, 4kg lighter, in fact, than the 3/4 size Zero X. The Zero achieves that weight using only 2kWh of lithium-ion battery capacity and components that have more in common with mountain bikes than motorcycles. The Husqvarna can’t hope to carry much more in the way of battery capacity (enough for 22 miles on the Zero according to EPA testing procedures), especially as it’s equipped with heavier running gear in the form of that two-tube, single-sided front and remote-reservoir Sachs rear shock.

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That single-sided front is a neat piece of concept bike showmanship. Two 35mm tubes, as opposed to one larger tube (as used on the Gilera CX125), help create lateral and torsional stiffness, but at the expense of weight and parts complication. Two sliders, two stanchions, two springs, two sets of valves, two sets of adjusters and two tubes full of oil; this setup will resist sideways and front-to-rear flex admirably and be very strong, but it won’t be light or work to reduce unsprung weight. Wheel changes should be easy though.

Despite the clear ENV influence (envy?), styling is enormously successful at translating Husqvarna hallmarks into something bold and futuristic. Remeber the Husqvarna SMQ concept? This new bike adapts is chunky white frame tubes and angular body into something much more attractive. Also noteworthy is the wing-like front mudguard borrowd from the Husqvarna Nuda 900; will this be a new family identifier? The fictional battery pack and supposedly functional electric motor are also neatly integrated in a way not typically seen on production electric motorcycles.

At the risk of committing e-heresy, this thing sure would be neat with Husky’s two-stroke 250 motor in it.

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