Arc Vector

The Arc Vector is the most advanced electric motorcycle ever brought to market; one which utilises exotic materials, thoroughbred componentry, cutting-edge architecture and technological innovations that have never been applied to two-wheeled transport before.

Arc is a catalyst, a transformative movement that is on a mission to explore Earth in state-of-the-art style, combined with a promise to try and protect it. Arc is a business that will challenge the rider's way of seeing and thinking, and one that shapes the world around it.

Arc redefine the electric vehicle and the processes by which they are made. Not content with this, Arc challenge the way that companies do business. Arc is a family, a community – not only its colleagues and collaborators, but this family extends to our customers and all likeminded people that share the Arc philosophy.

Arc Vector's hub-centre steering

The Arc Vector electric motorbike is a technical pioneer in many ways with its large capacity batteries, fast recharge time, and heads-up display but it’s also something of a suspension innovator, too.

Up front the Vector has hub-centre steering. Arc aren’t the first to do this – Jack Defazio pushed it heavily in the 1970s, Bimota had a crack with the Tesi and, of course, there was Yamaha’s GTS1000 – but as all those attest, it’s never taken off. That’s because those systems had flaws and, you guessed it, Arc reckon they’ve solved them.

"In my early career I did a lot of work on ‘funny front ends’," says Mark Truman, Arc CEO. "I realised there was real potential – hub-centre racers have always delivered good results – but that it needed more development."
Pivot point is key

The key, Truman says, is the placement of the front swingarm pivot point. On a standard hub-centre set up, the pivot point of the swingarm is above the axle. That means as the brakes are applied the force acts to lift the bike up, which compared to a lifetime of riding bikes with telescopic forks can feel weird.

It also affects handling.On a standard bike when you apply the brakes the front-end dives, reducing the steering head angle, shortening the wheelbase and shifting weight onto the front tyre – helping the bike corner. On a typical hub-centre motorcycle this doesn’t happen, which can cause them to run wide.

The front end of the Arc Vector including hub-centre steering

But on the Arc, the swingarm pivot point is below the wheel centre, which means when the brakes are applied the front-end dives just like a conventional fork. It still retains some advantages – it requires more energy to make the front-end dive, so the Vector can run a much softer spring and less compression damping without running the risk of bottoming-out the suspension. They can also run a much steeper head angle without encountering the stiction conventional forks would suffer from at those angles.
Are there any downsides?

Arc’s innovation doesn’t end there either. Unlike usual hub-centre systems, with a complicated set-up of rods and rose joints that robs the rider of steering feel, the Vector retains a direct steering attachment.

"The front fender is actually structural carbon fibre," adds Truman. "It acts as the uprights for the wheel, so when you turn the bars you’re steering through the mudguard."

And are there any downsides to this set up? Well, you guessed it – cost. The front suspension on the Arc was expensive to design, is expensive to produce and is a good part of the reason why the finished bike will set you back a rather significant £90,000.

The world's most innovative motorcycle

Charge time - 40min
Limited edition - 399 motorcycles
Voltage - 399V
Battery capacity - 16.8kWh
Weight - 220kg
Range - 436km (NEDC cycle)
Top speed - limited to 200kmph