There seems to be a growing trend for British motorcycle companies either being revived decades on (BSA) brought back from the brink (Norton), and now it seems Arc is ready to be received again after completing its turnaround from its spell in administration.
Unlike the historic BSA and Norton, Arc went under before it had started after the immense buzz around its concept for a high-tech, high-performance sportsbike - the Vector - led to a flood of investment interest, but as it would turn out not so much in the way of follow through.
In the meantime, Arc had plunged money into the Vector project on the promise of money that never came, so before the motorcycle was ready to begin fulfilling pre-orders, the company sunk into administration in September 2019.
Nevertheless, the project was revived again by CEO and designer Mark Truman, who managed to resurrect the company in 2020. While the subsequent silence from Arc since then made some wonder whether it had slipped under again, it has now re-revealed the Arc Vector with news the deliveries will be underway very soon.
“We have a very healthy order book and customers are already going through our new commissioning suite in Central England to individually tailor each Vector motorcycle so that they are all unique,” Truman said.
Regardless of how it is powered, there is little denying the Arc Vector is an extraordinary motorcycle, both in the way it looks, the statistics it promises and the innovative technology it houses… oh, and the £90,000 price tag that makes it pricier than many supercars.
The pseudo-cafe racer monocoque is made from carbon-fibre, while front swingarm suspension and hub-centre steering is another unusual touch. By doing this, the battery becomes the ‘frame’ in effect, as the structural member of the motorcycle.
Under the skin is a 95kW (127hp) electric motor designed to hit a modestly limited top speed of 124mph, though it can hit 60mph in just 3.2secs. The 16.8kW battery provides a range of up to 200 miles, while it comes with fast charging capabilities to go to a full recharge in 45mins.
For those who like their gadgets and gizmos, the Arc Vector features the ‘human machine interface’ with a jacket containing haptic feedback warnings, plus a heads-up display in the supplied helmet to deliver important information without taking eyes off the road.
