Solar E-Clipse - $5995
Paul Somerville
May 1, 2023
+ 13 More
Air 2022Air 2023
Summary
The E-Clipse gives you all the fun of riding a motorcycle without the fear. Despite a rated peak power of 6kW, it can feel like riding a bicycle at lower speeds. At its top speed of nearly 60 mph, it’s much easier to ride and handle than a standing electric scooter at a similar clip.
PROS
Super easy to ride (easier than a powerful kick scooter)
Long range (can be doubled with a spare battery)
Adjustable suspension
Can commute with it, or play off road
CONS
Price is high, but not as high as some pedal-assist e-bikes
Lesser-known brand in the US, but Solar has a strong following in the UK and local warehouses in the States
Technical Specifications
Tested Top Speed:
57.8 mph
Water Resistance:
none
Max Rider Weight:
330 lb
Weight:
138 lb
Tested Range:
61.3 mi
Acceleration:
1.6 s
**Based on our independent performance tests which may differ from manufacturer’s claims.
The Solar E-Clipse is available in United States from Solar Scooters.
Our content is indepedent, but buying through our links may earn us a comission.
Our Take: A Carbon-Framed Surron Alternative that’s Easier to Ride than a High-Powered Kick Scooter
It has all the off road specs of a Surron, but the E-Clipse will also soon be street legal and could become your favorite commuter bike, in the U.S. at least, when it receives DOT certification around the time pre-orders ship out. (You will need a motorcycle license to ride one on the road.)
The E-Clipse even comes wtih a 17-digit VIN!
The E-Clipse outperforms competitors like the 72V Surron Ultra and Light Bee X. It’s only 13 pounds heavier than the Light Bee, despite having a 60% larger battery, and it’s 54 lbs lighter than the Ultra.
In general, Solar’s bike delivers performance very similar to much larger bikes like the Ultra, despite its light weight and portability, thanks to its carbon frame.
Those of you with keen eyes have noticed already that this e-bike/moped has no pedals, and that’s because it would be silly to have 250W of pedal power on a 6kW PEV.
Let’s look at some of the specs:
The E-Clipse even comes wtih a 17-digit VIN!
The E-Clipse outperforms competitors like the 72V Surron Ultra and Light Bee X. It’s only 13 pounds heavier than the Light Bee, despite having a 60% larger battery, and it’s 54 lbs lighter than the Ultra.
In general, Solar’s bike delivers performance very similar to much larger bikes like the Ultra, despite its light weight and portability, thanks to its carbon frame.
Those of you with keen eyes have noticed already that this e-bike/moped has no pedals, and that’s because it would be silly to have 250W of pedal power on a 6kW PEV.
Let’s look at some of the specs:
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The Solar E-Clipse is rated for 2,500W of output, conveniently below the 3kW limit in California for motorized bicycles. But based on our performance tests, we think even the 6kW peak power spec may be understated.
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Claimed-range is 45 to 50 miles on flat ground, but it obliterated that spec in our range test.The battery is huge, at 72V and 45 amp-hours. That’s 28% bigger than the Wolf King GT, and 110% larger than a Segway GT2.
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The E-Clipse battery is 60% larger than the battery of a base model Surron X, but since it’s made of lightweight 21700 battery cells, the E-Clipse’s battery is surprisingly easy to carry.
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The coolest feature of the E-Clipse is that it has a lightweight Carbon Fiber frame! So you get performance very similar to much larger bikes like the Surron Ultra, but portability and lightweight very similar to the original Surron Light Bee X
Solar E-Clipse Review
Acceleration
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
Despite being easy to ride, the E-Clipse is deceptively quick. Unlike a kick scooter, you don’t need to lean into the acceleration. Because you’re anchored to the seat, you can just twist the throttle and go.
With a 0 to 30 time of just 3.6 seconds, it’s the fastest personal electric vehicle to 30 miles per hour we’ve ever tested, even beating out the NAMI BURN-E 2 MAX and the Roadrunner Tronic, which uses motor controllers made by RION.
With a 0 to 30 time of just 3.6 seconds, it’s the fastest personal electric vehicle to 30 miles per hour we’ve ever tested, even beating out the NAMI BURN-E 2 MAX and the Roadrunner Tronic, which uses motor controllers made by RION.
Hill Climb
This bike absolutely rips up hills. It launched from a standing start on our steep 10% grade test hill and by the end of the block it was up to 36 miles an hour.
The Solar E-Clipse is available in United States from Solar Scooters.
Our content is indepedent, but buying through our links may earn us a comission.
Top Speed
The top speed of the Solar E-Clipse is much faster than a stock Surron X at an RG certified 57.8 mph.
We actually saw 67 mph on the speedometer, but just like most other vehicles, this one is optimistic by about 10%.
Keep in mind, even if you get a plate on it, it’s not freeway or highway legal, so don’t take the exit.
We actually saw 67 mph on the speedometer, but just like most other vehicles, this one is optimistic by about 10%.
Keep in mind, even if you get a plate on it, it’s not freeway or highway legal, so don’t take the exit.
Range
Something unusual happened on our range test. We far exceeded the specified range of 45 to 50 miles. Starting with a full charge, in Sport mode, the E-Clipse traveled 61.3 miles before running out of battery life.
Carrying a spare, swappable battery with you in a backpack gives you twice the range – and 122.6 miles is as far as many motorcycles will travel on a full tank.
The spare battery takes only seconds to swap out. Since it’s made of lightweight 21700 battery cells, the E-Clipse’s battery is surprisingly easy to carry.
The extra battery is convenient, but also expensive, costing as much as many premium electric scooters at $2,200.
Carrying a spare, swappable battery with you in a backpack gives you twice the range – and 122.6 miles is as far as many motorcycles will travel on a full tank.
The spare battery takes only seconds to swap out. Since it’s made of lightweight 21700 battery cells, the E-Clipse’s battery is surprisingly easy to carry.
The extra battery is convenient, but also expensive, costing as much as many premium electric scooters at $2,200.
Braking
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
The stopping distance from 15 miles per hour was 12.2 feet which is not bad, but not as strong as it could be.
The brakes aren’t grabby which is good for new riders, but expert riders might find themselves wanting to upgrade to metallic brake pads for even more bite if they’re available.
The brakes aren’t grabby which is good for new riders, but expert riders might find themselves wanting to upgrade to metallic brake pads for even more bite if they’re available.
Ride Quality
Handling is great and would be even better with road tires, which will be available for the E-Clipse in the near future.
The E-Clipse’s suspension is nothing less than awesome! The KKE spring/hydraulic suspension keeps things ultra smooth.
You can adjust rebound damping in the front. If you have a shock pump, you can also add air to the front forks to stiffen them up. These run from 100 PSI, which is why a regular bicycle pump won’t work.
You can also adjust the rebound damping in the rear shock, as well as the spring preload.
At top speed in ECO mode, the E-Clipse surprisingly feels like a very fast bicycle. Bumped up to Sport mode, it’s still ultra easy to ride and blasts right over curbs. In fact, the E-Clipse is so easy to ride, it’s easy to forget how fast you’re going.
The E-Clipse’s suspension is nothing less than awesome! The KKE spring/hydraulic suspension keeps things ultra smooth.
You can adjust rebound damping in the front. If you have a shock pump, you can also add air to the front forks to stiffen them up. These run from 100 PSI, which is why a regular bicycle pump won’t work.
You can also adjust the rebound damping in the rear shock, as well as the spring preload.
At top speed in ECO mode, the E-Clipse surprisingly feels like a very fast bicycle. Bumped up to Sport mode, it’s still ultra easy to ride and blasts right over curbs. In fact, the E-Clipse is so easy to ride, it’s easy to forget how fast you’re going.
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
Features
Portability
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
It’s light enough for one person to load and unload, and it fits in the back of a mid-sized SUV. The E-Clipse’s narrow look also helps it sneak in where full-sized motorcycles dare not tread.
And – good news for apartment dwellers – if you don’t feel like letting it sleep in your bedroom, the removable battery and locking steering mean you don’t need to take the E-Clipse inside to charge it.
And – good news for apartment dwellers – if you don’t feel like letting it sleep in your bedroom, the removable battery and locking steering mean you don’t need to take the E-Clipse inside to charge it.
Cockpit
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
The E-Clipse’s dash is straightforward, and you can do everything with your thumbs without ever looking down. You can feel the difference between the switches, and their placement is intuitive.
When you first turn it on, you need to poke the park button to get it out of park. You can also quickly re-engage it when you come to a stop, if you want to. Then you have two modes ECO and Sport.
When you first turn it on, you need to poke the park button to get it out of park. You can also quickly re-engage it when you come to a stop, if you want to. Then you have two modes ECO and Sport.
The display is easy to read and shows the state of charge in percent, speed, riding mode, voltage, current draw, total miles, RPM, and even your motor temperature.
Lights
The Booster Sport has built-in, high-mounted front lights as well as a fender-mounted rear light. The headlight is an array of white LEDs that are relatively bright but lack an optic to help project the light ahead. As a result, the light spreads out quickly, and though it will make you visible to others, it won't illuminate the road brightly in front of you.
For riding at night, we recommend an additional high-mounted taillight and possibly a headlight for maximum visibility.
Read our complete guide tostaying visible at night.
For riding at night, we recommend an additional high-mounted taillight and possibly a headlight for maximum visibility.
Read our complete guide to
Tires
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
The E-Clipse will ship with knobby off road tires, but Solar will include options for supermoto style street rims and road tires.
Seat
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
The seat is typical for a dirt bike, and it’s roomy enough to carry a passenger, but it’s not the most comfortable for riding 60 miles at a stretch.
Build Quality
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
The E-Clipse feels very well finished, without being too complicated. And let’s talk about that frame! Even the swingarm is carbon fiber.
The frame is one of the reasons the E-Clipse’s performance is closer to the new 72V Surron Ultra than the Surron X, while being 54 lbs lighter than the Ultra!
The bike also surprised us with a water resistance of IP67, making this an electric motorbike built for rain or shine
The frame is one of the reasons the E-Clipse’s performance is closer to the new 72V Surron Ultra than the Surron X, while being 54 lbs lighter than the Ultra!
The bike also surprised us with a water resistance of IP67, making this an electric motorbike built for rain or shine
The Solar E-Clipse is available in United States from Solar Scooters.
Our content is indepedent, but buying through our links may earn us a comission.
Safety
Safety features on the Solar E-Clipse include front and rear turn signals and motorcycle-grade hydraulic braking. The bike also has running lights as required for all road-legal motorbikes.
Warranty
Solar warranties all their vehicles against defects for two years from the date of purchase.
In order to receive DOT certification for the E-Clipse, Solar is building a local dealer network in the U.S., so depending on where you live, you’ll be able to get your E-Clipse serviced locally rather than having to ship it somewhere.
In order to receive DOT certification for the E-Clipse, Solar is building a local dealer network in the U.S., so depending on where you live, you’ll be able to get your E-Clipse serviced locally rather than having to ship it somewhere.
Solar E-Clipse Review: Conclusions
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
The PEV world is just exploding with good stuff! All the features we’ve been asking for, like higher IP ratings, better lighting, better suspension, they just keep coming.
But in the U.S. we’re still living in a sort of Wild-West, anything-goes world. When the price tag of your PEV starts nudging up against the price of a good used car, the idea of going legit with a license plate and insurance starts to get very appealing, both for theft prevention and preventing awkward moments with law enforcement.
For those who buy the Solar E-Clipse, the most likely complaint will be that their commute suddenly feels too short.
But in the U.S. we’re still living in a sort of Wild-West, anything-goes world. When the price tag of your PEV starts nudging up against the price of a good used car, the idea of going legit with a license plate and insurance starts to get very appealing, both for theft prevention and preventing awkward moments with law enforcement.
For those who buy the Solar E-Clipse, the most likely complaint will be that their commute suddenly feels too short.
Credit: Richard S. / ESG
The Solar E-Clipse is available in United States from Solar Scooters.
Our content is indepedent, but buying through our links may earn us a comission.
Alternative Competitors
Technical Specs Comparison
Model
Kaabo Wolf King GT
NAMI BURN-E 2 MAX
EMOVE Roadrunner Pro
Top Speed**
61.0 mph
54.9 mph
54.7 mph
Range**
55.0 mi
48.0 mi
32.3 mi
Weight**
115 lb
103 lb
114 lb
Price
$3595
$4890
$2895
**Based on our independent performance tests which may differ from manufacturer’s claims.
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