At the EICMA 2023 motorcycle exhibition in Milan, Munich-based startup GR1T Motorcycles GmbH showed its first two models under the Pioneer brand—the homologated Street and off-road competition Pro models. The new bikes adhere to the co-founding GR1T team’s belief that the future of mobility “must be electric, sustainable, and problem-solving.” The company is applying this through local partners, domestic (German) manufacturing, and the use of first-class European components as the most important ingredients for it to ensure the highest quality and reliability of its motorcycles—with best-in-its-class power-to-weight ratios.

Founded in 2022 and led by Chief Executive Officer Thrass Papadimitriou, Chief Production Officer Bert Heydel, Chief Marketing Officer Hermann Köpf, Chief Commercial Officer Omar Abukhlal, and Interim Chief Financial Officer Philip Ammerman, the company has moved quickly. It emphasizes environmental sustainability across its value chain, aiming to minimize its environmental footprint while promoting economic and social well-being. By designing ultra-light motorcycles, the power-to-weight ratio and the associated energy costs are greatly improved.

GR1T offers a full recycling recovery guarantee to customers, so if a GR1T battery no longer works it is recovered and recycled at no customer cost. As a European producer, the company says it benefits from short supply chains with low carbon emissions. Its component suppliers are well-known European and global manufacturers that comply with national and European environmental regulations and policies. Those suppliers are selected based on product quality, ethical sourcing practices, transparency, and environmental sustainability.

For lifestyle-oriented street riders, the Pioneer Street model is available in three different power levels for license holders in classes A/A2 (9 kW continuous power), A1 (7 kW), or AM (4 kW). With a total mass of 70 kg (154 lb) including the battery, it is designed to be agile, delivering the fun potential of a pit bike, and is intended for users switching from a car to a motorbike for crowded city centers. The model is fitted with 14-in Pirelli Diablo road tires.

The off-road competition Pioneer Pro model offers 15 kW/48 V peak (9 kW continuous) power, a maximum of 59 V in the low-voltage range, 250 N·m (184 lb·ft) torque, and a mass of only 65 kg (143 lb). With an unladen mass of only 51 kg (112 lb), it is designed to be transported on most car bike racks if the 14-kg (31-lb) battery is removed from under the folding seat using the carrying handle.

Designed for sporty use and extensively tested under competition-like conditions, Pioneer variants include individually adjusted Öhlins suspension elements, Brembo front and Shimano rear brakes, and a geometry for optimal riding “on the steepest terrain or in the deepest urban jungle.”

The in-house-developed lightweight electric motor and control electronics allow for three different riding modes. The modes of 15-kW Performance, 10-kW Sport, and 4-kW Eco with a 45-km/h (28-mph) speed limit are selected via an LCD display. The 2.1-kW·h battery pack, which operates at 45 A·h and 48 V and offers an “unbelievably long range” of 70 km (43 mi), can be fully charged in 3 h or 2 h for 80%. Set via a rotary control, the intelligent control software enables recuperation, to feed energy back to the battery to enable an extended riding range. The low-voltage solution not only allows for easier repairs, with no high-voltage certificates required but also underscores the company’s commitment to making cutting-edge technology user-friendly and accessible.

From November 1st, customers can pre-order the Founders’ Edition via the company’s website for €350. Pricing begins for the Street performance variants at €9499 and for Pro model for €11,999—both not counting VAT, potential customs, or shipping costs. All models will be available in the second half of 2024, including special “early membership benefits,” and will be shipped from Munich, Germany.