Compass Rose Ciulator: A $50,000 Electric Motorcycle Review

In all my years covering things that go vroom, whoosh, and occasionally clank-sputter-pop, I have never encountered a vehicle named after a pun quite this cheesy. I'm talking about a new electric motorcycle from a South Korean company called Compass Rose. It's an artsy, neo-retro, carbon-fiber beauty that looks like it rolled right out of a 1950s British rocker's daydream, took a detour through a sci-fi movie, and landed at CES. It is gorgeous. It is fast. And it is called the "Ciulator." Oh yeah. Ciulator. As in, "See you later." I really wish I was making this up. Apparently, the name is derived from the phrase, "I'll go to the café first - see you later." It's the kind of joke your uncle makes at Thanksgiving, right before he falls asleep in the mashed potatoes. But despite the giggle-inducing name, this bike is actually trying to be a serious machine. Let's start with the looks, since that's where this thing shines brightest. It is a stunning blend of aviation-inspired geometry and good old-fashioned craftsmanship. The frame is made from Reynolds 953 steel tubing, and it's wrapped in a full carbon-fiber body. It looks like it was built to break land speed records on the salt flats, or at least look really good parked in front of a coffee shop where an espresso costs eighteen dollars. Because this beauty is electric, there's no engine noise. But Compass Rose didn't want you to miss out on the visual drama of a combustion engine. So, they sculpted the battery pack to look exactly like an engine block. Come on! That is a nice touch. It's like wearing a toupee; we all know it's not real, but we appreciate the effort to keep up appearances. Underneath that pretty carbon skin, the Ciulator comes in two flavors. If you are feeling brave (and wealthy), there is the track version. This bad boy packs a 34-horsepower in-wheel hub motor. 34 horsepower might not sound like a lot if you are used to superbikes, but it produces a peak torque of 258 pound-feet. That is enough torque to pull your arms out of their sockets. Compass Rose claims this track version hits a top speed of 150 mph. I am gently skeptical about doing 150 mph on something with 34 ponies, but aerodynamics are a magical thing. It's got a 72-volt, 150-amp-hour Samsung battery that gives you a range of about 93 miles. That is just enough distance to get away from someone making fun of the bike's name. If you don't need to go Mach 1 on your morning commute, there is a standard trim. This one has a more modest 10-horsepower motor and tops out at 93 mph. It carries a slightly smaller battery, getting you around 80 miles of range. It's sensible. It's practical. It's still probably faster than my first car. And what about comfort? The saddle is made from Cordovan leather sourced directly from Argentina. I have handbags that aren't made of leather that nice. The whole bike weighs in at a featherlight 308 pounds, thanks to all that carbon fiber. It's light, it's nimble, and it's undoubtedly a piece of art. But art, as we know, comes at a price. And this is where things get a little spicy. The Ciulator costs roughly 66 million Korean Won. For those of us operating in Freedom Eagles, that is about $50,000. Fifty thousand dollars? For that price, the bike shouldn't just say "See you later," it should cook me dinner and tell me I look thin. It is an astronomical amount of money for a motorcycle, electric or otherwise. If you simply must have a Compass Rose in your garage but your wallet is currently weeping in the corner, they do have another model. It's called the Dandelion. Because, according to the company, dandelions are "light, free, yet destined to travel far." That is beautiful. Also, it's a weed, but let's focus on the poetry. The Dandelion is a retro-futuristic scooter-thing with massive 19-inch aero-disc wheels and a long wheelbase. It looks like something from the Jetsons. The top-spec "Lighting" variant (I assume they meant Lightning, but let's roll with it) has the same 10-horsepower motor as the base Ciulator, hitting 93 mph with a 93-mile range. The standard Dandelion is much tamer, with a 6.7-horsepower motor that cruises up to 56 mph and covers about 62 miles. The best part? The price. The Dandelion starts around $5,700. That is a massive drop from the $50k price tag of its big brother. Compass Rose is clearly not interested in following the traditional motorcycle rulebook. They are making rolling sculptures that just happen to have electric motors. Are they a bit "extra"? Absolutely. Is $50,000 insane for a bike named after a dad joke? Probably. But in a world of boring commuter appliances, I'm just glad someone is out there being weird. So, would I buy one? My husband would tackle me before I got the credit card out. But I'd sure love to take one for a spin. Just don't ask me to say the name out loud in public. Enjoyed the article? Give us a 'LIKE' and FOLLOW us on MSN! Or Buy us coffee :) Thank you for your support!