Alan Dowds, who attended ProDay 2024 in Misano, was the first motorcycle journalist in the UK to get his hands on the new Vmoto Stash. He tested it through Kingston upon Thames and the A3 dual carriageway down towards the M25 and back for Devitt Insurance…
“The Stash’s mid-mount power unit has a proper chain final drive, with the handling and suspension advantages that come from not having the weight of the motor bouncing up and down with the back wheel.
The motor itself has a rated continuous output of around 12bhp, but peak output of nearly 20bhp, a bit of a loophole compared with petrol engines that only have one power rating, and part of the reason for the peppy performance.
It’s all powered by a single fixed battery pack behind the swoopy main fairing, with a 90 mile claimed range, and 74v/97Ah rated capacity. It charges up with the supplied 1.7kW charging unit, which connects using a proprietary socket on the bike’s sidepanel and plugs into a normal 13A domestic mains socket.
The dash is huge, bright and colourful, with loads of info, and various modes. Sidestand up, kill-switch off, and you’re ready to roll. The silence is of course disconcerting at first, but the little Vmoto Stash doesn’t mess about off the line.
As soon as you whip the throttle twistgrip round, the back wheel provides instant drive, and with no gears or clutch to manage, there’s zero interruption to the thrust… compared with buses, trucks and normal cars, you’re off like the proverbial scalded cat.
The super-skinny profile and good steering lock helps you slip through the busiest traffic with ease, while the naked bike riding position is commanding and relaxed. And those brakes are strong and progressive, with the safety net of excellent grip from the Pirelli tyres, and ABS to catch any remaining mishaps.
A couple of days with the Stash reveals a strong, smooth, torquey powertrain for the class, that works really well in urban conditions, and is more than adequate for 70mph dual carriageway work as well.”
Read the full review at devittinsurance.com.
