Electric mobility isn’t just about emissions anymore. It’s about how vehicles fit into cities that are getting tighter, more congested, and stricter when it comes to noise and emissions. For motorcycles, that shift is even more interesting. Bikes have always been about simplicity and mechanical feel. Now they’re becoming rolling tech platforms that just happen to be fun.
That’s where DAB Motors comes in.
If you haven’t heard of them, that’s kind of the point. DAB is a small French outfit that started as a design-led electric motorcycle brand. Peugeot Motocycles (yes, without an “r”) backed the project a few years ago, which gave it some serious industrial credibility. The first production DAB 1 was a limited “Alpha” run. Expensive, boutique, and very much a statement piece.
Photo by: DAB Motors
For 2026, they’re doing something more ambitious. A standard DAB 1, starting at 9,990 euros (around $11,650 USD). Sure, this isn’t cheap, but it’s no longer art-gallery money either.
On paper, the specs are aimed at Europe’s A1, 125cc-riding class of beginner riders. Continuous output stays under 11 kW (roughly 15 horsepower), which keeps it A1 license-friendly over there. But peak power hits 23 kW, or 31 horsepower. Claimed weight is just 320 pounds. That gives it a power-to-weight ratio that feels more like a lively small-displacement street bike than a typical entry-level commuter.
Top speed is 75 miles per hour. That’s fine for urban and suburban use, though you wouldn’t want to live on the interstate with it. The battery is a 7.1 kWh pack, good for up to 93 miles in city use, or around 75 miles mixed. Charging from 20 to 100 percent takes about three hours.
Photo by: DAB Motors
Photo by: DAB Motors
Photos by: DAB Motors
The hardware tells you DAB isn’t chasing bargain shoppers. It uses a steel double-loop frame, aluminum swingarm, KYB suspension, and Brembo brakes with ABS. Wheel sizes are 17 inches front and rear, with a 120/70 front tire and 150/60 rear, which is proper supermoto-spec rubber. It even keeps things simple with two brake levers and a belt final drive. No gearbox. No clutch. Just twist and go. Perfect for first-time riders and commuters, but maybe not so much for purists looking for the raw and connected feel of a traditional motorcycle.
What really pushes things forward isn’t just the numbers. It’s the intent. The 2026 model drops the carbon fiber and Alcantara of the original to make it more accessible, but it keeps the clean design and digital interface consisting of LED lighting, compact LCD display, keyless start via PIN. It feels like a modern device that happens to be a motorcycle. And for some, that might be exactly what they’re looking for.
But if we zoom out and look at the bigger picture, it’s obvious that the DAB 1 isn’t meant to replace a 400cc twin or even a gas-powered small-displacement supermoto. That’s not the mission. It’s more about rethinking what a lightweight motorcycle can be in an urban setting without throwing the fun factor out the window. It’s silent, quick off the line, easy to live with, and built with premium components.
At the end of the day, electric bikes don’t all have to be range monsters or super high-performance machines. Some just need to make sense for daily life. The DAB 1 feels like it understands that. Let’s just hope that this more accessible version will attract more riders.
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