We discovered the most beautiful Super Soco in Blankenberge at the Belgian coast. Belgian designer Benjamin Surain invited THE PACK to present his special customised project for a private customer. Based on a TC Max Super Soco, Ben created and rebuild the TC completely into a minimalistic café racer called “Nuit” (‘Night’ in English).
We were welcomed very warmly by Ben and his wife Nath on the eve of their opening of Nath’s new alternative fashion shop AmsterMadam in Blankenberge. Ben also installed his shop and workshop in the building and is working at several e-mobility projects and collab as we speak.
The first time we heard about Benjamin was when he worked in France at the Atlas Project, in cooperation with the city of Bethune. Atlas was designed to be a durable, and multi-purpose 45 km/h ‘moped’. A 2-wheeled electric machine that allows the user to adapt this vehicle to their usage and desires.
But Ben created the past 10 years the most diverse light electric vehicles: the so-called ‘electrocycles’ and many tailor-made custom projects, on- and offroad. He developed also special kits for multiple ebike models and cooperated with several electric motorcycle brands.
He explores unusual and innovative creating technologies in his projects. Also today with “Nuit”, he refuses to work with plastic parts. In stead of using plastics, he has chosen for alternative eco-friendly materials in combination with 3D printing technology. He “literally” tore up the TC and redesigned the whole frame based on the cafe racer philosophy: the straight line. This motorbike is 15 cm longer than the original TC Max Super Soco and almost everything has been redesigned, especially the frame geometry.
Nuit has become a lightweight electric motorbike, with a Surain retro-touch. Ben is fascinated by the old Belgian motorcycle brands and loves the combination of a retro look with modern technology. He has thought very carefully about the new placement of the battery, not forgetting both the looks and the practical side about air-cooling and weight. During the test ride of the Nuit, I experienced a very balanced motorcycle and with its 85 kg weight, it is manageable for everyone.
The riding position is a sportive one, even Spartan in use (your body feels every aspect of the road since you become one with the machine) but hey, that’s part of the philosophy of the bike. And very surprisingly, the Nuit is completely silent on the road. Ben has reused the original belt drive to avoid “mechanical rattling” sounds. But you’ll get noticed, I can tell.
Technical specifications:
- Battery: original TC Max cells and enclosure with upgraded tailor-made BMS and firmware
- Controller: BAC ASI specially tuned by Ben and Accelerated System
- Frame, seat, tank, fairings, paint: tailor-made by Ben
- Power: + 30 % torque than the original bike (2 maps: street & race)
- Top speed: 110 km/h
- Fully adjustable suspensions
- Fully adjustable firmware for the riding experience
Tailor-made project?
If you are interested in a collab or a customised electric motorbike project with a “Surain”-touch, please let me know at hello@motorguy.eu
Pictures copyright: THE PACK
