WORDS & PHOTOS : Peter Elliott
IN DOG WE TRUST
Hamilton-based FTN is making high-end electric motorcycles with world-beating quality and tech . Peter Elliott went along to the launch of the Streetdog .
My son calls me Petedog , I don ’ t know why . I do know he would approve of the Streetdog made in New Zealand , at FTN ’ s factory in Hamilton in fact . Cards on the table , I ’ ve never been a great fan of electric vehicles , and the invite to yet another battery powered scooter had little appeal , but that prejudice was dispelled on seeing the Streetdog 80 in the flesh , so to speak . It is very attractive , appealing instantly to the café racer lover in me . Here was a clean , funky looking , well equipped , beautifully engineered , electric motorbike . Low and glowing , and the longer I looked , the better it got .
BMX BEGINNINGS The two young creators who had a brainwave eight years ago , Luke Sinclair and Kendall Bristow , have come a long way . Looking at the market for scooters and mopeds , they thought there ’ s gotta be a better way ; rather than commuters and electrics that were ugly as hell , or too techy and futuristic and had no appeal , they thought aesthetics were key . They were right , this is a sublime bit of work .
KIWI RIDER 87