Аurus Merlon Bikes in Putin's Motorcade: What You Need to Know

There was one two-wheeled aspect of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival for his swearing-in ceremony on May 7 that drew particular attention.

Besides the familiar sight of the presidential Aurus Senat armored limousine, created from start to finish by Russian designers, nine sleek electric-powered Aurus motorcycles debuted at the event.

Here are some facts and figures about the АURUS Мerlon electric motorcycle:

Development of the Aurus motorcycle as part of the Project Kortezh and the “Unified Modular Platform,” dates back to 2017. NAMI, the State Research Centre of the Russian Federation, unveiled the first prototype at the Innoprom International Industrial Exhibition in 2022.

According to the developer, the space-frame is made of high endurance aluminum alloys, while external panels and elements are of Russian-made composite materials.

The motorbike also features an entirely domestic-made high-voltage traction battery, electric motor, power control system (including software), touch-sensitive electronic instrument panel, LED optics, suspension elements and thermostat system.

The motorcycle’s main purpose is the year-round motorcade escort of top state officials and diplomatic missions.

The AURUS Merlon is capable of operating at temperatures from -25ºC to +40°C, and retains traction at high speed on slippery roads. A low center of gravity makes the domestically-produced electric motorcycle reliably stable.

Standard features include:

While the AURUS Merlon electric motorcycle is currently produced in limited quantities, the release of a commercial version for all bike fans is being considered.