What does a Belgian electric motorcycle have to do with an English kit car builder from the 1940s? They are based on the same philosophy. The name of the sports car manufacturer TVR came from the first name of its founder Trevor Wilkinson, who initially built kit cars in Blackpool from 1947. His cars should be light and efficient. 73 years later, Jeroen-Vincent Nagels and Philippe Stella founded a start-up for electric motorcycles in Belgium. Because Nagels is a big fan of TVR’s “keep it simple” philosophy, they christened their new company Trevor.
Inspired by the flat track
But they got even more inspiration, especially from California, where Nagels lived for 17 years and worked as an actor in Los Angeles. He really wanted to transfer the ease of life there to the electric motorcycle. So they commissioned John McInnis from San Francisco to create the design. He was already involved in the development of Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire (test). With the Trevor DTRE Stella, McInnis was inspired by flat track racing, which is very popular in America. The concept was then further developed in Belgium by Maison Saroléa, who themselves caused a sensation with their Saroléa Manx7 electric motorbike and events at the TT Isle of Man. The Trevor DTRE Stella is made by hand in their workshop in Oudenaarde.
Reduced to the essentials
The design is reduced to the essentials and appears almost spartan. Where other electric motorcycle manufacturers coyly try to hide the battery, the Trevor puts power storage squarely in the spotlight. A shapely tubular steel frame connects the steering head with the swing arm axle and also holds the battery.
The developers placed the brushless electric motor between the pivot point and the rear wheel. Right next to it, the spring strut attaches to the swingarm. The curved monocoque that supports the seat seems to float almost freely above it. It is made of recycled plastic and is intended to underline the sustainable idea of the electric motorcycle.
19 inch wheels
But as simple as the Trevor appears at first glance, it is as complex in detail. The two 19-inch aluminum wheels come from Haan Wheels with Excel rims. The strange tire dimensions 130/80-19 at the front and 140/80-19 at the rear, mounted on the Dunlop DT3, are said to make them suitable for flat track deposits. Whether that’s a good idea remains to be seen. The Indian FTR 1200 was also created in 2018 based on the model of the flat track and initially had 19 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear, which gave it stubborn driving characteristics on the road. In 2021, Indian then realized and downsized to 17-inch cast rims (test).
The DTRE Stella is not for short people, because its seat height is an impressive 91 centimeters. Should Trevor later decide on 17-inch rims, following the example of Indian, it would only be a good 88 centimeters without further changes.
Fully adjustable Öhlins fork
Trevor made no compromises when it came to the front fork and installed fully adjustable Öhlins inverted forks. The brakes are from French manufacturer Beringer, with a single, single-piston caliper at the front. A classic, round LED headlight underlines the “keep-it-simple” attitude.
The license plate holder is attached to the swingarm and holds a small LED tail light. Even if Trevor emphasizes that the DTRE Stella is street legal, it will not get a blessing from the KBA in Germany without a front wheel guard and chain guard.
Suitable for driving license A1
According to Trevor, the air-cooled electric motor has an output of 11 kW (15 hp), which means that the DTRE Stella can be driven with the A1 driver’s license from the age of 16. It is said to reach a top speed of 95 km/h and is said to weigh only 101 kg. In conjunction with the stately torque of 260 Nm, the electric bike should accelerate quickly. The battery has 2.7 kWh ready and should be enough for 102 km in the city, in the WMTC cycle there are still 87 km. It is said to take 70 minutes to fully charge the empty battery with an external charger. Thus, the city would be the preferred area of application for the Trevor.
No cheap offer
Trevor also offers the Stella as a pure flat-track variant without street legal. It should only weigh 79 kg and not only does without lights, but also, like all flat-track racers, without a front wheel brake. For the off-road variant, Trevor demands 12,995 euros, with road approval, 14,495 euros are due including the 21 percent VAT that is customary in Belgium, plus 250 euros for transport costs.
The Trevor DTRE Stella is not a cheap offer, but a real eye-catcher thanks to its original design. Anyone who decides to order a Trevor online now will have to wait 20 weeks for their hand-made electric motorcycle.
