Since the beginning, I have worked alone, with only a small production based solely on demand. It all started with the EOL project in 2012, I wanted to prove that my solutions were good and that one person with the right tools could hand-build Electric two Wheelers. From that time, I built it from scratch in 6 weeks. Like all my other bikes, I start with sketching (not on a computer but with pencils and paper). Then I design and improve all the parts in SolidWorks.
After Eol, I worked on the Ezekiel project and presented it at the EVER Monaco show, and… wow! I won awards for the best design, performance, and ecological building process. Thanks to that, people started to talk about my work. After that, I wanted to create a motorcycle based on vintage Belgian ones. I began to work on Renaissance. The bike is inspired by the 1920 “La Mondiale” by the Morel brothers because I think they were geniuses and were using non-classical technology on their bikes (the bikes accept different brands of motors and the frame was built with pressed steel panels).
Full Suspension Bike:
The Renaissance frame, like the Eol and Ezekiel frames, is a full CNC non-welded frame with a large opening to accept various types of batteries and hub motors. Following that, I created EXO, a full-suspension fat bike equipped with a Tangent drive and Di2 Shimano transmission (electric shifter and geared hub). The fact is, if you want to make a full suspension bike with a geared hub, you need to have the swing arm pivot point superposed with the pedal crank axle. and I resolved it.
In 2018, I moved to France to create the Atlas project for the city of Bethune. Atlas presented a significant challenge: to rethink the concept of a moped (such as MBK or Peugeot) in an electric version with the same specifications as the gas version, such as prices, power, range, ease of use, and so on.
It took me four years to make it real. Now the project is in good hands and will follow the process to be put into production in 2024.
Today I’m focusing on the launch of my two new concepts, E-Core and C-Board, with my partner Guy Salens. You can also check the best electric bike in 2023
Latest Projects:
C-Board:
Is a large, foldable, and modular step with many uses. However, this is not an ordinary kickstep: due to the larger floor panel, you can position your feet next to each other, which gives much greater and safer stability than with normal kicksteps. It’s a new sustainable e-mobility solution for last-mile solutions and city shopping. C-Board can be delivered in all kinds of delivery boxes (food, medical, etc.). C-Board has easily survived its 1,000+ km test. So, ready for 2023.
Electric Two Wheelers E-core:
In Addition, It is an easy-to-handle plug-in replacement for every thermic ‘Base 50’ combustion engine to transform it into an electric one. “ON” #pushthebuttontoday is focusing on the global market with this solution to transform traditional internal combustion engines into electrical ones. The final tests are going on.
Electric Two-Wheelers Renaissance:
Fantastic build that was a popular bike when it was revealed in 2016. Those details are amazing.
What Is ”Push The Button”?
Reviews of Ben Surain and Guy Salens on Electric Two Wheelers:
ON is an initiative from Ben Surain and Guy Salens. With #pushthebuttontoday, we want to present our range of unique light electric vehicles and the possibilities of future mobility.
ON wants to speed up the use of light Electric Two Wheelers. We create and develop in-house our new brands, C-Board (an electric cargo step) and E-Core (our solution to change ICEs (internal combustion engines) into electric ones). Besides that, we are ambassadors for BREKR (a design moped from the Netherlands) and BoB K1S, a fat tire scooter with a minimalistic design. Also crucial is the ability to personalize and customize all of these light electric vehicles. For a customer, we created a cafe racer based on a Super Soco TC Max. Customers can discuss the possibilities with us.
Faqs:
What is your goal in life?
After my studies in 2001 at Saint-Luc design school (Belgium), I worked in very different kinds of jobs: I started as a designer for dancing clubs, restaurants, and bars. After that, I designed some projects for brands in lighting systems and furniture. Then I worked as a design professor for 3 years, and my last job was as a designer for Panasonic Europe. Throughout this last job, I saw the evolution of electric mobility. After 5 years, I decided to leave my job and create my own brand because I knew that the technology was ready to make my dream bikes come true! I realized it was the beginning of a new era for mobility, and I wanted to be a part of it!
How has the process been in your projects?
In the last ten years, I’ve designed and built a lot of bikes; some were great, some weren’t (smile). I burned a ton of batteries, controllers, and motors, but after every prototype, I learned a lot from my mistakes and bad decisions. I wanted to improve my crazy ideas and find the best way to make them work.
What got you interested in Electric Two Wheelers from the beginning?
When I was 14, in my village, the parents of a friend of mine had a motorcycle workshop. I spent a lot of time watching the mechanic prepare superbikes for competition (it was the Fogarty’s Ducati superbike), and one day the old man gave me a wrench key and asked me to help him.
Also, He taught me how bikes work and the geometry of a good frame, and I fell in love with motorcycles.
In 2009, I decided to leave my work at Panasonic Europe and create my own brand of electric two-wheelers. Between 2009 and 2012, I began drawing models and looking for a way to make them a reality.I found that using Solidworks and a mix of new-school (CNC, laser, 3D printing, etc.) and old-school (bending tubes, metal shaping, welding, etc.
Technologies would be the best solutions. I spent a lot of time searching for the right way to do it, which software to use, and the appropriate tools. And then, in 2012, Surain Motorcycles was born! I started a long period of research and development and began to build some of my ideas.
Do you ride Electric Two Wheelers yourself?
I’ve ridden all my bikes for a long time before delivery. Now I ride different bikes every day: Brekr Model B, BOB K1S, and C-Board,…
What is your inspiration?
Do you create other things apart from bikes?
- As a designer, I worked for different companies in Europe before I started my own brand and designed lighting systems, chairs, tables, toys, and jewelry, and worked on some architectural projects.
Do you have any new bikes/business ideas in the pipe?
- Of course! I want to keep it secret for now.
- But at 46, I will take time to build my “middle life masterpiece,” and maybe it will be my favorite until the next one
What’s shaking for 2023?
By 2023, we hope to finalize our tests with E-Core. We are already talking to distributors in Europe. A large marketing campaign with THE PACK “Electric Two Wheelers News,” will be launched to bring the E-Core to the market. The next step is to introduce E-Core in Asian countries. We are already talking to interested automotive groups. We are pretty enthusiastic about our C-Board. The first contacts for the distribution of this new light electric vehicle have been made in Europe. The follow-up for these two brands will be exciting in 2023.
