Born in NZ, this new car licence-approved 50 is swifty, nifty, and heading Down Under fast
We’re all looking for faster, cheaper and more efficient road transport, and at the eco end of the scale is the electric scooter. Lots of purpose, not a lot of street cred.
A moped/Vespa-style scooter may be good for the Disney Luca Ercole Visconti riders, but one could say they’re a touch effeminate (I wouldn’t personally suggest it, it’s 2025 after all). Enter the NZ born-and-built FTN Motion Streetdog50, with a big dose of street coolness and cred and the ultimate suburban transport bridge between walking and a car. Or simply just a fun way to get around. And it’s coming to Oz.
FTN Motion (F*** The Norm is the literal acronym/initialism) was formed in the Kiwi capital of Wellington in 2021, launching the Streetdog50 – the 50 symbolising its maximum speed in kilometres.
With the desire to dominate the hilly terrain of Wellington with something that could scale the streets with style, founders Luke Sinclair and Kendall Bristow soon discovered that bigger cities called; relocating to Hamilton in 2024, putting them more central, with easy access to the 1.8 million population of Auckland.
Given its size and 50km/h performance, the Streetdog50 is classified as a scooter, and therefore ‘might’ require only a car licence… or a C Class licence. Check your state, as it’s different all over (for example, NSW, Vic, Tas and ACT require a bike licence, whereas Qld or SA a C Class licence only), but the 50 is swifty and nifty: simply jump on a Streetdog50, twist the throttle and start chasing cars, as easy as a rental E-scooter or bike.
In some way it’s the ultimate oxymoron: a simple yet complex design, which falls in line with its retro-modern styling. Using just a steel tube frame chassis, but with modern, electric underpinnings, the cafe racer style also suits a wide range of rider shapes and sizes.
Aside from the in-house developed electronics, ECU and touchscreen dash display, EVs are typically relatively simple: oversimplified, a battery simply powers a motor via a regulator (throttle). The Streetdog50 has a 2.9kWh, 15kg battery under the seat, about the size of a typical 12-volt car battery.
The trapezoid-shaped battery feeds power to a single, 3.0kW electric motor mounted in the rear wheel hub, while power is regulated by the conventional right-hand throttle.
Range is up to 100km, and it can be recharged by simply plugging the FTN wall socket charger into the battery in situ, or by removing the battery (a 10-second job) to either recharge or replace it with a spare one – a $2750 option that doubles the range and fits in the storage area. A recharge from 0-100 per cent takes around five hours.
Brakes are conventional discs, and more than capable given its size and speed, although there is also battery regeneration to get back some volts during deceleration or riding downhill.
Rider info is communicated through a single, simple, stylish but highly functional circular touchscreen display, using either PIN or keyfob security. A thumb button on the handlebar brings it alive, while holding it for a second switches it to ride mode, with a speedometer.
There are cute, functional icons, because FTN Motion is about having fun: a snail represents eco mode, a turbo symbolises boost, while a dog reminds the rider that the sidestand is down – just in case the inhibited motion isn’t enough of a clue.
Eco mode is for those who need to eke out every kilometre, and is fast enough for traffic flow. Sport mode serves up the maximum amount of power – a mighty 5kW! – and maximum acceleration: 0-50km/h takes around 10 seconds, even with this lump of 120kg, 188cm rider at the controls. Normal mode is in between, and all modes result in the same top speed, just over 50km/h maxed out, differing only in the rate it gets there. Range is naturally affected but sits around 80-100km.
Another button on the ‘bars releases the flip-up ‘tank’ and reveals its 30-litre storage compartment underneath, with plenty of space for bags, jackets and shopping, while under the tank is another small storage shelf for things like a wallet and phone; there’s even a handy USB port.
Electronics are an FTN strongpoint, with in-house engineers designing and testing developments, even offering Over the Air updates to keep the Streetdog50 performing at its peak.
It’s as light and agile as it looks, but still solid on the road, and super easy to ride, especially when crawling in traffic, up to red lights or roundabouts; 60km/h zones can be cause for thought, especially with ute drivers wanting to do 70km/h, as the Streetdog50 is maxed out around 50km/h; but then again, it’s very much horses for courses. And like Mac the dog, which the bike is named after, the Streetdog50 is happiest racing around the suburban streets, with a tiny footprint, no emissions and able to find a parking spot virtually anywhere.
Even for larger riders, the Streetdog50 fits fine, has a super comfortable padded seat, and offers pillion space and footpegs. Although we rode the Kiwi version in Hamilton with fixed ‘pegs, Aussie versions will get folding ‘pegs for ADRs.
Taking between two to six weeks to build, depending on customer personalisation, pricing will start at $11,260 ride away: not inexpensive, though the Streetdog50 is clearly a boutique bike. With over 200 already on NZ roads and the company having just launched its Streetdog80 and begun its expansion into Australia, there’s clearly a market for a funky, electric urban cafe racer.
PROS – Very cool conveyance for the urban eco warrior who wants to stand out from the crowd
CONS – Priced pretty high but sales show good demand. Top speed could be an issue in some Aussie suburban speed zones
SPECIFICATIONS
FTN Motion Streetdog50
MOTOR: Single motor in rear wheel hub
POWER: 3-5kW
BATTERY: 2.9kWh, 72 volt
CHARGING: Approx 5hrs (0-100%)
TOP SPEED: 50km/h
RANGE: 80-100km
PRICE: $11,260 Streetdog50; $12,950 Streetdog80.
Rider Profile
NAME Dean Evans
HEIGHT 188cm
WEIGHT 100kg
FACT A prolific rider, race-winner and car/bike journo, Dean married a Kiwi nine years ago, hopped across the Tasman Sea from Sydney and never looked back.
