Circulator – a tribute to the GP era

Compass Rose Circulator is a retro tribute to the elegant era of Grand Prix racing. Many of the most beautiful GP motorcycles of all time were created during the golden age of the 1960s and 1970s, when form and engineering mattered just as much as courage.

The design draws its inspiration from the Grand Prix machines of the 1960s and 70s, a time when racing motorcycles were as much works of art as they were competition tools. Thoughts naturally turn to iconic and technically extreme creations such as the Moto Guzzi V8 GP of the 1950s – machines that were as outrageous as they were beautiful.

But this is where the similarities end. Instead of a screaming two-stroke or a multi-cylinder engine, the Circulator is fully electric. Compass Rose has nevertheless gone to great lengths to conceal this fact. The battery pack, usually a purely functional component, has been clad and shaped to visually resemble a compact V8 engine – a deliberate attempt to preserve the illusion of classic mechanics.

The result is an electric motorcycle that does not want to look like an electric motorcycle.

Two versions with different focus

The Compass Rose Circulator is offered in two versions, tailored to different use cases. The more extreme track-focused version is said to deliver around 34 hp, with a top speed of approximately 240 km/h and a range of about 150 km. It is clearly aimed at sporty riding.

The standard model is more restrained in its setup, with around 10 hp and a claimed top speed of roughly 150 km/h, along with a shorter range. It is intended for everyday use and commuting.

Torque, however, is substantial on both versions, with a stated peak figure of 339 Nm – exactly what one would expect from an electric motor.

The vision – and the reality

Compass Rose sums up its ambition as follows:

“In the vast two-wheeler market, there is currently no electrified brand that is recognisable from miles away. Compass Rose aims to become a leading player in design and technology, where style and function come together without compromise.”

It is a strong vision, and the Circulator clearly demonstrates what the company is striving to achieve visually.

In practice, however, all of this matters less, because the price of this relatively unknown Korean creation is – brace yourself – 66 million South Korean won, equivalent to roughly €37,000 for the track version. Transport, customs duties and VAT are not included and must be handled separately. And at that point, it feels perfectly reasonable to say no.

Facts: Compass Rose

Origin: South Korea
Founded: 2020. Compass Rose was founded with the ambition of developing electric two-wheelers with a strong design identity.
Focus: Electric two-wheelers with a design-led approach
Profile: Retro and neo-retro inspired design language combined with modern electric drivetrains
Models:
- Circulator – neo-retro electric motorcycle with a sporty character
- Dandelion – another design-focused electric motorcycle in the brand’s portfolio
Goal: To create electric vehicles that are recognisable from a distance and unite aesthetics with engineering