Belgian speed-pedelec start-up Specter has started production of its second-generation Specter 2, promising up to 200 kilometers of range and two-wheel drive. But the real achievement may be less spectacular than those headline figures: Specter has found a way to make much of the technology of its €10,000-plus first generation considerably more affordable, while bringing frame production back to Belgium.
The dual-motor idea itself is not new. Newmobility.news already reported in 2019 on the (also Belgian) Ellio and in 2023 on the Specter 1 Long Range, which also combined a mid-motor with a front-wheel motor and a 1,200 Wh battery for up to 170 km of range. That model cost €10,690. The new Specter 2 Long Range starts at €7,490, roughly €3,200 less, while battery capacity grows to 1,440 Wh and the maximum claimed range rises to 200 km.
That figure needs context. Specter quotes 200 km in its economical Range mode, targeting around 30 km/h. At a target speed of 45 km/h, it claims about 100 km in Chill mode and around 70 km in the most demanding Fly mode, for example with headwind or uphill.
There is also a cheaper standard Specter 2 at €6,490, with a single 700 W peak mid-motor, a 1,000 Wh battery, and a claimed average range of 60 km.
Two motors, different jobs
The Long Range combines a mid-motor with a hub motor for 950 W continuous power and 1,200 W peak power. Specter says the mid-motor mainly handles acceleration and gives a natural pedaling feel, while the hub motor helps maintain high cruising speeds. Effectively, the bike gets two-wheel drive.
It sounds excessive for a bicycle, but it remains comfortably within the legal framework. Belgian rules allow pedal-assisted speed pedelecs with a top speed of up to 45 km/h and a continuous rated power of up to 4 kW.
Specter’s 950 W continuous output therefore remains well below the ceiling. As a speed pedelec, it still requires type approval, a certificate of conformity, and an SP registration plate.
Specter also offers a €250 front-wheel ABS and the €279 connected UNIT1 Aura helmet with integrated indicators and keyless access. Both make particular sense on a 45 km/h commuter.
ABS can help maintain steering control during emergency braking on wet or slippery roads, while the helmet improves visibility and convenience for daily riders.
The Specter 2 also keeps the brand’s unusually car-like digital cockpit, with a built-in HD display, 4G connectivity and over-the-air updates, plus turn-by-turn navigation, weather and live wind information, speed-limit data, Spotify integration and manual or automatic shifting. An optional Garmin Varia rear radar can add traffic warnings from behind.
From exotic to industrial carbon
More important for Specter’s future is how the bike is built. The first generation deliberately started at the top of the market, with a conventional lightweight carbon frame and prices above €10,000.
Founder Maarten Baert told Flemish innovation agency VLAIO that the strategy was to start small, develop the technology and service model, and only then scale up.
The Specter 2 is that second step. Instead of a labor-intensive traditional carbon frame, Specter developed an ‘industrial carbon’ hybrid frame using an automotive-style injection-molding process. The frame is manufactured in Belgium with a subcontractor in Aalst, while the bikes are assembled at Specter in Wondelgem near Ghent.
According to Baert, the mould requires a large initial investment, but the cost per frame then falls below that of conventional carbon and even below the cost of importing one from Asia. Specter claims it is the first speed pedelec to use automotive-grade injection molding for its frame.
There is a trade-off. The original Specter 1 weighed less than 20 kg and the Long Range 26.2 kg. The new versions weigh at least 30 and 33 kg, respectively. Specter has traded some of its obsession with lightness for lower cost, comfort, and manufacturability.
Now comes the scale-up
NMN reported in 2024 that Specter had raised €2 million to expand internationally and broaden its range. The Specter 2 is where that strategy becomes tangible.
Baert says the original €10,000-plus product addressed less than 10% of the market, while he believes the new price level puts Specter within reach of 70-80%.
Actual sales still have to prove that ambition, but the home market is favorable. Belgium registered 8,196 new speed pedelecs in the first half of 2026, up 9.5% from a year earlier, with leasing accounting for roughly two-thirds of registrations.
Production has now started. The standard single-motor Specter 2 costs €6,490, while the dual-motor Long Range is €7,490. Specter’s configurator currently lists 15 October as the earliest delivery date.
Three years after Specter impressed with an expensive technological showcase, the second generation is about something harder: turning it into an industrial product.
The 200-km range and two motors attract attention, but making a high-tech speed pedelec in Belgium at a price much closer to the mainstream may ultimately be the bigger achievement.
