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Damon and the $70 Million Clay Bike

Paul Roberts
Sep 28
4 min read

Updated: Sep 30

Damon Motorcycles has just released pictures of a clay model Hypersport Prototype. That's right, the same company that promised the most advanced motorcycle in the world—and took millions in pre-order money years ago—has now turned to the potting wheel for their big reveal.

When Damon burst onto the scene, they were full of promises and wild, albeit exciting, ideas about what an electric motorcycle could be: over 200 miles (321km) of range, 200mph, 0–60 (100km/h) in a blink, and lap times to shame fighter jets. They’ve taken millions in pre-orders and gained plenty of traction in investment circles, but still—no bike has appeared. Their website shows glossy renders of the Hypersport, and both YouTube and their Facebook page is still playing clips of a yellow prototype tearing around race tracks. But what’s the reality here? Is Damon building a superbike, or is the Hypersport just hype?

A Quick History Lesson

Damon Motorcycles, founded in Vancouver in 2017 by Jay Giraud and Dom Kwong, didn’t come out quietly. Their pitch was simple: build the most advanced electric superbike in history. They quickly set themselves apart by promising not just performance, but tech that read like science fiction. Investors and the tech press lapped it up. In 2020, they unveiled the Hypersport at CES in Las Vegas, dropping jaws with the idea of a shape-shifting riding position (via the CoPilot system), onboard radar, and OTA software updates—features unheard of in production motorcycles at the time.

Damon raised over $85 million in pre-sales funding and deposits started rolling in. They announced multiple variants: the Hypersport Premier, HS, SX, and SE. Each carried eye-watering specs and equally bold claims about safety and AI-driven rider assistance. Yet here we are in 2025, eight years after the company’s founding, and not a single unit has rolled off a production line into a customer’s garage.

The Promised Specs of the Hypersport

According to Damon, the flagship Hypersport HS was supposed to deliver:

Range: 200+ miles (combined city/highway)
Top Speed: 200 mph
Acceleration: 0–60 mph in under 3 seconds
Battery: 20 kWh liquid-cooled pack
Charging: DC fast charging (45 minutes to 80%)
Rider Tech: CoPilot 360° radar-based warning system, cameras, haptic feedback in grips
Ergonomics: "Shift" system to electronically change from sport crouch to upright commute stance on the fly

On paper, the Hypersport wasn’t just competitive with ICE superbikes—it blew them out of the water. The problem is, these numbers still live on paper.

Why No Bikes Yet?

Damon blames supply chain disruptions, COVID-era delays, and material shortages. All valid challenges—ask any OEM who tried to build anything with semiconductors in 2021. But other e-moto outfits faced the same problems and still got bikes out the door. Energica continues to live in Europe after being saved again. Zero keeps shipping to the US, Ultraviolette has done incredible things in India and now has an established network across Europe. Even start-ups like Verge have moved past the vapor stage.

Meanwhile, Damon leans on glossy videos, CAD renders, and now—yes—a clay model. For a company sitting on a pile of deposits, that’s not a good look.

The Global Context

This isn’t just a North American story. Damon has customers from London to Sydney to Bangalore with deposits down, waiting for a bike that may never materialise. Enthusiasts in India are watching Ultraviolette and Revolt actually deliver. Australians have Savic. Europeans have Verge and Energica. The Americans have Zero. And all these companies are doing what Damon hasn’t: putting actual motorcycles in riders' hands. On top of that, the tech that Damon promised to introduce, is now readily available from the top manufacturers. Have Damon lost the map? or just missed the exit.

The Plus Side

Offering up a clay model does show some movement at least. Sculpting in this way is a standard process that manufacturers go through before producing actual parts made from their final materials, e.g. carbon or aluminium. in Damon's words:

The completion of the full-scale clay model is a critical phase in the vehicle's development, moving the Hypersport Race from a digital concept to a physical form

That's at least something to hold on to if you're still hoping the Hypersport is around the corner. But it's also off track with the narrative. Why now? We've already seen the 'real' version at CES; we know you've got the mouldings already. Unless they've done a dramatic redesign—doesn't look like it—then we're failing to see the point.

So, What’s Next?

Damon still claims production is coming—someday. They’re pushing for a new manufacturing facility in Surrey, BC, and say bikes will roll out once materials and assembly lines catch up.

Maybe. But until then, the hype is wearing thin. Riders don’t have much patience and won't wait for another sizzle reel. They want keys, torque, and rubber on tarmac.

If Damon can deliver even half of what they promised, the Hypersport could be a landmark machine. But riders have a short patience; if they can—and they can—they're much more likely to spend their money on a product that actually exists. Until one of us throws a leg over a production Damon, it’s hard to call them anything other than the best clay-model builders in the motorcycle industry.

Ride safe, folks