DAB MOTORS UNVEILS BIKE DESIGN INSPIRED BY RETRO GAMING

Created by DAB’s Custom Studio, the one-off bike references the world of retro gaming, with fully transparent bodywork and gamified controls.

Drawing inspiration from the “Atomic Purple” Game Boy Color by Nintendo, which celebrates its 135th anniversary this week, the entire body of this DAB 1α is made with fully translucent plastics, showcasing the inner mechanics. The bike’s controls, design features and colour palette curates a gamified aesthetic and experience, while a customised vintage game cartridge start key provides a truly unique and distinctive feature for gaming enthusiasts.

This one-off electric motorcycle is created by the DAB Custom Studio (DCS), a bespoke service branch of DAB Motors dedicated to creating unique and experimental adaptations and adjustments for customers.

Combining nostalgic design with modern EV technology, the handlebars feature custom-designed controls based on the classic A & B buttons and a cross-shaped D-pad on arcade games and portable consoles. Hidden cheat codes have been integrated into the motorcycle’s software, with owners able to unlock special features, including speed boosts, display variations and 8-bit sound effects. The owner of the bike will discover the hidden features through a classic-style cheat code magazine, reminiscent of the gaming publications of the ‘90s.

Founded in 2018 by French entrepreneur Simon Dabadie, DAB Motors is a boutique electric motorcycle manufacturer based in Bayonne, France. It has amassed a cult celebrity following, including the likes of J Balvin, FKA Twigs, Marcus Rashford, and Rosalía, as well as collaborations with leading brands such as Burberry. In April 2024, the brand opened registrations for the DAB 1α, its first production electric motorbike.

The gaming customisation is available when registering for the DAB 1α on the DAB Motors website.