Horwin CR1 Pro - Motornity

The Horwin CR1 Pro

By [name] | October 7, 2025

The Horwin CR1 Pro is a strictly budget-oriented electric commuter motorcycle designed in Austria and assembled in China. It is primarily purposed for economy-conscious motorcyclists that commute in busy urban environments. It offers an enticing option for 70-150cc ICE commuter owners that are looking to shift to an electric platform to escape the gasoline price inflation crisis and to minimize fuel and maintenance costs without sacrificing the experience that a traditional motorcycle offers.

Specification

Retail Price	470,000 PKR (as of July 2026)
Motor	BLDC mid-mounted
Claimed Power	4.5KW or 6HP
Transmission	single speed, chain drive
Battery	72V 45AH LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
Claimed Range	90km
Frame	Steel single cradle with motor and battery as stressed member
Front Suspension	Generic telescopic forks, non-adjustable, size N/A, travel N/A
Rear Suspension	Generic dual shocks, Preload adjustable, travel N/A
Front Brake	Generic hydraulic disk, size N/A, 2-piston axially mounted caliper
Rear Brake	Generic drum
Rake, trail	N/A, N/A
Wheelbase	1400mm/55.12in
Seat height	775mm/30.51in
Ground Clearance	185mm
Tyre Size	90/90/17 front, 110/80/17 rear
Rim Size	MT 1.85 x 17 front, MT 2.5 x 17 rear
Claimed Weight	84kg w/o battery

Appearance & Ergonomics

Horwin’s take on the CR1s design is quite conservative rather than bold and flashy. It has basic but functional proportions which optimally blend retro with modern. The 8L metal tank has boxy and rectangular design elements that give it a rugged appearance. It is surrounded by plastic half-fairings and is repurposed for the storage of the charger and other items. It can be accessed by opening the tank lid through the main key. Up front you will find a round fully LED headlight which further compliments the neo-retro aesthetic which Horwin has aimed for. It has standard medium-width handlebars with a high rise and subtle pullback combined with foot pegs which are set in a neutral position which result in comfy upright ergonomics typical of a commuter motorcycle. Upon close observation it will be noticed that the left lever on the handlebar assembly is absent. Instead, the rear brake is actuated through a pedal near the right footpeg like a normal motorcycle which purists will appreciate. The seat is a single piece, but it is an adequate size for carrying a pillion without major discomfort. The rear carrier rack is thick and sturdy and completely capable for handling the addition of a top box to carry extra luggage, ultimately increasing its practicality. It can also be used to man-handle the bike in tight parking spots. The plastic rear fender has the taillight, indicators and license plate mount all integrated into a single piece. All in all the CR1 is workhorse-like in nature which resonates with the brand’s intention for this model.

Drivetrain

This is where the CR1 Pro leads the class. It has a 4.5KW brushless DC motor that is mounted in the middle of the chassis unlike the rear hub-mounted motors which were the standard in all other local models. There are major advantages with this layout. Firstly, cooling. Rear hub-mounted motors are isolated from airflow due to which they suffer from higher thermal stress (especially in hot summers) and because they are very close to the rear tyre the extra heat increases the temperature of the tyre as well which results in increased tyre wear over time. Secondly, it allows for better weight distribution which directly influences the handling feel to be neutral instead of being rear-heavy. At high speeds this matters because the rear-bias of a hub motor could result in the front end becoming light which reduces stability.

The motor is connected to the rear wheel via a traditional chain drive system which is another first for the local industry. In the event of a tyre puncture it is much easier to remove the rear wheel as compared to a hub-mounted motor EVs rear wheel which is a hassle to remove due to the whole motor requiring to be disassembled to access the rear tyre. In an emergency, this can save both time and money. A chain sprocket setup also unlocks the modification of the final drive ratio which is a plus for enthusiasts looking to fine-tune the performance of the drivetrain according to their preferences. The stock sprocket setup includes an unusually large 58 teeth rear sprocket which explains the low top speed of 85km/h (relative to 4.5KW of power) as this setup heavily prioritizes instant acceleration. To those aiming for a higher top speed, a smaller sized rear sprocket swap is a must.

Horwin claims that the CR1 Pro weighs 84kg without the battery installed which is very impressive. Even if roughly 20kg is added due to the additional weight of the battery the gross weight comes out to be 104kg which is much lighter than the competition and in the same ballpark as a Honda CG125 which is known to be a very light motorcycle. This is particularly advantageous in an urban environment where maneuverability through tight spaces is of utmost importance.

Battery & Range

The CR1 Pro again dominates in the battery department. The 72v 45AH LFP battery has the largest capacity in the competition. LFP batteries have a lower energy density as compared to NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) which is why they take up more space and weight, but they are much more reliable in handling thermal stress hence they are safer to use in hot environments. They also do not deteriorate if discharged completely so there is no need for using the 80-20 rule. Most importantly LFP batteries have more than twice the total lifespan of NMC batteries, so they make complete sense in an urban commuter like the CR1 Pro where a long range is not the priority.

Horwin claim that the CR1 Pro can do a mileage of 90km in a single charge which to be fair is not an exaggerated amount if we look at the battery size. The team at Motornity tested the CR1 Pro by conducting a run from Islamabad to Murree Hills through a 65KM route and after reaching the destination it still had about 21 percent capacity left which is remarkable considering the whole journey was done on an incline. This proves that the claim by Horwin is accurate and easily replicable on flat roads.

To watch the full reel featuring visual storyteller Shezreen Fahim and CEO Motornity Ashir Imran click here.

Equipment

Equipment is pretty scarce. There is a complete absence of electronic rider aids which is acceptable in this budget. The switchgear assembly is very barebones only having the essentials such as the switch for the three power modes and the parking button on the right switchgear and a high-low beam switch, indicator switch (which surprisingly has no cancellation button) and a horn button. The instrument cluster screen is similarly rudimentary being of the basic monotonic type only displaying the essentials. On a positive note, The CR1 has a regenerative braking system which helps to increase the range. The ECUs are CAN-bus protocol compliant which simplifies the communication between them. The battery is easily removeable and upgradeable. It has a neat safety feature which is the side-stand killswitch that obstructs the rider from using the bike until the stand is folded. Yes, this is a standard feature among all international motorcycles, but it is rarely seen here. There is also the inclusion of a main stand and the sturdy rear carrier rack which was mentioned previously.

Reliability & Build Quality

Reliability is an unknown variable as Horwin is a very young brand even if we consider the international market. The battery and motor are covered by a 3-year warranty which should offer some peace of mind.

The overall build quality is far from outstanding and there are multiple points which need improvement. There are uneven panel gaps on the plastic side covers and fairings, the paint finish on the body parts is sub-optimal and the rubber gasket on the storage tank lid is not properly fixed hence it can be accidentally removed during normal usage. But still overall it is better built as compared to local rivals and especially considering its price.

Value vs Rivals

The CR1 Pro redeems itself if we only compare it to electrically powered competition. With its low retail price and the best-in-class motor and battery, it offers good value. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this review there are barely any offerings in the electric motorcycle segment. The Vlektra Bolt Dark is an attractive and sporty looking street naked machine that has superior visual aesthetics to the CR1 pro and better suspension performance due to its USD / Inverted front forks and rear monoshock. It also includes 2-piston disk brakes both up front and at the rear. However, it has a weaker 3KW motor that is rear hub-mounted and a smaller capacity 38AH LFP battery. Considering that the Bolt has a retail price of 599,000 PKR, the CR1 is clearly triumphant in terms of pure value. On the more budget end of the spectrum, Vlektra also offers the Velocity 180 SE that showcases a 2KW rear hub-mounted motor and a 36AH LFP battery for a MSRP of 384,000 PKR. However, build quality and refinement wise it is significantly inferior to the CR1 Pro. Hence with this information in mind, it is correct to claim that the Horwin CR1 Pro is the most value driven electric motorcycle currently available in Pakistan. However, there is no escaping the fact that for similar money a 125-150cc ICE motorcycle from reputable brands can be had. All motorcycle enthusiasts would agree that aside from fuel efficiency deficits an ICE motorcycle is superior in almost every other metric. (all retail prices mentioned in this segment were recorded at the time of writing and are subjective to change)