🦥 #14 Trevor Motorcycles: Revolutionizing Electric Motorcycles with the DTRe Stella and DTRe Vince

Today

• ✋ Antwerpreneur: Jeroen-Vincent Nagels (Trevor Motorcycles)

• 🍦 Scoop: Doulingo meets chess

• 🧃 Giggle Juice: By Mr. Lovenstein

• 💎 Quiz Question: Which country has the fastest-growing electric motorcycle market?

✋ Antwerpreneur: Jeroen-Vincent Nagels

What if an electric motorcycle didn’t just help the planet but also made your heart race?

That’s what Jeroen-Vincent Nagels and Philippe Stella set out to build when they launched Trevor Motorcycles.

In our latest interview, Jeroen-Vincent shares what sparked the creation of the brand that just launched its second model, the DTRe Vince.

A Snapshot of Trevor Motorcycles

• Founded: 2020

• Founders: Jeroen-Vincent Nagels and Philippe Stella

• Headquarters: Antwerp, Belgium

• Business: Motorcycles and accessories

• Raised: $1.5M raised to date

• Post-money valuation: +€5M

The Road to Trevor Motorcycles: Jeroen-Vincent's Journey

Before starting Trevor Motorcycles, Jeroen-Vincent studied film in Brussels. But his real passion was always with cars and motorcycles.

He began his career in sales at Alcopa NV and eventually became the New Business Creation Project and District Manager for Honda Belgium in 2008.

When the financial crisis hit, Jeroen-Vincent lost his job and became a self-employed automotive consultant. He worked with MSX International, Educam, Ducati, Triumph, and Saroléa Motorcycles.

These experiences gave him the knowledge and contacts to one day build his own motorcycle brand.

The Cadaqués Revelation

In the spring of 2018, in Cadaqués, a small coastal town in Spain, Jeroen-Vincent and Philippe were working together on The Mighty Machines, a project focused on limited-production creations.

Between their work sessions, they used old dirt bikes like Montesas, Ossas, and Hondas to run errands.

These bikes were light, fun, and worked well both off-road and in town. They reminded the founders that riding should feel exciting and effortless.

So, they decided to take a few days off, isolate themselves, and brainstorm something new. After four days, they had an idea of making electric motorcycles that are fun, stylish, and versatile.

At a London bike show in 2019, they presented a €69,000 high-end model in partnership with Saroléa and Café Costume. It got a lot of attention but the price was too high and Saroléa did not succeed in making them street-legal (equipped and licensed for use on public roads).

When the Mighty Machines collaboration ended, Jeroen-Vincent and Philippe challenged each other:

"What if we could create an electric motorcycle with similar characteristics as those bikes in Spain at a price under €15,000?"

This was the beginning of Trevor Motorcycles.

Jeroen-Vincent focused on operations and Philippe took the lead on marketing and creativity.

Saroléa became their technical partner.

The DTRe Stella: A New Kind of Electric Bike

Their first bike, the DTRe Stella, launched in 2021. (DTRe stands for "dirt tracker electric.")

It was inspired by two things: the vintage bikes they rode in Spain and flat track racing (a motorsport deeply rooted in American culture).

The Stella priced at €14,500, has premium components like Öhlins suspension and Beringer brakes, among others.

Turning a Concept into Reality

"Creating the idea of a bike is easy, but producing one is the hard part." Jeroen-Vincent says.

They had to learn about supply chains, parts regulations, and production rules.

For example, if you declare one specific type of reflector, you’re only allowed to use that one. If that type of reflector runs out, you can’t continue the production.

So, they adapted. They learned to declare multiple types for each part. They built a reliable supply chain with partners across the globe, while assembling in Belgium.

But it took almost a year of trial and error before things started running smoothly.

From Online to In-Person Sales

In the beginning, Trevor sold bikes online. But they quickly realized that motorcycles are emotional. People want to touch, test, and ride before they buy.

So, they started building a network of dealerships across different countries, shipping worldwide and doing test rides.

Winning Over Skeptics

At the Wheels and Waves festival in France, they let people test ride the Stella.

One man, a die-hard Harley-Davidson fan, refused to try it. But after seeing rider after rider come back smiling, he finally gave in.

He disappeared for 30 minutes. When he returned, he was glowing with excitement.

Moments like these show the power of the product and how it changes minds.

Jeroen-Vincent knows electric bikes aren’t the answer for everything and can’t be compared to petrol bikes.

For long trips, petrol is still more practical because the current technology for electric motorcycles is not good enough for those kinds of distances. But for daily riding, Trevor Motorcycles are ideal and they offer something new and exciting.

Introducing the DTRe Vince: Trevor's Latest Electric Motorcycle

After four years with the Stella, they just introduced their second model: the DTRe Vince.

It’s more affordable, more practical, commuter-friendly, and fully designed by Trevor Motorcycles.

The idea came from an experiment with Danish company E-Racing. They mixed a Trevor Stella with an E-Racing speedway bike.

To test it, they gave it to an Italian racer named Sami Panseri at El Rollo (a flat track race) at Wheels and Waves in Lido Di Camaiore, Italy.

Sami revved the throttle to make the engine spin faster and sound louder before the race, and the electric bike briefly shut off. He missed the start and had to catch up a quarter lap behind.

But then he flew past the other racers and secured a victory finishing with half a lap lead.

That win changed everything. It proved the potential of a more agile and accessible model.

The price of the DTRe Vince is €9,950 (including tax).

This means, they’re now also competing price-wise with high-end electric bicycles.

They’ve spotted and created a new market.

To make this possible, they:

• Switched from a chain to a belt drive (quieter, low maintenance)

• Used high-quality components instead of premium ones

• Improved comfort and weather protection

• Optimized production and supply chain

• Listened carefully to customer feedback from the Stella

Going Global: Europe vs. the U.S.

In their view, Europe is ahead when it comes to electric vehicle, but the market is far more crowded. The U.S., on the other hand, has less competition and a clearer divide between premium and budget brands, which makes it a more strategic opportunity.

“The demand for the Stella in the U.S. was huge. Flat track racing started there, and people are really passionate about it. But we couldn’t sell the Stella as a street-legal bike in some states because it didn’t have a foot brake. We’ve solved that with the Vince. Now that it meets the regulations, and with over 200 sales points through our dealership network, we’re expecting a big wave of interest.” Jeroen-Vincent explains.

A Viral Article and a €1 Million Investment

An article in The Pack went viral, and in 2021 caught the attention of Canadian investors, who offered a €1 million loan.

Earlier this year, that loan turned into equity, giving Trevor Motorcycles the runway to grow.

They’re close to being profitable, but they still plan to raise more money.

A Strategic Pause

Last year, the founders made the difficult decision to pause all Stella sales.

It was a tough call. But many of their competitors were going bankrupt.
They decided to stop, rethink, and come back stronger.

They used that time to focus on the development of the Vince and the business.

And it paid off.

The Road Ahead

The next two years will be all about growth.

They’re keeping the core team small and flexible, bringing in freelancers when needed.

Lessons from the Journey

One of the most important lessons Jeroen-Vincent learned: “Some things you must do yourself. Others, you should give to people who know better.”

He explains how employees may hesitate to pick a part that costs €14 more, even if it’s better. But as a founder, you see the big picture and know which trade-offs matter.

His advice to new entrepreneurs and most rewarding part

“Just start, but do it step by step. Don’t aim too high. Make a plan, keep it simple, and stick to it.”

And the most rewarding part for him is hearing people say, “Wow, I wish I had done something like this.”

Trevor Motorcycles didn’t just build an electric bike.

They built a reason to ride.

Jeroen-Vincent’s Recommendations

• People to follow: Lionel Jadot

• Podcast: Anything about unsolved murders

• Books: De duivel in elk van ons (The Devil in Each of Us) by Christophe Busch

• Current Song Listening on Repeat: Possession Island ft. Beck by Gorillaz

• Favorite place in Antwerp: De Duifkens and Borze Café

Where can you find Jeroen-Vincent?

You can find him on LinkedIn and Instagram!

Antwerpreneur-to-Antwerpreneur Q&A

If you would be freed of all expectations in life, and you have nothing to do. Which skill would you like to learn and be good at?

Jeroen-Vincent’s answer: “I would love to spend my time doing farming and forestry. Working with nature to restore and care for the land. I have a small plot of land in the Ardennes, and I enjoy my time driving the tractor. For me it’s not just physical work. It gives me space to think, to dream, and to contribute to something bigger.”

🍦 Scoop

You will soon be able to learn how to play chess in Duolingo!

🧃 Giggle Juice

💎 Quiz Question

Which of the following country from Asia-Pacific is known for having a fast-growing electric motorcycle market?

A) India

B) China

C) Indonesia

D) Vietnam

_{You can find the answer at the end}