There are plenty of ways to make an electric motorcycle stand out, but putting a giant hole through the middle of it is certainly one of the more effective options.

German electric motorcycle startup NOVUS has announced a new funding round worth “double-digit millions of dollars,” money that will help fund the company’s expansion into the US in 2027 as well as further European growth. The company says its NOVUS One is already in series production, with European deliveries beginning earlier this year.

It’s an important update from a company we first covered so long ago that mass mask-wearing was still seen as a foreign concept.

The NOVUS One is one of the more unusual-looking electric motorcycles on the road, largely thanks to its large carbon fiber monocoque frame. The self-supporting structure wraps around a cavernous opening where you’d normally expect to find much of a motorcycle’s bodywork.

That striking design comes from NOVUS founder René Renger, a former Volkswagen lead designer who worked on vehicles including the Golf and ID. Buzz. NOVUS says design, engineering, and final assembly are all performed in Germany, with most components sourced from Europe.

Despite the minimalist appearance, there’s some serious performance hiding in that skinny package.

The NOVUS One weighs just 121 kg (267 lb), considerably lighter than many conventional motorcycles. Its hub-mounted drivetrain produces up to 25 kW (33 hp) of peak power and a claimed 430 Nm of torque in its highest-performance mode.

That’s enough for 0-50 km/h (31 mph) acceleration in under two seconds and a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph).

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