Thoughts on Electric Motorcycles?

[Designer Jake]

Hey Everyone,

My name is Jake and I am pretty new to the motorcycle scene. I am researching Electric Motorcycles and I was curious what experienced motorcyclists thought about them. I would appreciate it if you could answer the questions below!

First off, what are the first three words come into your mind when I say "Electric Motorcycle"?

How do you expect Electric Motorcycles (EM) to feel, sound, handle, etc.? If you have ridden a EM please share your experience!

Which aesthetic is more appealing... Brammo's Empulse or Zero Motorycles' Zero S?

What top three things do you Like and Dislike about EMs?

Finally, if you were going to purchase an Electric Dual Sport/Adventure Motorcycle, what characteristics or features would you like to have on the motorcycle?

Again, I would really appreciate your help!

Thank You!

[MotoMind]

One of my friends recently purchased new electric motorcycle.

I have been riding for 8 years and have owned 8 motorcycles of various types. My experience seeing it for the first time made me finally understand what people felt like when they first saw horseless carriages. It was uncanny to see the bike move without noise, without the operation of the clutch, without engine drag. I felt like there was witchcraft at work. I'm sure I would get over it, but it felt very wrong at first. I do not think it should be more like a motorcycle in sound or behavior, that would just make it awful instead of uncanny.

I like the lack of noise and lack of moving parts and lack of oil and other foul shit that otherwise spills on my garage floor.

It also started getting motor overspeed errors and killing all power on the highway. Something about that failure mode rubs me the wrong way. Standard motorcycles are perfectly happy to blow themselves up if you ask them to, and won't endanger you based on a bad sensor reading.

On the upside, we both had nerdgasms about having the factory diagnose it by reading the system logs he emailed over.

I hope that helps your market research.

[Designer Jake]

Originally Posted by MotoMind

One of my friends recently purchased new electric motorcycle.

I have been riding for 8 years and have owned 8 motorcycles of various types. My experience seeing it for the first time made me finally understand what people felt like when they first saw horseless carriages. It was uncanny to see the bike move without noise, without the operation of the clutch, without engine drag. I felt like there was witchcraft at work. I'm sure I would get over it, but it felt very wrong at first. I do not think it should be more like a motorcycle in sound or behavior, that would just make it awful instead of uncanny.

I like the lack of noise and lack of moving parts and lack of oil and other foul shit that otherwise spills on my garage floor.

It also started getting motor overspeed errors and killing all power on the highway. Something about that failure mode rubs me the wrong way. Standard motorcycles are perfectly happy to blow themselves up if you ask them to, and won't endanger you based on a bad sensor reading.

On the upside, we both had nerdgasms about having the factory diagnose it by reading the system logs he emailed over.

I hope that helps your market research.

Definitely! Thanks a lot! Much appreciated!

[windmill]

Like all other EV's, they may be fine for limited use in urban environments, but not ready for prime time.
EV's do have some advantages within their limitations, the real question is what are your limitations.

[larryboy]

I'd try one, but they don't have enough range yet. One way to work is 86 miles and they can't make it that far yet.

Range, must have, the rest of the bike is just simple details.

[fallingoff]

the future

would buy one maybe for short trips into the bush near built up areas

for the lack of noise

cheers

[willis 2000]

Originally Posted by fallingoff

the future

no wheelies
no roost
too mundane

[fallingoff]

Originally Posted by willis 2000

no wheelies
no roost
too mundane

yeh i hope that comes with them in the future
with the flycar(pig)

cheers

[willis 2000]

Originally Posted by fallingoff

yeh i hope that comes with them in the future
with the flycar(pig)

cheers

What if it had massive off-idle torque
as any proper electric motor should
shredding the tire and belt drive
i'd at least test ride it

[fallingoff]

sounds like fun

[willis 2000]

Originally Posted by fallingoff

sounds like fun

featherbed frame
aircraft starter motor
watch out
the dreamliner catches fire

[Pantah]

The only word that comes into my mind is silence. I'm not interested in them at all, and the EM road races at a few events in recent years are publicity stunts.

If there was a way for these things to function like a hybrid they might be practical for urban use, but then why not just ride a bicycle?

[CharlesLathe]

First three words: Not a motorcycle.

It's a commuter vehicle. They don't make much sense for those who ride for adventure because of their limited range.

If electric vehicles ever become really popular, they will drive up the cost of electricity and people will spend their winters in colder apartments and houses. I say, stick with energy dense fossil fuels for motor vehicles.

Regards, Chuck

[Wraith Rider]

Engine: Great.
Power supply: Sucks.
Solution: Develop air breathing batteries.

[vortexau]

"Are we there yet?"

"Just about - - - - - -"

Powered by electric batteries, the Tryton MM2 has a range of about 132 miles on a single charge and its onboard battery pack can be refueled in just two and a half hours via a conventional 110V outlet. The motorcycle includes a carbon fiber frame with re-enforced thermoplastic body panels. The lightweight motorcycle shoots to a speed of 100mph in just 4.4 seconds with a top speed of a whopping 160mph.

Tryton MM2 electric motorcycle concept is for speed-loving riders




But, to set outright speed records is a different story:


KillaJoule electric sidecar motorcycle tops 216 mph

University of Denver engineering graduate student Eva Håkansson pushed her home-built electric sidecar motorcycle "KillaJoule" to just over 216 mph (347 km/h) in September 2012, while setting a new world record for electric sidecar bikes at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials at Bonneville Salt Flats. The top speed comes achingly close to the fastest record ever set with an internal combustion engine for a bike of that type: 219 mph (352 km/h).