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[Wired] Electric Motorcycles Take Charge

4K views 51 replies 31 participants last post by  darthspartan 
#1 ·
573
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These are really scooters, right?

Nope. Last year, electric racing prototypes started turning lap times that rival their 600-cc gas brethren and are capable of hitting speeds over 200 mph. These electric street versions are not quite as quick, but they've got plenty of muscle for keeping up with freeway traffic and, thanks to weights as low as 200 pounds, pulling ahead when the light turns green. These are very much motorcycles.
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That's awesome!
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#5 ·
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Originally Posted by joshd View Post

How far can they go though without a re-charge
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If you're sticking to the city, you can get upward of 100 miles on a single overnight charge (about 10 cents of electricity). But all current electric motorcycles use single-speed transmissions. That means they're turning very high, energy-draining rpm's at top speeds: Freeway travel can cut your range by half or more. So you probably wouldn't want to ride your electric moto to Sturgis. Actually, we wouldn't recommend riding one of these to Sturgis regardless.
They put the Nissan Leaf's 40 miles to shame. And I bet these bikes would cost under $10,000 (edit: Some do, should've read the article first lol). This is where they should've started the electric trend, IMO.
 
#6 ·
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Originally Posted by jrbroad77 View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshd View Post

How far can they go though without a re-charge
rolleyes.gif
Quote:
If you're sticking to the city, you can get upward of 100 miles on a single overnight charge (about 10 cents of electricity). But all current electric motorcycles use single-speed transmissions. That means they're turning very high, energy-draining rpm's at top speeds: Freeway travel can cut your range by half or more. So you probably wouldn't want to ride your electric moto to Sturgis. Actually, we wouldn't recommend riding one of these to Sturgis regardless.
They put the Nissan Leaf's 40 miles to shame. And I bet these bikes would cost under $10,000 (edit: Some do, should've read the article first lol). This is where they should've started the electric trend, IMO.
This ^

These are some awesome Motorcycles indeed, it's just too bad they are way way too expensive.
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I'm not really interesting in trying to hit 200 MPH, whoosh!

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Wow check this out!
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Colorado's Alternative Vehicle Tax Credit, for example, will refund as much as 85 percent of the price difference over a gas-powered equivalent.
 
#7 ·
A typical dirtbike is around $5k. The main issue is people won't be able to use it for competitions until they start having an electric category. But $10k for a 250cc equivalent (some might have a little more acceleration, idk) street bike isn't terrible. And when you consider these are practically silent, it's perfect for people who can't stand the whiny motorcycle noise, and there's some wow factor to it. Maybe $3k over what the gas version should cost, but with tax credits you can get 85% of the price difference refunded, according to the article.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrbroad77 View Post

A typical dirtbike is around $5k. The main issue is people won't be able to use it for competitions until they start having an electric category. But $10k for a 250cc equivalent (some might have a little more acceleration, idk) street bike isn't terrible. And when you consider these are practically silent, it's perfect for people who can't stand the whiny motorcycle noise, and there's some wow factor to it. Maybe $3k over what the gas version should cost, but with tax credits you can get 85% of the price difference refunded, according to the article.
I still think Gas Powered Motorcycles are definitely efficient enough to make these a lot less desirable...

Besides, power wise, the Gas Engine would win all around...

The price is far too high, definitely...
 
#10 ·
I'll keep my 600, and I'm sure people can hear mine (cops included) with ~105 decibels of Yoshi race pipe powah! Anyways I've seen the electric bikes and they are novel, but until electric vehicles are no longer plagued by the scourge known as batteries then I'm not interested. Also chain > belt and 80 is slower than my 250 was when I had it (too slow: dangerously slow) 70 mile range is short I go 120 miles before the reserve light pops then just take 20 seconds to fill back up and I'm good for another 120 when will they get it?
 
#12 ·
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Originally Posted by WarMacheen View Post

So they are probably quite too, which means being even more vigilant when riding. If you can't see a motorcycle you can usually hear it.
This is one of their biggest problems as I see it. You could always mount external speakers and play back a loop of an annoying rice rocket squeal.

I would proudly throw down my money for an electric with a 100 mile range, and instant torque.

Also, this,
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Maintenance plan consists of keeping air in the tires.
Very little to wear out.
 
#13 ·
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Originally Posted by Aesir View Post

I'll keep my 600, and I'm sure people can hear mine (cops included) with ~105 decibels of Yoshi race pipe powah! Anyways I've seen the electric bikes and they are novel, but until electric vehicles are no longer plagued by the scourge known as batteries then I'm not interested. Also chain > belt and 80 is slower than my 250 was when I had it (too slow: dangerously slow) 70 mile range is short I go 120 miles before the reserve light pops then just take 20 seconds to fill back up and I'm good for another 120 when will they get it?
One of them does 100 miles per charge. The charge is overnight and costs about 10 cents in electricity. When will you understand?

As for noise, if people don't see you, by the time they hear you it will be too late. With stereos blaring or hands free cell phone setups, nobody's gonna hear you anyway. Don't drive like a moron and pay attention to traffic. I never had an issue and I drove for years on a little quiet 250cc street bike with no helmet. Bikes respond much quicker than cars you just have to be aware.

As for the bikes - do want!
 
#14 ·
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Originally Posted by tout View Post

One of them does 100 miles per charge. The charge is overnight and costs about 10 cents in electricity. When will you understand?
As for noise, if people don't see you, by the time they hear you it will be too late. With stereos blaring or hands free cell phone setups, nobody's gonna hear you anyway. Don't drive like a moron and pay attention to traffic. I never had an issue and I drove for years on a little quiet 250cc street bike with no helmet. Bikes respond much quicker than cars you just have to be aware.
As for the bikes - do want!
Oh they can hear me from about a mile coming, and nobody cares around here. The best ones are the cars with watch for motorcycle stickers and drive like they're out to get you. 30 second fuel stop is far better than sitting around for hours while charging. When are you gonna learn I don't hate electric the only one that matters I hate batteries and until they get rid of them all they're good as are an expensive track bike.

Make all the assumptions you like but you come off as being...
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aesir View Post

Oh they can hear me from about a mile coming, and nobody cares around here. The best ones are the cars with watch for motorcycle stickers and drive like they're out to get you. 30 second fuel stop is far better than sitting around for hours while charging. When are you gonna learn I don't hate electric the only one that matters I hate batteries and until they get rid of them all they're good as are an expensive track bike.
Make all the assumptions you like but you come off as being...
You still don't get it. It's about saving money and energy, that's the whole reason to switch to electric. It's not about you being able to stop at a gas station for 30 seconds and continue driving. It's about not going to the gas station at all.
 
#16 ·
100 miles on a over night charge, half that if you're traveling at freeway speeds..likely less. It'll be awhile until you see many bikes worth buying, very much still in their infancy. Probably be worth getting if you have a relatively small commute and don't feel like peddling a bicycle
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#17 ·
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Originally Posted by Allen86 View Post

100 miles on a over night charge, half that if you're traveling at freeway speeds..likely less. It'll be awhile until you see many bikes worth buying, very much still in their infancy. Probably be worth getting if you have a relatively small commute and don't feel like peddling a bicycle
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I drive 11 miles one way to work, that's 22 miles each day for work. I can take the back roads, which is a much nicer ride and never go above 45 MPH. This is how I usually travel via motorcycle, you get to look around and enjoy the view. At that rate I could charge the bike once every 4 days for 10 cents.
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That's about 50 cents a month to get to work.

Even if you drive twice that distance and have to charge it every 2 days... for 10 cents... are really gonna complain or are you guys just grasping at straws for reasons to hate the technology? $1.50 a month to drive to work, do some joy riding and you're gonna complain?
rolleyes.gif
 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aesir View Post

I'll keep my 600, and I'm sure people can hear mine (cops included) with ~105 decibels of Yoshi race pipe powah! Anyways I've seen the electric bikes and they are novel, but until electric vehicles are no longer plagued by the scourge known as batteries then I'm not interested. Also chain > belt and 80 is slower than my 250 was when I had it (too slow: dangerously slow) 70 mile range is short I go 120 miles before the reserve light pops then just take 20 seconds to fill back up and I'm good for another 120 when will they get it?
Proper sentences... have you heard of them?
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by tout View Post

I drive 11 miles one way to work, that's 22 miles each day for work. I can take the back roads, which is a much nicer ride and never go above 45 MPH. This is how I usually travel via motorcycle, you get to look around and enjoy the view. At that rate I could charge the bike once every 4 days for 10 cents.
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That's about 50 cents a month to get to work.
Even if you drive twice that distance and have to charge it every 2 days... for 10 cents... are really gonna complain or are you guys just grasping at straws for reasons to hate the technology? $1.50 a month to drive to work, do some joy riding and you're gonna complain?
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Even if you run it out every day and charge it every day, it's still only $3.00/month which is still great.
 
#20 ·
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Originally Posted by Dock #89 View Post

Proper sentences... have you heard of them?
Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today? Don't you have better things to do? (I can bold too)

Anyways best I can figure is that the thing costs 31 cents to charge which is cheaper than my $1.68 per day motorcycle, but I guess since you made this about money then something else comes up. My car is 12 years old, so that means that I would have needed to replace the batteries once coming up on two times by now. Since the batteries cost about the same amount if not more (depending on where you get the information from) than the whole vehicle was new then that's bad news for someone like me. The same goes for motorcycles. Sure I would have spent $4905.6 on gas but in two years it would need a new ~$2500 battery (If only 4KwH) and the total plus electricity assuming I figured out the cost per day correctly based on cost of charging would be $3363. While the gas vehicle costs more in the long run, it only costs small portions at a time, and with the EV it will have a big up front cost at set time intervals.

Take it how you want but I don't have a large pile of cash sitting around while I go to college, I'm riding a 6 year old bike with ~11,000 miles and it will probably still run over 200,000 miles with regular maintenance. Even in a perfect world, where I had a tree to hug everywhere, it seems that the Earth only has so much Li to go around. Would you rather power your electronics, or your car until we run out? That's of course assuming that engineers don't find a better battery before that time. Nobody recycles, because there's no profit in it. My area forced recycling, but they won't accept many things that should be recyclable, like bags. Bolivia will enjoy this electric car buzz while it lasts, I wonder how much the price of Li will go up.
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by tout View Post

You still don't get it. It's about saving money and energy, that's the whole reason to switch to electric. It's not about you being able to stop at a gas station for 30 seconds and continue driving. It's about not going to the gas station at all.
I'm not a big fan of stopping there either but it's still better than having to wait a few hours for the thing to recharge - I do have a life and don't intend to live a large part of it waiting next to a charger.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tout View Post

I drive 11 miles one way to work, that's 22 miles each day for work. I can take the back roads, which is a much nicer ride and never go above 45 MPH. This is how I usually travel via motorcycle, you get to look around and enjoy the view. At that rate I could charge the bike once every 4 days for 10 cents.
thumb.gif
That's about 50 cents a month to get to work.
Even if you drive twice that distance and have to charge it every 2 days... for 10 cents... are really gonna complain or are you guys just grasping at straws for reasons to hate the technology? $1.50 a month to drive to work, do some joy riding and you're gonna complain?
rolleyes.gif
That's your situation and not anyone else's since each person's daily commute situation is unique.

Not everyone can say "I only have a few miles to drive/ride everyday" and in your case, it's doable since the charge you'd have left would be plenty to do whatever else you'd probrably need to without it going dead before you're done. Come home, plug it up and head out the next day.... That's all well and good in your case but not mine.
These things would be impractical and basically useless in my situation and no, I don't want to be on a bike that nobody can hear coming either. I can't say my solution would be better in yours or anyone else's case, what's best for me is just that.
 
#22 ·
Some people in this thread seem to completely miss the point of this vehicles.

As for me, I'd love to have one of those. I'm a silence junkie, an electric junkie, and I'm all in towards quitting the use of non-renewable power sources.

And if you can't ride a bike where people can't hear you from a mile away, then you have a problem.
 
#23 ·
There are two things people are not considering....

Battery Life. (2-3 years?)

&

Cost of Battery Replacement. ($2,000++ ?)

I'm sure it doesn't cost much to build one of these motorcycles, materials couldn't be more than $1,000, outside of the battery that is...

You had best do your research before you think these products truly replace the fuel efficient Motorcycles...
 
#24 ·
Oh man I would just love to have that electric dirt bike!

I'd love to have an electric vehicle along with solar panels on my roof. It'd be virtually free energy and no more being a slave to the pump and it's prices.

Alternative energy
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#25 ·
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Originally Posted by _GTech View Post

There are two things people are not considering....
Battery Life. (2-3 years?)
&
Cost of Battery Replacement. ($2,000++ ?)
I'm sure it doesn't cost much to build one of these motorcycles, materials couldn't be more than $1,000, outside of the battery that is...
You had best do your research before you think these products truly replace the fuel efficient Motorcycles...
The car ones claim to be 8 years. I can't find much info on the motorcycle batteries but I did see one that said it would last 5 track weeks but it was a race bike with ~200 HP and ~196 Torque.
 
#26 ·
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Originally Posted by Laurifer View Post

It'd be virtually free energy and no more being a slave to the pump and it's prices.
Alternative energy
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You know as well as I do, as soon as things like this take off in popularity we'll all be a slave to the Electricity companies and their new stupid prices
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As for me, I'd rather be on something thats heard and seen. Far too many of my friends have been hit off their bikes by the "Sorry I didn't see you" defence all the stupid motorists put up. Imagine that when they can't hear you too? I'm all up for newer, more friendly ways to get around but TBH I don't think Bikes are the problem. Getting tighter on 2 strokes because of their oil consumption as well of petrol is stupid but apparently with the U.S.A, India and China / Japan all having more Cars on the road the small percentage of us bike riders have to give up the little engines for it =(

They work out the Kinks with the hours of charging ( Hell I'm not riding to my parents and having to stop half way home for afew hours to charge
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) Then I'll see!
 
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