[Tinsnips]

Growing up riding enduros in the ‘70’s I have memories of Can-Am 250s that were absolute beasts. Back then, around here they were king.

I came across this article and wanted to share it here for conversation

I can confirm that even as an evil sport bike guy I gots to say the electric super sports have put up some impressive times. I still wanna burn dinosaurs but can’t look you in the eye and say I’m not interested.

What are your thoughts about electric bikes? What do you like or dislike? Is this going to work or is it not going to sell?

 

[rv6john]

Interesting, actual motorcycles and I was expecting an electric 3 wheeler. (I'm sure an electric 3 wheeler is in the works)

 

[Winchester Boy]

They are improving the EV at an astounding rate.

 

[Tinsnips]

I would agree WB. The big barrier for me is range. I could be sold on a machine that produces 100% torque instantly but it does me no good if I can only do that for an hour.

Also, the sound of an inline 4 under load at high rpm is an essential part of the equation.

 

[rv6john]

Towards the end of 2021 I got the chance to ride a couple of Zero motorcycles, the FX (sumo like) and the SR (more standard version).

Both rides were nice 20ish mile demos loops with a variety of roads and I was impressed. They worked very well.

I really thought the FX would be the winner, but I came away liking the SR more. Price and range is an issue.

I also rode the Harley LiveWire when they were doing their pre-production tour about 6? years ago. I was also impressed how well that worked, even for a Harley.

 

[Tinsnips]

What were the various ranges, do you recall? The recharge thing is what gets me. I can fuel up in 5 minutes but if I am an hour to charge it is a whole different thing.

 

[rv6john]

I see Zero is claiming 169 mile range on the SR without the extra battery. A dealer down the hill from me was carrying Zero for some years and people that demoed them said the range really dropped when they got into the mountains and more spirited riding. More like 70ish mile range.

It looks like 8 hours to full charge using a 110v line, 1-4 hrs to 85% using some on road level 1 chargers. I'm guessing like most of the electric cars, you could throw 50 miles of range in it pretty quick? Maybe 15 minutes?

I will say that a lot of my rides are only 60-70 miles so it is doable. Actually my sumo only has a 1.7 gal tank so that is pretty much the same range. Of course If I ride a bit longer, I can always get to a gas station in under 10 miles. I just haven't seen any charging stations where I ride.

 

[Tinsnips]

Infrastructure is a concern. I have a 4 minute commute so would be easy but I have a 6 hour drive to anywhere I vacation. Stopping every hour and a half for the recharging time isn’t practical.

 

[QRO]

In theory electric bikes should be great. I had a good look at the market before I bought the GSXR last year, and for me there is a sort of history from me looking at a small commuter electric to ending up with a GSXR.

You know, you go to the mall for milk and come back with a new computer system.

My son asked me about my past bikes the year before and I thought maybe I could find an old GSXR 1100? They were only £2~3k then!

But if that then how about a new bike?

But if new, why not go electric?

I realised that the cheapest 50mph electric bike was more than a RC390.

Maybe push the boat out so how about a Zero or Energica? Great, but at over £20k!? Sheesh.

OK, if I were to be up for that then maybe a £10k new bike. But why get a new bike when they are sub 100hp twins when I can get a 150bhp GSXR for a third//quarter of that price.

.. back to the GSXR.

GSXR 'won'. It wins every time, and an electric bike can't beat it.

For the same reason that diesel bikes make no sense at all, exactly the same. The whole point of a motorcycle is that it is lightweight. Sticking a 150 highway-mile battery in one destroys that one true advantage.

Plus, sounds awful, stupid prices, cold, no soul, OK, you can argue around all those things but you pay twice as much for half a bike.

Battery weight and price needs to halve, while range doubles.

Kawasaki have already demonstrated where they might be going, with hybrid bikes, a smaller engine plus battery tied to a motor. I think they will show the way with those.

Kawasaki show off next generation of electric and hybrid bikes in Japan

Read about Kawasaki's future plans for motorbikes including hybrid technology and electric motorcycles here.

www.motorcyclenews.com

 

[MadisonMotorsportUK]

I've said from the outset of this EV fad, the battery technology isn't where it needs to be and infrastructure just isn't there to support it. Hybrid is the way forward, for the next 20 years at least. Especially considering how much electricity costs keep going up - the cost of charging an EV, whether bike or car, is climbing all the time. Given their inflated initial cost, it won't be long before they are more expensive to run than a traditional combustion engined vehicle.

 

[QRO]

I've said from the outset of this EV fad, the battery technology isn't where it needs to be and infrastructure just isn't there to support it. Hybrid is the way forward, for the next 20 years at least. Especially considering how much electricity costs keep going up - the cost of charging an EV, whether bike or car, is climbing all the time. Given their inflated initial cost, it won't be long before they are more expensive to run than a traditional combustion engined vehicle.

They already are, here in UK.

 

[MadisonMotorsportUK]

They already are, here in UK.

I stand corrected then. TBH, I'm not taking much notice, the fad will crash and burn soon enough when we start having major brownouts.

 

[Tinsnips]

It is all about energy density. This is Mj/kg.

 

[koth442]

They don't make "vrooom" noises. On a bike, the noise is part of the experience and the pleasure. In a car, not as important as just dragging my ass around. Therefore, more interested in EV cars than bikes.

 

[HydeWhyte]

My input is based on what I think I might know , not what I actually know.



Pros: Vicious acceleration

Cons: Range and where would you recharge it, cost of battery replacement, and, umm, the vicious fires that batteries can be capable of (yarr that scares me a bit).



I’d love to ride one, not too sure about buying.

 

[koth442]

I’d love to rid one, not too sure about buying.

This!

 

[QRO]

I stand corrected then. TBH, I'm not taking much notice, the fad will crash and burn soon enough when we start having major brownouts.

65mpg from £7 gallon diesel < 11p/mile
3 miles per kWh from 35p (subsidised) kWh > 11p/mile

Depends on the cars in question, of course.

Charging on the motorway is double that.