Electric Motorcycle - Would YOU buy one?

Well coal plants areclose to 90% effecient i believe...cars are not as effecient in getting energy from there fuel.

that aside i would have no issue with an electric bike, but i don't see replacing my vfr anytime soon.

 

That's a good question, and a fair one. As to the answer: I'm not real sure.

Personally I wouldn't have an electric bike primarily because I have no interest in being limited by the range. I admit I don't keep up with electric vehicle technology, I don't know what the range of electric cars is much less electric bikes, but it seems like I recall hearing the number 60 miles bandied about for cars. Figure a couple of hundred max for bikes. I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere, which is where I frequently spend most of my time on a bike, watching the "Gas Gauge" head toward "Empty" and knowing that I get to spend the next 12 hours or so waiting for it to charge back up.

Given an ultimatum of electric or nothing, yeah, I'd probably take the electric. But I'd fight it tooth and nail before I did. :wink:

 

One main problem for me with electric to replace gas(electric for around town is cool) is that the range is limiting.
even if i could go 300 miles on a charge...i am limited to that, i can't pull in to a gas station and go another 300 miles...i have to stop and charge...

In the future i can see owning an electric car....but i can't see having no gas car.

that is unless they change that. Even a 15 min charge would be fine(go for a snack and a bio break as your car charges.)

 

Yes, I'd still ride if my only choice was electric Stuka

 

I think all sorts of electric vehicals are great but one needs to consider how the juice is made in the first place ,it doesn't just flow out of the wall for free. if you burn coal or oil to get the power how much do you really save in the end .sometimes you just move the polution away from the big city to the country ,is that any better for the enviorment in the long run ?

 

The first one is just an electric moped. Definately not. I'm not interested in a bike with no transmission or an automatic transmision. Gears are an integral part of bike control. When you let off the gas you can't just be coasting without the engine and trasmission helping slow you down. Pull in the clutch sometime going down a steep hill with sharp turns and see how it goes. The second one looks good but I'm not interested in 250cc style bike and range would have to 150+ miles for me to consider it because I'm a one bike at time person.I can't afford more than one toy at a time.

I saw the show on the electric dirtbike too. It was great if you want an electric Mt.bike. The tests were not up to snuff. The hillclimb,jump,and speed test where pathetic. I could ride up that hill on my mt.bike. The hillclimbs i did when i rode on the dirt were alot steeper and that bike would not have made it. Also a major flaw is no transmission and no engine compression for decending hills. Which means you must be hard on the brakes which cuts down on maneuverability.The other major problem is power and top speed especially for riders that are 200+ lbs.The bike was set up to be close to 4 stroke 250 which most good riders consider gutless pieces of crap. If i was going to buy dirtbike I would buy a 2 stroke 250 or a 4 stoke 450 so any electric bike would have to rival these bikes. Range is also problem and what are going to do for power when you go for a riding/camping trip. That bike needs a lot of work. Good for a first attempt though.

 

Hi There! - I found your thread interesting. I actually work for an electric dirtbike company, Zero Motorcycles and wanted to say that I too wasn't sure about them. I've had a few bikes, ZX6, R6, XR250 and riding an electric bike is pretty cool. It's 100% torque, like turning on a light switch. Anyway give one a try sometime. If anything it would be a fun bike to add to your collection in your garage. BTW, if you have any questions or want to test ride one, feel free to contact me.....jer@zeromotorcycles.com.

 

You know, that would be great.

Thinking back my mom had a honda insight a little gal ellectric thing.

Holy cow was that little car a blast to drive, once that electric kicked in it was a beast to drive.
The electric provided such a kick in the pants it was amazing, and tied to a transision was a blast.

was not ovely a fan of electric bikes but i just now realized how much fun that car was.

If that level of fun was transfered to a bike....wow, just.

I would so buy a hybrid bike. I want some one to build be an insight based bike.