| Author | Message | ||
     Superdavetfft |
With all the press about electric bikes over the last year or so what would it take for you to actually purchase one? Would it be a strictly performance decision? Would you avoid electrics because of recharging issues, etc... As for myself, I could see one working great for around town riding. It would especially be nice in really hot weather when regular bikes start roasting you alive as you sit and idle in traffic. However, I couldn't see one working out well as a tourer because you'd first have to find a place to recharge and then you'd need to be able to recharge very very quickly. What do you think? | ||
| Trojan |
I think that the technology has a way to go before you could consider an electric bike (or car) as primary transport. Price needs to come down,range needs to be greatly extended and charging periods need to come down to realistic levels before they will achieve mass market appeal I think. The new Nissan Leaf electric car goes on sale here this month and I can't see anyone buying it outside of big city areas. With a range of just 80 miles, charge time of 10 hours and price of GBP28K (US$42K approx) it just doesn't make any economical or practical sense. Even with a government grant of GBP5K towards cost it still doesn't make sense against a similar petrol/deisel model. Electric commuter scooters on the other hand may have a huge future. Both Smart and Mini (BMW) have shown concept vehicles that are very likely to reach production and should be priced competitively with low powered petrol commuters. With a reasonable range and performance (for a scooter) they will definitley find a considerable niche market. Electric sportsbikes are some way of I think. Even if the issues of range and price can be addressed you are still talking about trying to convert a very conservative buying demographic that is deeply ingrained in petrol technology. It would have to be something very spectacular (read fast & cheap) to make inroads into the established sportbike market I think. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Ten reasons I don't want no electric bike. 1. No big twin in it. 2. No noise. 3. No rumble. 4. No shifting 5. No clutch 6. I like to piss off environmentalists I forget the other reasons. I did drive a Tesla car, and it was a pants full of fun, but I don't like my motorbikes to be quite that civilized. There, I said it!  | ||
| Swordsman |
Electric sportbikes for race-only applications I think can do very well. Someone posted a neat article up about this just a day or two ago. ~SM | ||
| Hootowl |
A bunch of us are getting together and helping our neighbors buy a Volt. Against our will. It's called a tax credit. Or income redistribution. Or theft. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
if I came into some money I would by one... (lottery or poker) otherwise I will never by another bike on credit E V E R. The Best Buy bike seems ok for local. | ||
| Prof_stack |
Another 2-wheeled option for commuting: the electric-assist bike. The latest versions are lighter and boast up to 30 miles per charge. Double it with 2 batteries. I'm really liking it. You have to pedal to get the power boost. In hilly cities (like Seattle, heh) these are great for us oldsters. Green and sustainable.     | ||
| Buellerandy |
When the time is right, I'll have an electric bike before I have an electric car. | ||
| Jandj_davis |
I am not a wealthy person. For the foreseeable future, I will be a one-bike individual. That means the one bike must be capable of EVERYTHING I plan to do with it, commuting, travel, spirited riding, etc. My commute currently sees me touching 65mph or greater, which most electrics can't do. A "trip" for me is 500 miles in one day, or 250 miles every day for a couple days. There's no electric bike on the market that can come close to touching that. So, when an electric bike can 100% replace my Buell, having the same performance and "useability" characteristics, then I might consider it. Until then, I'll let the rich snobs have the electric bikes. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I would buy one. The range is too short The price is too high The power to endurance ratio isn't there yet The recharge times are too long. That said, I like the simplicity of an electric bike. Being electric, one can add sound and rumble as desired. I think I'd make mine sound like a Tron bike. (Message edited by ft bstrd on January 20, 2011) | ||
| Daves |
What Jon said | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'd love one and would happily consider it as a commuter to park beside the Uly. The math has to work though (purchase cost and range) relative to the operational costs. The operational costs are already pretty remarkable, and the other two problems seem solvable with technology and scalability. We just need to make a battery that is as good as a gallon of gas. Turns out to be a really tough nut to crack. | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
When an electric bike can match the performance of a gas bike, I will look at one. That means 150 mile range, 150mph top speed, and a 60 second recharge at stations located at every gas station. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
When they can go 150 miles at 70mph on a charge and at a reasonable price I might become interested. | ||
| Froggy |
My next bike has a 50% chance of being electric. The other 50% chance is being a Ural. | ||
| Hootowl |
Prof, that electric assist for bicycles is neat! There used to be gas ones, but electric is so much better at being instant on and on demand. Great idea. | ||
| Ezblast |
FB has the right of it, soon enough, already capable of 159 mph, quick charge to 80 percent in an hour, and 100 miles capacity - they are getting closer, and are doing so impressively. EZ | ||
| Aeholton |
I'll consider it when: Electric bikes have a 300 mile range at highway speeds. No more than 2 hour recharge time. Price in line with standard gas powered bike. | ||
| Rex |
We are going to have a couple of Electric Bikes and manufacturers at our ASBN meetings this year. Feb, the road racer. later in the year, may I believe is going to be Zero Motorcycles. I like the Brammo bikes that were on display this year at laguna. The are fairly reasonable. You can pick which bike you want for top speed and miles per charge. The look conventional. They are produced in Oregon. Some states, like where I grew up, Oklahoma has quite an incentive to purchase. i believe there, I can get up to 2,500 in tax incentives or more. This could bring the cost down to around 6,000 or 7,000 dollars. the only negative is that you really cannot ride long distances, say all day. maybe 200 miles per day. Ride the first hundred miles, stop and recharge, and then drive another 100 miles in the afternoon. You would need to be retired. ahahaha. REX | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I'd get one as a second/commuter bike....... 12 miles each way so distance isn't a problem, add the bonus of no additional heat in the Florida summer. Its gotta be fun to ride though, if it rides like a pig I'd probably pass. | ||
| Buellkowski |
My next-door neighbors are taking delivery of their Leaf next month. They calculate it will cost them about $2.00 in electricity to travel the 80-100 mile in-city (& mild weather) range they expect the Leaf to provide. There is a network of "quick recharge" stations being installed along the I-5 corridor. Using these stations you can 80% recharge the Leaf in 20-30 min., and conceivably ride the slab on batteries from the NW to Cali. I'd seriously consider an aggressive-performing 70-mile range commuter/hooligan bike. Anyone can ride a loud twin; instant torque, audible tire squeal, and the smell of ozone will carry their own caché in the 21st century. | ||
| Fly |
The things holding me off from purchasing electric at this time include: 1. Lack of range 2. Lack of ubiquitous recharge locations away from home 3. Price 4. Uncertainty regarding durability and longevity of components and consumables (batteries) | ||
| Fly |
Current restrictions with electric bikes stifle spontaneity, flexibility and freedom.......which are the very reasons I enjoying my existing bikes now. | ||
| Boltrider |
I would buy one if God told me to. | ||
| Boltrider |
Really though, I'm not yet convinced on the electrics. If they reach a 200-mile range, then I'll start to look at them.
What if they make an electric Ural? | ||
| Aeholton |
What if they make an electric Ural? You could hold quite a few batteries in the sidecar. | ||
| Froggy |
250% chance then  If I had the resources I would build an electric X1 | ||
| Jaimec |
Those three new Empulse bikes look very promising. Especially the 100 model. I could probably get by with the 60 or the 80 (I only have a 30 mile round trip commute) but it would be nice to be able to take it to lunch (there is nothing within walking distance except our cafeteria) and back. I know it borders on heresy, but I could easily see my K1200LT becoming my primary ride, and the Empulse becoming my day-to-day commuter. I'm getting too old to be dicing with the young squids and I don't bounce as well as I used to... Besides, you can keep up a surprising backroad pace with that big Beemerbago... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
With economies of scale, electric bikes should be cheaper than IC powered bikes. The ability to have that bike be suited for track vs. touring vs. commuting is very attractive. Want to do track days? Swap out for high output motors (reducing the range) that will give you more power and torque. Want longer range? Swap out for lower output motors (increasing range) that provide less power and torque. Better regenerative braking designs will help to capture lost kinetic energy and convert it back to electric energy for future go. With the ability to locate motors practically anywhere, driveline lash and unsprung weight of gears, belts, and chains can be eliminated by placing the motor in direct drive of the wheel(s). With the lack of need to position the motor within the chassis, the batteries can be positioned to provide the maximum "trilogy of tech" mass centralized position. With the lack of cooling systems, more aerodynamically efficient fairings can be created depending on use (I prefer naked, but that's how I roll.) With the lack of engine configuration limitations, the wheelbase can be as short or shorter than our beloved S/R platform's 52". Fairings coated in solar cell technology can also provide additional in use charging. Just imagine how long you can hold a wheelie when you don't have to shift. YOU HEARING ME RICE? | ||
| Ezblast |
Concur! |
