| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
Saw this yesterday in MC Daily: http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/md-quick-ri des-2012-zero-s-and-brammo-enertia/ Three different guys with lots of interesting things to say- I thought it was cool that they intentionally compared a 4 YO Brammo with the new Zero's... plus, today's posting has a Specialized bicycle that I WANT! Got me to thinking- Given what they're achieving for range and speed, why aren't they focusing more on aerodynamics? It'd be nice to at least see an accessory "dustbin" fairing for higher speed highway commutes, as long as it doesn't add too much weight... Fun stuff!  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cool! I can't wait until I can buy an EBR Hybrid adventure commuter. | ||
| 86129squids |
I just like the idea of whizzing along, SILENTLY, on and off road... It'd be fun to put a killer horn on one of these- at least a top shelf Stebel...  | ||
| Biffdotorg |
I was at a local dealer in the Minneapolis area that sold Zero's. A guy was just getting a tutorial before heading out on a test drive as I was walking in. I waited till he took off, and it was ironic to watch him accelerate silently away while a pack of Harley's were coming the other direction. Two polar opposites. Obviously part of the thrill is the sound and vibration, but the potential torque of electric could be very cool too. I don't get excited about electric vehicles in the cold of MN, but a motorcycle is very possible. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
they need to make a portable remote charger for off grid applications, the range off road is troubling maybe a set of carrying cases for two extra batteries ! of course that kills your take along capacity .... still grilling the 125 with a new muffler - stealthy quiet out in the woods, and along the fence lines , botta bag of gas - I can go all day. | ||
| 86129squids |
City- you're still killin me with that Sikk- what mods have you done? IIRC there's a 165cc punch-out you'd mentioned... If I ever get a decent job IN town, I'd rock one of those... | ||
| Tankhead |
You definitely can tell Abe has his hands deep in that bike. Check the wheels, belt drive, and the plastics. They all scream Buell. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The new Zero is damn sexy - I do dig it -except for the range and the price tag. The sikk is rocking a new black frame- twin 65cc KTM mufflers, a bigger jet on the carb, a hiflow filter, a set of mountain bicycle headlights... and a blinking red bicycle rear light It is NOT street legal.... but the paved bike path in town runs right to the gas station, that sits at the edge of the woods..... I have made many midnite runs on Pebbles - she is pure trouble. Not infracted .... yet. Never grow up Never settle Especially Down ! PHotos are EMCON to protect my 'innocence' | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"I just like the idea of whizzing along, SILENTLY, on and off road..." It is a hoot. On the street when you ride by other vehicles/people, they shoot ya the "what the heck is that" look. "You definitely can tell Abe has his hands deep in that bike. Check the wheels, belt drive, and the plastics. They all scream Buell." The handling reminds me of my city-x. Even the promo video reminds me of the XB Buells. The belt driven models are even more stealth than the chain drives. If it wasn't for it just plain not being cost effective for us at this time, I'd have a DS in the garage today. | ||
| Sparky |
Just an idea: I bet there's gonna be a market for small portable ICE electric chargers for EV MCs in the future if not available now. Small and unobtrusive enough to fit into a tank bag or back pack, perhaps able to recharge while riding, thus extending the range or recharging where there's no electricity. | ||
| Xl1200r |
If you're gonig to have an ICE with you, which not just use one to power the bike... I like the concept of electrics, but until I can hop on one and ride, comfortably, from coast to coast as whatever pace I decide, they won't be for me. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Actually, an ICE module makes great sense. Think about it... When extended range is important... plug in ICE. Short hops? Leave out ICE, and have more luggage space. Sell ICE (different displacements) as aftermarket accessories, so for a 50 mile round trip commuter, you can buy the bike with no ICE. Sell it to somebody who needs a bit more, they add the ICE accessory, and they suddenly have a hybrid for extended range and performance. It's brilliant. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Yes, because I want less luggage space for longer trips... | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm guessing one could package an electric motor, a smaller ICE, and fuel in a similar amount of space as a traditional larger motor and fuel setup. So it's not so much that you are giving up luggage space for touring, it's that you are getting even more luggage space (or more importantly weight) when you know you won't need to burn gas. It might be nice when getting groceries or doing a beer run on the bike. What you would be giving up is top end power though. I'd miss that for touring. I wouldn't for commuting or running errands. Especially if gas is $4 per gallon. I'll commute electric, and save my gas money for the real trips and for the dirt bike, where something other than an ICE does not work nearly as well. I'm funny that way... I want to conserve gas so my kids can use it to do really fun stuff. It seems criminal that I burn it up with a daily grind commute. I'd rather leave it for my great-great-grandkids to use on a beautiful sunny afternoon on a nicely tuned dirt bike, or out at Mid Ohio on a well run track day. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
electricity from coal is about to 'skyrocket' they obviously wish us to be a nation of bicycle owners. |
