Electric Bikes

Author
Discussion

audi321

Original Poster:

5,183 posts

213 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
Sorry if it's been done before, and no I'm not talking these shopping things, but a proper electric motorbike like a KTM E-XC or a Brammo Enertia.

Anyone tried one? Thoughts? Are they just plain wrong?

accident

582 posts

256 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
the lack of engine noise could take a while to get used to.
to tempt me it would have to be as quick as a petrol.
it would have to have the range of a petrol
it would have to have a recharge in about the same time as refueling a petrol.
in a few years they might get there.

audi321

Original Poster:

5,183 posts

213 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
accident said:
the lack of engine noise could take a while to get used to.
to tempt me it would have to be as quick as a petrol.
it would have to have the range of a petrol
it would have to have a recharge in about the same time as refueling a petrol.
in a few years they might get there.
1. I agree, will be weird with no noise
2. They are...in fact argueabley quicker
3. They do
4. Nope, but about 2 hours isn't that bad
5. I think they almost are....google the Lightning LS218

I'm still not convinced though

MrGman

1,586 posts

206 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
Having seen some racing at the IOM last year i'd have one, and one of my memories was just how cool they sounded at the end of the Sulby straight!!

Id have one of these for sure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3DiAecsh_0

No experience myself on one though.

trickywoo

11,754 posts

230 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
I'd have one from a reduced maintenance point of view and be happy to compromise on other aspects vs petrol based on this.

In many ways electric bikes make more sense than cars.

accident

582 posts

256 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
audi321 said:
4. Nope, but about 2 hours isn't that bad
tell me that when you are at a service station with the sun shining and all those petrol bikes go past.
and you have got a 2 hours to kill on some 1 horse town with no wifi. smile

Mastodon2

13,825 posts

165 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
MrGman said:
Having seen some racing at the IOM last year i'd have one, and one of my memories was just how cool they sounded at the end of the Sulby straight!!

Id have one of these for sure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3DiAecsh_0

No experience myself on one though.
Based on that, I'm not sure I could ride an electric bike - I'm just not smug or pretentious enough.

theshrew

6,008 posts

184 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
Just plain wrong.

It will be a very sad day for me if I ever have to buy a vehicle that doesn't have a internal combustion engine.

snorky782

1,115 posts

99 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
theshrew said:
Just plain wrong.

It will be a very sad day for me if I ever have to buy a vehicle that doesn't have a internal combustion engine.
I'm the opposite. I'm looking forward to getting rid of my M3 and picking up a Tesla next year hopefully. Not sure bikes are there yet, but give it a few years.

sc0tt

18,037 posts

201 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
theshrew said:
Just plain wrong.

It will be a very sad day for me if I ever have to buy a vehicle that doesn't have a internal combustion engine.
Why?

Did you do the same with notepads to computers?

Tapes to CD's.

It's how things move forward. Once they offer all the pros of petrol and no downsides that's what manufacturers will sell.

bogie

16,381 posts

272 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
Im trying to convince myself of the upside ...so far the only one I "get" right now is an electric trail bike for green laning ...so long as you dont want to be out more than a couple of hours....

dc2rr07

1,238 posts

231 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
audi321 said:
2. They are...in fact argueabley quicker

I'm still not convinced though
Quicker, do not think so if you take the TT as a benchmark they are lapping at 120mph which is similar pace to McGuinness 250 lap record.
Agree with your last point though.

sjtscott

4,215 posts

231 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
I think the time is about right to own a hybrid car.. 100% electric no chance, same for electric bikes too. The charging infrastructure just isn't available yet. Some of us live in cities in flats without garages or any charging points in the communal car park. I'm not exactly seeing tons of charging points on the street or public car parks. I know of two electric car charging points near where I work, thats one parking place each side of the river thames. I could take my tesla to westfield and charge it there lol practical not really
I notice no one is making a hybrid bike, I might buy one of those if it was good enough smile

Edited by sjtscott on Saturday 30th April 18:48

Baryonyx

17,995 posts

159 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
MrGman said:
Having seen some racing at the IOM last year i'd have one, and one of my memories was just how cool they sounded at the end of the Sulby straight!!

Id have one of these for sure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3DiAecsh_0

No experience myself on one though.
That bike in the video is just dire. It makes going stupidly fast seem utterly prosaic. With no noise or no drama, it seems to lack the fun of going quick.

dukeboy749r

2,596 posts

210 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
I've booked myself in a for a Tesla test drive. The level of performance, equipment and the fast charge opportunities (for free), make a compelling case whilst travelling around the country.

On the bike front, whilst I love the noise many bikes make, the performance of that electric bike woudl be amazing to experience - perhaps it alongside another, petrol bike would satisfy

creampuff

6,511 posts

143 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
The problem is always range and recharging. It's a lot easier to fill a fuel tank than charge a battery.

MrOrange

2,035 posts

253 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
Electric is most probably the future of power plants, the interim is hybrid - and I'm a convert having recently bought an i8. About half my journeys are now 100% electric, even with a pitiful 15 mile range. From a carbon reduction/emission point of view this is pretty impressive and even on regular long journeys I'm seeing north of 40mpg which is about 30% better than an equivalent car.

I'm tempted with having a serious look at a leccy bike but range limitation is a serious problem until battery/motor tech improves. Maybe if I commuted on a bike and had charging at my office it could be a brilliant solution - except I still keep my Ducati for Sunday morning runs and my longer bike trips.

It feels as if we are halfway in between ICE and 'leccy.

accident

582 posts

256 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
as commuter bikes at short range then ok why not.
as a fun bike the tech just isnt there yet.
imagine going out for a ride with your mates and having to stop every 100 miles(and im being generous here)for 2 hours to refuel(charge)
did a france trip a few years ago and one lad was on a mille and it got very old very fast the number of fuel stops he had to make.
imagine a 2 hour wait at each stop!
you are going to be a solo rider very soon and for ever.
i like riding alone but if a recharge is going to be more than a couple of minutes im not interested.unless the range is 1000s of miles between charge.

Tim85

1,742 posts

135 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
we have a fully electric scooter at work to get to and from the mot center etc. Its the fastest thing ive ever been on...up until 10 mph. its really weird and quite hard to move through traffic smoothly as its just nothing and then everything. Its ridiculously slow when moving but the initial movement is terrifying.
I have no problem getting one i like new technology but the pros would have to out weight that of why i use current 600/1000cc bikes. Ie similar performance and at least 200 mile range and similar cost like for like with current bikes. Theres still a long wy off that though.

theshrew

6,008 posts

184 months

Saturday 30th April 2016
quotequote all
sc0tt said:
theshrew said:
Just plain wrong.

It will be a very sad day for me if I ever have to buy a vehicle that doesn't have a internal combustion engine.
Why?

Did you do the same with notepads to computers?

Tapes to CD's.

It's how things move forward. Once they offer all the pros of petrol and no downsides that's what manufacturers will sell.
No not at all, im all for change if the change is for the better.

I wont like it because I enjoy the noise, simple as that. ears