Electric mega sports bikes?

[ChocolateFrog]

As a commuter yes, doing everything else not really.

They should also be way cheaper. I like where Zero is going but there's no reason why they should be so expensive.

[BroadsRS6]

MrGman said:

BroadsRS6 said:

No electric bike will EVER give us what one of those do, or indeed the 1299 Panigale i used to own. Nil chance.

I’m with you 100%

They will however give something a R1 or 1299 never has, and I think the vast majority will come to liking what electric bikes have to offer.

HMMM...
Silence. One gear. Weird weight distribution. Zero engine character. The absent howl of a quality sports V twin or 15,000 rpm scream of an inline 4, or even the evil thump of an HD with 950cc pistons. A soul-less experience costing a bloody fortune. Charging hassles. Range issues.
Blimey, i can hardly wait!!!
My upcoming 1200 Speed triple or an electric street fighter? Salmon or Pilchard!

[Jazoli]

I have no interest in electric motorcycles at all, for me its all about the connection to the engine, the different sensations of noise/power/speed/revs that only an reciprocating piston engine can give you, its a defining aspect of each bikes character, the easy going grunt of my Z900RS's engine, the turbine smooth whoosh of my Z1000's, the lumpy instant torque of the SV1000, the gear whine and howl of the 3cyl motors in my Triumphs, take all that away and make them all identical and what is the point?

No thanks, its not all about speed and efficiency, its more primal than that.

[pcn1]

Neal H said:

2030 all new cars will have to be electric.

When you get to a certain age, you take statements from politicians with a large pinch of salt.

Today's government wont be in power in 10 years time to keep the commitment they made to grab headlines and votes today.

If I were a gambling man, I'd suspect the government of the time will have to back-track on that policy. I can't see the battery technology meeting the needs of the transport industry in 9 years. (cars, buses, lorry's or bikes etc) and fossil fuels seem to be in plentiful supply still.

But I may be wrong …………..

[RizzoTheRat]

As a commuter or green lane bike I think they make a huge amount of sense. Electric mopeds are massively popular around here (3 different rental companies do on demand hire, and I'm seeing more and more privately owned ones), but I've not seen any proper electric motorbikes yet. The mopeds are allowed in cycle lanes here and don't need a helmet thought which makes them a lot more popular. But ease of maintenance and never having to visit a petrol station would be big bonuses of an electric commuter for me.

I'd expect weight/range to keep electrics out of the touring market for a fair while to come, and sports bikes are ridden for fun not practicality so that'll be a hard market for electric bikes to penetrate.

[MrGman]

https://www.44teeth.com/electric-bikes-honda-yamah...


This almost backs up my thoughts that electric bikes will be much more mainstream before they need to be.

[Krikkit]

Neal H said:

2030 all new cars will have to be electric.

Not true - solely petrol and diesel cars will be banned... But frankly they'll all be hybrids by then anyway. The first possible ban on any ICE is 2035.

[Ed.]

MrGman said:

https://www.44teeth.com/electric-bikes-honda-yamah...


This almost backs up my thoughts that electric bikes will be much more mainstream before they need to be.

Does this mean the budget for any interesting new engines is gone?

[Evanivitch]

ChocolateFrog said:

As a commuter yes, doing everything else not really.

They should also be way cheaper. I like where Zero is going but there's no reason why they should be so expensive.

It's a low volume product using bespoke parts to create a premium product.

[Foliage]

Its all about the torque with electric, also worth noting is that power figures are quoted as sustained and peak.


Their is currently a loophole of sort for electric bikes on an A1 license as the 11kw is sustained power where the drive train on electric bikes can provide instant spikes of power 3 times that. Also torque for an 11kw electric bike is somewhere around 10 times that of a 125 4 stroke.

Thats a different end of the scale, but i can imagine that electric motorbikes add their own niche to biking.

I was in 2 minds about an ebike or an 11kw electric motorbike (at the time they were expensive) or a grom or similar for my short commute to work, but covid happened and im working from home.

I was planning on chopping in my car for a bike for the commute and a cheap van.

Edited by Foliage on Monday 1st March 14:14

Edited by Foliage on Monday 1st March 14:15

[KTMsm]

Jazoli said:

I have no interest in electric motorcycles at all, for me its all about the connection to the engine, the different sensations of noise/power/speed/revs that only an reciprocating piston engine can give you, its a defining aspect of each bikes character, the easy going grunt of my Z900RS's engine, the turbine smooth whoosh of my Z1000's, the lumpy instant torque of the SV1000, the gear whine and howl of the 3cyl motors in my Triumphs, take all that away and make them all identical and what is the point?

No thanks, its not all about speed and efficiency, its more primal than that.

^^^ Spot on

[Fundoreen]

I thought I would hate these electric flatboard scooters but as the silly bds go by my house on the road I think thats one less noisy
moron on a 2 stroke petrol one.

[Birky_41]

Krikkit said:

As an urban commuter job then yeah I can see it working, but it wouldn't replace a weekend fun machine for me. The noise and drama of IC iOS irreplaceable.

Thankfully synthetic fuels will probably keep IC going for many years yet.

This 100%

[srob]

I’d absolutely have one. It’s funny hearing people say how “connected” and “raw” a modern four stroke feels, but to me they feel absolutely mute and dull. Quick yes but no character.

The vintage sports bikes I ride are far more direct and yet I could still enjoy a modern sports bike.

Time moves on, there’s pros and cons to all power forms but if someone from the 1930s heard about a 2020 sports bike they’d not doubt call it soulless and sterile yet you lot love them. It’ll be the same in 80 more years

[ChocolateFrog]

Evanivitch said:

ChocolateFrog said:

As a commuter yes, doing everything else not really.

They should also be way cheaper. I like where Zero is going but there's no reason why they should be so expensive.

It's a low volume product using bespoke parts to create a premium product.

Mmm. Still not convinced. Most parts will be bought in off the shelf from suppliers.

The battery is relatively expensive but as a collection of parts I'm not seeing £20k, and neither are many others judging by the number of used examples for sale.

[Jazoli]

srob said:

I’d absolutely have one. It’s funny hearing people say how “connected” and “raw” a modern four stroke feels, but to me they feel absolutely mute and dull. Quick yes but no character.

The vintage sports bikes I ride are far more direct and yet I could still enjoy a modern sports bike.

Time moves on, there’s pros and cons to all power forms but if someone from the 1930s heard about a 2020 sports bike they’d not doubt call it soulless and sterile yet you lot love them. It’ll be the same in 80 more years

Each to their own I guess, I have zero interest in vintage bikes, I have never ridden anything older than a 70's sports moped and I've been riding 30+ years.

[srob]

Jazoli said:

Each to their own I guess, I have zero interest in vintage bikes, I have never ridden anything older than a 70's sports moped and I've been riding 30+ years.

Exactly. I’ve ridden anything I can from 1910s single speed single cylinder machine to modern superbikes. All are fun.

I just find it funny so many people writing off a whole new world based on never having ridden them! People said the same 100 years ago and luckily the ones who thought transport needed fuelling with carrots lost

[Birky_41]

srob said:

I’d absolutely have one. It’s funny hearing people say how “connected” and “raw” a modern four stroke feels, but to me they feel absolutely mute and dull. Quick yes but no character.

The vintage sports bikes I ride are far more direct and yet I could still enjoy a modern sports bike.

Time moves on, there’s pros and cons to all power forms but if someone from the 1930s heard about a 2020 sports bike they’d not doubt call it soulless and sterile yet you lot love them. It’ll be the same in 80 more years

I dunno maybe for you but that wouldn't be my train of thought. My next door neighbor has 20+ bikes going back to Scotts, BSA, Tritons and the likes. He's in his 70s and tinkers

I have a 1979 440 2 stroke, a 1981 piston port 490cc and a later 1981 Reed valve 490 2 stroke. I'll ride the latter two but not the 79... It just feels vintage

I grew up on 2 strokes, then carbd 4 strokes, then efi and now ride by wire. I like engines, I like the feel, smell and mechanics of it all

I'd commute on electric but it doesn't do it for me with as social ride. Not saying never not not with the current tech that's for sure

[srob]

Birky_41 said:

I dunno maybe for you but that wouldn't be my train of thought. My next door neighbor has 20+ bikes going back to Scotts, BSA, Tritons and the likes. He's in his 70s and tinkers

I have a 1979 440 2 stroke, a 1981 piston port 490cc and a later 1981 Reed valve 490 2 stroke. I'll ride the latter two but not the 79... It just feels vintage

I grew up on 2 strokes, then carbd 4 strokes, then efi and now ride by wire. I like engines, I like the feel, smell and mechanics of it all

I'd commute on electric but it doesn't do it for me with as social ride. Not saying never not not with the current tech that's for sure

But when you’re being left behind on your petrol bike by an electric bike?

I’m not in my 70s (I’m guessing I’m younger than you judging by your name on here ) and I love engines in all their forms. Been lucky enough to work on engine designs including an attempt to revive the two-stroke 15-20 years ago, but to me a modern sports bike engine is so linear and so predictable it may as well be electric. Yeah you get noise but in reality, noise gets boring if not for you then certainly for others!

It’s very, very rare that we get a chance to get on the crest of a wave but this is it in our lifetime. Look at TT Zero and how it’s developed- it’s not gonna change so why not embrace it!

[graeme4130]

I've ridden the latest KTM Electric MX bikes, and although my Petrol MX experience is pretty limited, the Electric bikes are really good.
Loads of torque, not much heavier than a tradition 450KTM and almost totally silent
A mate of mine has a farm with an MX track on it that got shut down because of noise, so they're setting up as an Electric MX park to keep going. They've got 12 bikes and are just in the process of getting kids bikes
I appreciate they don't keep the noise purists going, but with the way noise complaints are hitting MX and race tracks all over the country, they're the future by the looks of it