Is the future of motorcycling electric, and speed limited?
Discussion
With hybrid and electric cars well on the way, how long will it be before petrol-engined bikes go the way of the steam engine? And with new rules agreed by the EU, speed limiters will become mandatory for all cars sold in Europe from 2022; it's affecting the UK despite Brexit. How long before bikes must have ‘Intelligent Speed Assistance’ too?
The future of our form of transport may arrive like an electric motor: silently and quicker than we think.
The future of our form of transport may arrive like an electric motor: silently and quicker than we think.
In the history of everything, whoever engineers an lock, someone else engineers a key - any speed limiters will soon be cracked so that's not an issue
The problem is that once 50% are driving speed limited cars then other cars will effectively be forced down to the same speed as the road will blocked by all the slow moving cars, not such a problem for bikes
Whilst I like noise / vibration within limits, I'm interested to see what the future brings, I'd like to try a silent bike on the green lanes and it would be far less likely to annoy other countryside users.
The problem is that once 50% are driving speed limited cars then other cars will effectively be forced down to the same speed as the road will blocked by all the slow moving cars, not such a problem for bikes
Whilst I like noise / vibration within limits, I'm interested to see what the future brings, I'd like to try a silent bike on the green lanes and it would be far less likely to annoy other countryside users.
Salted_Peanut said:
With hybrid and electric cars well on the way, how long will it be before petrol-engined bikes go the way of the steam engine? And with new rules agreed by the EU, speed limiters will become mandatory for all cars sold in Europe from 2022; it's affecting the UK despite Brexit. How long before bikes must have ‘Intelligent Speed Assistance’ too?
The future of our form of transport may arrive like an electric motor: silently and quicker than we think.
Can I ask why you've posted this? What are you hoping for from the thread?The future of our form of transport may arrive like an electric motor: silently and quicker than we think.
Nothing wrong with Electric bikes (other than the sound and current range which is very quickly being resolved). They show a lot of promise and as the battery tech advances they'll become more and more viable. Even now Osets and KTM's E-XC are massive fun...with an after-market custom battery (lighter than Oset's own) my Son's bike will do a full afternoon of competitive trials. It's at a point now where the majority of kids trials bikes in the lower ranks are electric.
Granted the E-XC run time won't let you do a full Enduro, but it's probably only 3 or 4 years away. And the beauty of Electric is that you can very very accurately dial in power, delay, and delivery curve so a bike can grow with you. They also open up where you can race and ride too...as much of the objection is noise.
Granted the E-XC run time won't let you do a full Enduro, but it's probably only 3 or 4 years away. And the beauty of Electric is that you can very very accurately dial in power, delay, and delivery curve so a bike can grow with you. They also open up where you can race and ride too...as much of the objection is noise.
Pothole said:
Can I ask why you've posted this? What are you hoping for from the thread?
Like many, I find biking gives me a freedom that's vital to both my mental wellbeing and sense of being human. And it's my primary transport. While I wholeheartedly agree with the needs to protect the environment and reduce road casualties, these new regulations are hard to resolve with that intangible-but-vital sense of freedom. I'm interested in what others think about it.
Salted_Peanut said:
Pothole said:
Can I ask why you've posted this? What are you hoping for from the thread?
Like many, I find biking gives me a freedom that's vital to both my mental wellbeing and sense of being human. And it's my primary transport. While I wholeheartedly agree with the needs to protect the environment and reduce road casualties, these new regulations are hard to resolve with that intangible-but-vital sense of freedom. I'm interested in what others think about it.
OK. I'm not concerned. I think government's target is too ambitious and will be missed and its implementation delayed. Also, this applies to new vehicles only as currently touted, so anything I buy up to a couple of yeas before that will be exempt. Also, I'm 54. I don't think I'll be that bothered by the time it really starts to bite
Sometimes, things of importance are hard to measure. Such as freedom, or the mental wellbeing that motorcycling gives.
Japan's Tohoku University said:
Incorporating motorcycle riding into daily life improves various cognitive functions and has positive effects on mental and emotional health such as stress reduction.
Are we at risk of losing these things? I hope we can still protect the environment without their loss.take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
Nothing wrong with Electric bikes
Intellectually, I know it's true. But emotionally, I'll miss the added involvement that comes from changing gears. Though perhaps electric bikes will benefit motorcycling because there will be no loud cans to drive people mad anymore!Salted_Peanut said:
I'll miss the added involvement that comes from changing gears.
What is everyone's fascination with changing gears? It's the same anytime someone mentions Honda's DCT gearbox, apparently if you can't move a lever half an inch with your foot so that you can keep accelerating, it's not motorcycling 
I don't want the restrictions to come in, but I would have an electric bike tomorrow if it could do everything I need it to.
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
Nothing wrong with Electric bikes (other than the sound and current range which is very quickly being resolved). They show a lot of promise and as the battery tech advances they'll become more and more viable. Even now Osets and KTM's E-XC are massive fun...with an after-market custom battery (lighter than Oset's own) my Son's bike will do a full afternoon of competitive trials. It's at a point now where the majority of kids trials bikes in the lower ranks are electric.
Granted the E-XC run time won't let you do a full Enduro, but it's probably only 3 or 4 years away. And the beauty of Electric is that you can very very accurately dial in power, delay, and delivery curve so a bike can grow with you. They also open up where you can race and ride too...as much of the objection is noise.
The big issue for me with electric bikes is the cost. I rode an S a fair few years ago - before they got the suspension and brake upgrades they have now. I genuinely thought about getting one - but it's £17 grand! That's way too much. Get it under ten grand and then I'll perhaps be able to do something. Granted the E-XC run time won't let you do a full Enduro, but it's probably only 3 or 4 years away. And the beauty of Electric is that you can very very accurately dial in power, delay, and delivery curve so a bike can grow with you. They also open up where you can race and ride too...as much of the objection is noise.
Alex@POD said:
What is everyone's fascination with changing gears? apparently if you can't move a lever half an inch with your foot so that you can keep accelerating, it's not motorcycling
I don't like automatic cars - if I wanted an automated car I'd get a taxi / chauffeurAn automatic bike is even worse but mine are just toys so I want max involvement
I do like my van being automatic, it's not fun to drive so it may as well be relaxing
Stuart Fordyce said:
The big issue for me with electric bikes is the cost. I rode an S a fair few years ago - before they got the suspension and brake upgrades they have now. I genuinely thought about getting one - but it's £17 grand! That's way too much. Get it under ten grand and then I'll perhaps be able to do something.
You're absolutely right... They are very expensive if you compare like with like. However, like any new disruptive tech, the cost will come down. I work in shenzhen in China a lot (their silcone Valley) and every small bike is now electric. This will drive the tech on massively and significant reduce costs.
I'm hopeful that the future model of ownership will be similar to leaded petrol engines. Batteries will allow us to keep them as weekend toys, and as they do so few miles no government gives a f
k about their emissions.On a commuter bike, even when you can filter, stop start traffic is such a PITA on a geared bike that one gear and monster instant torque is probably more fun. It never fails to amaze me how my Son"s tiny 1400w oset bike can loop so easily with a 6'5" fat f
k on it. I reckon we are done, this years bikes are probably the pinnacle of the biking combustion engine with regards to development and R and D , Bikes come in three year cycles for new models to be developed and released, I cant see the big factories stuffing millions into combustion engine machines for the next model.
I could be wrong, maybe another cycle of development but after that were electric, I'm old (51) but I will see the demise of the combustion engine and controlled speed limits within my limited life span I have left, that's if I'm lucky and don't pass away any time soon
I could be wrong, maybe another cycle of development but after that were electric, I'm old (51) but I will see the demise of the combustion engine and controlled speed limits within my limited life span I have left, that's if I'm lucky and don't pass away any time soon
BobSaunders said:
The future is electric. Petrol bikes will always exist in a vintage form.
I disagree. Bikes need to do 3 things... Look Great , Sound great, and go well... an electric bike fails straight away.
A Harley looks great, sounds great , but doesnt go great, but 2 out of 3 stirs the soul nicely.
A sports bike might look great, and go great, and sound a bit meh.. but again , thats ok .
EV road bikes , are a bust, piss poor range , and heavy with it. A good friend has done a good bit of R&D in the US and he is isnt loving the range.. sub 100 mile range means you can flatten the battery in under an hour on fast roads.. who is going to buy in to that ..
EV off roaders is a different ball game, Alta Red Shift was awesome, but expensive, and by the time it caught on the magic pot of replenishing money, suddenly wasnt there... Harley bought in , and out again, and their EBike seems to have cratered.
WarnieV6GT said:
Soon electric cars and bikes will be so fast and cheap to run that they will be the obvious choice. At the moment upfront cost and battery life is not there yet, but it will be.
You don't think tracking /speed limiting will come sooner? UK /EU govt seem to be pretty anti bike, I'm not yet 40.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff