BEV motorbikes
Discussion
About 6 months ago I bought a Sur Ron 6kW motorbike for commuting in and out of my office.
I passed my CBT and I'm building some hours on two wheels, with the plan of doing a DAS next year. I'm totally new to riding a motorbike and I figured I would benefit from some experience.
I have done 560+ miles my Sur Ron since, and very few miles in my diesel estate. So this seems to be working well.
Now looking at a slightly more powerfull BEV bike, with longer range, so I can pop out to meetings up the motorway and dual carriages. A bike like the Zero S or DS.
Zero seem like pretty much the only option right now, and even if they are expensive they do seem more than viable.
Any of you chaps also using battery powered two wheelers ?
Any experience of living with a Zero ?
Anyone got the 6 kW type 2 'power tank' option ?
I passed my CBT and I'm building some hours on two wheels, with the plan of doing a DAS next year. I'm totally new to riding a motorbike and I figured I would benefit from some experience.
I have done 560+ miles my Sur Ron since, and very few miles in my diesel estate. So this seems to be working well.
Now looking at a slightly more powerfull BEV bike, with longer range, so I can pop out to meetings up the motorway and dual carriages. A bike like the Zero S or DS.
Zero seem like pretty much the only option right now, and even if they are expensive they do seem more than viable.
Any of you chaps also using battery powered two wheelers ?
Any experience of living with a Zero ?
Anyone got the 6 kW type 2 'power tank' option ?
I did chat to a guy a little while ago who'd bought a Zero and really enjoyed it. He had several other conventional bikes too, but the Zero was his bike for getting to jobs, etc.
He did say that he binned it within half an hour of buying it - he opened the throttle mid-corner and the 'everything from zero' power delivery spat him off. He adapted quickly!
He did say that he binned it within half an hour of buying it - he opened the throttle mid-corner and the 'everything from zero' power delivery spat him off. He adapted quickly!
I am still surprised that there aren’t more EV motorcycles!
I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
off_again said:
I am still surprised that there aren’t more EV motorcycles!
I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
Because engines are such intrinsic parts of motorcycles and how they feel and sound. Also the weight and how you ride a motorcycle.I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
MotoE is a bit of a disaster with such a poor following.
jason61c said:
off_again said:
I am still surprised that there aren’t more EV motorcycles!
I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
Because engines are such intrinsic parts of motorcycles and how they feel and sound. Also the weight and how you ride a motorcycle.I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
MotoE is a bit of a disaster with such a poor following.
off_again said:
I am still surprised that there aren’t more EV motorcycles!
I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
The Livewire looks tempting in many ways, fast charging (50kW), 78 kW motor.. hhhmmmmI know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
but even with a price cut it starts at £29k.
Flippin' Nora.
NDNDNDND said:
I did chat to a guy a little while ago who'd bought a Zero and really enjoyed it. He had several other conventional bikes too, but the Zero was his bike for getting to jobs, etc.
He did say that he binned it within half an hour of buying it - he opened the throttle mid-corner and the 'everything from zero' power delivery spat him off. He adapted quickly!
Oh yeah. Sooooo much torque...He did say that he binned it within half an hour of buying it - he opened the throttle mid-corner and the 'everything from zero' power delivery spat him off. He adapted quickly!
Even my little 6kW Sur Ron insists on lifting its front wheel when pulling away from the lights if I forget to lean forward. It gets annoying after a while.
Next step test ride on the S and DS.
I'll post up here if it's in any way interesting for folk.
911newbie said:
The Livewire looks tempting in many ways, fast charging (50kW), 78 kW motor.. hhhmmmm
but even with a price cut it starts at £29k.
Flippin' Nora.
Under the new livewire.com brand, they are now $21k. Still expensive for what it is as the usage of it is narrow - its power cruiser style with just over 100 miles real-world range. Bring that down to say $16k, get the Federal tax incentive at $2k and maybe some good manufacturer financing and it suddenly becomes a much more reasonable proposition (most of the Triumph Bonnies etc are around that price). but even with a price cut it starts at £29k.
Flippin' Nora.
jason61c said:
Because engines are such intrinsic parts of motorcycles and how they feel and sound. Also the weight and how you ride a motorcycle.
Absolutely. But its interesting to see what some manufacturers are doing - the Livewire (HD) actually has a number of configurable options for the bike around this. It has a haptic feedback option where "pulse", especially at a standstill so you can feel that its on and running - and you know exactly who they were aiming the bike at....Nothing to say that they couldnt do this to bring the feeling element. But do agree, they are never going to sound the same, though all of that torque at just a twist of the throttle has got to be a giggle!
jason61c said:
Because engines are such intrinsic parts of motorcycles and how they feel and sound. Also the weight and how you ride a motorcycle.
MotoE is a bit of a disaster with such a poor following.
I've not ridden an ICE motorbike, so I'll take what you say as read.MotoE is a bit of a disaster with such a poor following.
But I am enjoying riding my EV motorbike. So I wonder if the overall experience is so radically different.
So far the ownership experience is pretty good. I've got to pop out this morning to fix a wobbly wing mirror. I think I might have caused that when I fell off the other day - 0 mph trying to negotiate a ramp I'd put down some steps to the garden. Got the right foot peg caught against the gate post, teetered, tottered, and down I went into a pile of cuttings.
I live at the top of a gentle hill. I leave the battery on charge in the house, then insert it into the bike and head off, usually down hill. If I am not on the throttle the bike regens, and by the time I'm at the bottom at the junction it throws a hissy fit - overcharging the battery.
Same issue affects/affected the Mech E if I'm not mistaken.
I have a fair amount of experience with BEV motorbikes, I have been involved racing them at TT Zero since 2013. First with prototypes and them a Brammo EMpulse R and a Zero SR after that
I did my CBT this summer on a Zero S
I am working on getting the Energica on the DVSA list of approved bikes for the test, and that would be my go to bike for riding, as the CCS (DC) charging means you can you on proper journeys. the 6kW Zero charge tank will be a pain in the ass on a serious ride
I'll happy answer any questions you have.
I did my CBT this summer on a Zero S
I am working on getting the Energica on the DVSA list of approved bikes for the test, and that would be my go to bike for riding, as the CCS (DC) charging means you can you on proper journeys. the 6kW Zero charge tank will be a pain in the ass on a serious ride
I'll happy answer any questions you have.
I looked earlier this year and posted on here. My conclusion was everything is either under powered with a poor range or way too expensive.
One that did catch my eye was the Nui RQi but it hasn't actually been released.
Basically something to cover the 500cc commuter class for a similar outlay.
One that did catch my eye was the Nui RQi but it hasn't actually been released.
Basically something to cover the 500cc commuter class for a similar outlay.
RyanDD said:
I have a fair amount of experience with BEV motorbikes, I have been involved racing them at TT Zero since 2013. First with prototypes and them a Brammo EMpulse R and a Zero SR after that
I did my CBT this summer on a Zero S
I am working on getting the Energica on the DVSA list of approved bikes for the test, and that would be my go to bike for riding, as the CCS (DC) charging means you can you on proper journeys. the 6kW Zero charge tank will be a pain in the ass on a serious ride
I'll happy answer any questions you have.
Once I get my DAS done (probs next year spring / summer), I'd love an Energica, but oh my, they are expensive...I did my CBT this summer on a Zero S
I am working on getting the Energica on the DVSA list of approved bikes for the test, and that would be my go to bike for riding, as the CCS (DC) charging means you can you on proper journeys. the 6kW Zero charge tank will be a pain in the ass on a serious ride
I'll happy answer any questions you have.
I guess they charge at 50 kW ?
The CBT friendly Zero S with the charge tank takes 2.5 hours or probs more to fully charge, so as you say a right pain for longer journeys.
Selling them with only the 1.3 kW charger seems pretty mean. Asking £2.3k for a 6kW charger is frankly taking the michael.
What is annoying is that i tlooks like I'll have to learn how to ride an ICE bike, along with clutch and gears, only so I can sit my Mod 1 and Mod 2 tests. I doubt it'll kill me to do so since I've been driving manula cars forever, but really how stupid is this....
So, questions - for commmuting and occaissional longer trips is there an alternative to a Zero SR or DSR at a reasonable price ?
911newbie said:
So, questions - for commmuting and occaissional longer trips is there an alternative to a Zero SR or DSR at a reasonable price ?
I'd love a Zero.But the issue is, the equivalent bike is frugal enough to make the difference in price unjustifiable.
Something like a DSR, here in new money a CB500X or NC750X is 60% (
) cheaper.10k EUR buys you a lot of maintenance and fuel.
That said, when going off the beaten track, I think there's a lot of appeal in a silent motorcycle. Neither bikes I've mentioned have an interesting engine to begin with.
But then again, at the price point of the Zero you could easily get a Ducati Multistrada...
off_again said:
I am still surprised that there aren’t more EV motorcycles!
I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
There are tons of electric moped type things in Toronto. Rare to see a petrol moped here. Seen a few Zeros about, but for larger bikes petrol is still the popular choice.I know that EV mopeds are really popular in many Chinese cities, but really surprised that they aren’t more popular elsewhere. I would have thought that they would be ideal - light, don’t need 200+ BHP and will feel sprightly because of the torque.
There are a few, but still sell in small numbers. Though I did see that HD just put the LiveWire into its own brand and slashed the price. Here is hoping. I think it would be ideal for commuting! Congrats to the OP for making the leap!
911newbie said:
So, questions - for commmuting and occaissional longer trips is there an alternative to a Zero SR or DSR at a reasonable price ?
With the exception of HD none of the major players in the bike market have anything, yet: Triumph are working on "something" but I don't think it'll be this year; Yamaha have some smaller bikes coming out, think 125 and 300cc equivalents. Bikes seem to be about where cars were six or seven years ago, there's only one really viable option (Energica) and one compromised option (Zero).I test rode a Zero SR/F.
I hadn't ridden for a couple of years, my last bike was a ZZR600.
It was the fastest thing I'd ever experienced! Melted my brain, you'd want it in Eco mode for a busy town commute. Used 30 miles of range to go 12 miles but was having fun. You'll stuff it in a hedge if you're not careful applying power when not in a straight line.
I have a slight concern about cars drivers not hearing you approaching or passing.
I want one badly and am considering selling the family to get one........
I hadn't ridden for a couple of years, my last bike was a ZZR600.
It was the fastest thing I'd ever experienced! Melted my brain, you'd want it in Eco mode for a busy town commute. Used 30 miles of range to go 12 miles but was having fun. You'll stuff it in a hedge if you're not careful applying power when not in a straight line.
I have a slight concern about cars drivers not hearing you approaching or passing.
I want one badly and am considering selling the family to get one........
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