Maven and other electric bikes
Discussion
I recall a character having an electric bike on the show Hawaii 5-0 the newer one not the 70s one...
Now my social media keeps showing me this maven, and apparently royal enfield have one coming.
Are they actually any good? People debate the electric cars with pros/cons but does it work better for bikes? Less weight, smaller batteries etc? Or worse hence why almost all electric cars are massive?
Now my social media keeps showing me this maven, and apparently royal enfield have one coming.
Are they actually any good? People debate the electric cars with pros/cons but does it work better for bikes? Less weight, smaller batteries etc? Or worse hence why almost all electric cars are massive?
I think bikes have a couple of limitations. Firstly range, if they want the bike to be a sensible size and weight range tends to be about 150 miles at most (from the ones I ve seen). This is fine if your refuel is 5 mins, not so good if it s 6 hours.
The second thing is noise. Part of what makes bikes interesting is the noise and drama of them, most bikes are bought as toys. Making toys less exciting just makes them less interesting for the majority.
But yes, I expect we’ll be forced into electric bikes in much the same way as cars. If they don’t ban bikes completely for our own good.
The second thing is noise. Part of what makes bikes interesting is the noise and drama of them, most bikes are bought as toys. Making toys less exciting just makes them less interesting for the majority.
But yes, I expect we’ll be forced into electric bikes in much the same way as cars. If they don’t ban bikes completely for our own good.
Noise is def good for cars to hear them, as in ICE bikes. Now all cars have DRL's bikes are apparently invisible again. at least with noise you stand some chance of a car not just pulling out into you.
The range does look to be a factor, they kind of sell a road trip idea but a sub 100mile road trip with a 6 hour charge in the middle isn't really what i'd call a road trip.. not on a bike or in a car anyway.
The range does look to be a factor, they kind of sell a road trip idea but a sub 100mile road trip with a 6 hour charge in the middle isn't really what i'd call a road trip.. not on a bike or in a car anyway.
The0perator said:
Noise is def good for cars to hear them, as in ICE bikes. Now all cars have DRL's bikes are apparently invisible again. at least with noise you stand some chance of a car not just pulling out into you.
The range does look to be a factor, they kind of sell a road trip idea but a sub 100mile road trip with a 6 hour charge in the middle isn't really what i'd call a road trip.. not on a bike or in a car anyway.
If you’re just using it around town or something like a 20 mile commute I suppose it would work, but then you still need something else for longer days so you might as well use the petrol one all the time! The range does look to be a factor, they kind of sell a road trip idea but a sub 100mile road trip with a 6 hour charge in the middle isn't really what i'd call a road trip.. not on a bike or in a car anyway.
At the moment you’d need to want one enough that you’re prepared to live with a product that doesn’t work as well as petrol bikes in most situations.
I've just been testing the new Ultraviolette and I am thinking about getting one. It's a really fun and engaging ride, makes a sound like something from Star Wars when it accelerates and looks suitably futuristic, rather than a weird retro.
Obviously EV vs Petrol depends on your particular usage model, but for my normal riding experiences – 20 mile commute each way every day on A roads, plus the occasional run across the moors on a sunny day/evening in the summer – a bike with 150 miles range is plenty.
Obviously EV vs Petrol depends on your particular usage model, but for my normal riding experiences – 20 mile commute each way every day on A roads, plus the occasional run across the moors on a sunny day/evening in the summer – a bike with 150 miles range is plenty.
boyse7en said:
I've just been testing the new Ultraviolette and I am thinking about getting one. It's a really fun and engaging ride, makes a sound like something from Star Wars when it accelerates and looks suitably futuristic, rather than a weird retro.
Obviously EV vs Petrol depends on your particular usage model, but for my normal riding experiences 20 mile commute each way every day on A roads, plus the occasional run across the moors on a sunny day/evening in the summer a bike with 150 miles range is plenty.
That does a lot more useable to be fairObviously EV vs Petrol depends on your particular usage model, but for my normal riding experiences 20 mile commute each way every day on A roads, plus the occasional run across the moors on a sunny day/evening in the summer a bike with 150 miles range is plenty.
Sad conversation as I've just started getting into bikes because electric cars are so boring to drive. Feels like those of us who feel that the engine is 80% of the enjoyment in a machine (car or bike) are fewer in number than I thought.
But of course electric cars and bikes for commuting are brilliant. Electric scooters will completely replace petrol ones once they can charge quickly enough for delivery drivers to top up while they're waiting in McDonalds.
But of course electric cars and bikes for commuting are brilliant. Electric scooters will completely replace petrol ones once they can charge quickly enough for delivery drivers to top up while they're waiting in McDonalds.
I'm basically the best use case for electric motorcycles. I use my bikes to commute into London Mon-Fri, 70 mile round trip, mixed conditions, bit of motorway, mostly within the m25, safe parking and indeed charging if needed at work. I rarely use a bike at weekend's, not interested in "group" rides etc.
Every time I do the math's for a replacement bike I throw the Zero's etc into the mix and I've never been able to get them near to being able to justify one on cost alone.
I'm completely open to having one but like cars cost wise they really need to be in the mix slugging it out with "normal" ICE equivalents before you will see many outside of the pizza delivery side of things. For example this week I saw my first HD livewire, they've been out 4 years?
Every time I do the math's for a replacement bike I throw the Zero's etc into the mix and I've never been able to get them near to being able to justify one on cost alone.
I'm completely open to having one but like cars cost wise they really need to be in the mix slugging it out with "normal" ICE equivalents before you will see many outside of the pizza delivery side of things. For example this week I saw my first HD livewire, they've been out 4 years?
greeneggsnsam said:
Electric scooters will completely replace petrol ones once they can charge quickly enough for delivery drivers to top up while they're waiting in McDonalds.
In India last year and Vietnam in March they have started to deploy battery replacement banks if that's a phrase, basically ride up on your scooter pull your battery out and do a swap through what looks like an Amazon locker and off you go, 1 minute max I'd guess.... but it's small scale currently and would require millions of these things setup in these countries to convert the masses.hiccy18 said:
That 150 mile range is around town, up the speed to NSL/motorway level and it's a lot less.
I did a test ride it on a mix of roads, mostly rural NSL with twisty bits, plus a bit of in-town and dual carriageway use, and starting with 200km range on the dash, after 56km it was still showing 120km range remaining, so it isn't hugely out on estimating how far it can go. That was riding at the "normal" pace I ride at, so legal max where possible, but obviously also slower bits behind lorries and around bends.I'm sure it would be less if it was blasting along a motorway at 80mph for a few hours.
greeneggsnsam said:
Feels like those of us who feel that the engine is 80% of the enjoyment in a machine (car or bike) are fewer in number than I thought.
based on what?i could personally never own a performance EV of any kind. i once had a test session in a diesel race car and hated it. my mind is calibrated to hear revs rising and have a mechanical interface and feel. it's what i know and enjoy [lumpy twins ftw], even an accomplished ev sportsbike wouldn't be for me.
i would consider an ev mx bike as mx in general would be new to me and [i would be riding in the dunes] it's sufficiently different so as to come with a completely new skillset.
shirt said:
based on what?
i could personally never own a performance EV of any kind. i once had a test session in a diesel race car and hated it. my mind is calibrated to hear revs rising and have a mechanical interface and feel. it's what i know and enjoy [lumpy twins ftw], even an accomplished ev sportsbike wouldn't be for me.
i would consider an ev mx bike as mx in general would be new to me and [i would be riding in the dunes] it's sufficiently different so as to come with a completely new skillset.
Just based on senitment on here and other forums really. So many people are super impressed with the performance of EVs and say things like "it doesn't have as much character as an engine but it's just as fast" and for me that makes no sense at all. It's like saying about a cake "it tastes horrible, but it's just as many calories as a normal cake". You're not eating a cake to stay alive, you're eating it for fun!i could personally never own a performance EV of any kind. i once had a test session in a diesel race car and hated it. my mind is calibrated to hear revs rising and have a mechanical interface and feel. it's what i know and enjoy [lumpy twins ftw], even an accomplished ev sportsbike wouldn't be for me.
i would consider an ev mx bike as mx in general would be new to me and [i would be riding in the dunes] it's sufficiently different so as to come with a completely new skillset.
The whole boomer diatribe frequently seen on Facebook like "i'Ll neVEr riDe AGaiN iF leCcY BIkeS ar FOrcD oN Us" is pathetic.
Do they need work on range and charging time? Yes. Are they too expensive at the moment? Also yes.
Would i love something that requires drastically less maintenance? Yes.
Would i love to have instant torque at any rpm? Yes.
Would i like something quiet enough so as to not p
s off more people resulting in more roads/trails getting closed? Yes.
I couldn't give less of a st about the noise of a engine tbh. Maybe i used to, now I just feel embarrassed by loud exhausts
Do they need work on range and charging time? Yes. Are they too expensive at the moment? Also yes.
Would i love something that requires drastically less maintenance? Yes.
Would i love to have instant torque at any rpm? Yes.
Would i like something quiet enough so as to not p
s off more people resulting in more roads/trails getting closed? Yes.I couldn't give less of a s
t about the noise of a engine tbh. Maybe i used to, now I just feel embarrassed by loud exhaustsBiker9090 said:
The whole boomer diatribe frequently seen on Facebook like "i'Ll neVEr riDe AGaiN iF leCcY BIkeS ar FOrcD oN Us" is pathetic.
Do they need work on range and charging time? Yes. Are they too expensive at the moment? Also yes.
Would i love something that requires drastically less maintenance? Yes.
Would i love to have instant torque at any rpm? Yes.
Would i like something quiet enough so as to not ps off more people resulting in more roads/trails getting closed? Yes.
I couldn't give less of a st about the noise of a engine tbh. Maybe i used to, now I just feel embarrassed by loud exhausts
I don’t see bikes as things that are particularly high maintenance, by switching from petrol to electric you’re avoiding air filters, oil and filter changes and the occasional valve check. Everything else like suspension, possibly a chain will still be there. Do they need work on range and charging time? Yes. Are they too expensive at the moment? Also yes.
Would i love something that requires drastically less maintenance? Yes.
Would i love to have instant torque at any rpm? Yes.
Would i like something quiet enough so as to not p
s off more people resulting in more roads/trails getting closed? Yes.I couldn't give less of a s
t about the noise of a engine tbh. Maybe i used to, now I just feel embarrassed by loud exhaustsEven on stuff from the 70s and 80s (I don’t have anything older) they mainly just work if you fire them up regularly.
I’d be more concerned about batteries not being 100% if they’re not used/charged correctly as well as how long they last in total as I tend to keep bikes a long time.
As others have said it’s all down to use case. For a commuter that you just want to work it would be fine for me. But for longer rides and feeling more part of the experience I prefer something I need to work at to get the best out of it.
And I like noise. I like the way the revs build when I’m going for it, the burbles on deceleration and so on. Not even stupidly noisy exhausts, just enough so I can hear it.
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