Electricity

[ieism]

I agree, if they would be a little cheaper to buy I'd get one just to commute. It will wouldn't even need that much range, I could charge it at work.

[Zaphod]

Low noise is particularly a benefit for offroad riding. A lot more kids could get into riding if they can do it quietly in dedicated areas closer to home. Also lets you ride undetected in areas where riding might be frowned upon

The no noise thing could have it's problems, especially when you are playing in the midst of the steel caged ineptitude that is traffic.

I now ride dirt bikes, as the trees don't tend to cut me off or pull out in front of me.......if they do, it's down to me and a lack of co-ordination between the synapses responsible for the descision making process........

When the items in the below video used to be encountered, it was at a reasonable distance, as they heard me coming from a way off. Now, even though the bike sounds loud enough when you're on it, I have quite often had it remarked to me that it is very quiet, and nearly impossible to hear until it's right on top of you.

Modern two stroke, designed to meet current Db requirements.

I did not see this guy, as I was looking up through the corner, not at the ground on my right. First I was aware of it, was when a large object appeared in front of my head light.

Transport section, dawdling at about 100Kph in top cog. The horn tooting is to draw the attention of the rider in front that I was stopping.........slowly.......didn't know if I had a front caliper left, or what other damage to essential operating equipment had been done.

Thank god I was being lazy and sitting down when we hit.


http://youtu.be/OG9uMVYrcpM

.....maybe with electric bikes we'll need to do the ol' playing card in the spokes trick we used on push bikes as kids.......

[Kropotkin]

The no noise thing could have it's problems, especially when you are playing in the midst of the steel caged ineptitude that is traffic.

True story, from the BMW GS mailing list:

One person complained of vehicles pulling out in front of him from a side entrance, after apparently not having seen him.

Despite the fact that he was in a big shiny red fire truck.

With lights flashing.

And sirens on....

All other road users are dangerous, homicidal idiots, hell-bent on creating carnage. Not consciously, of course, but that doesn't stop them. Noise and visibility make only a very small difference, and cannot be relied on at all. I won't even mention the fact that exhausts face backwards, away from the direction of travel, throwing the noise they do make away from where the danger is.

[Gar]

All other road users are dangerous, homicidal idiots, hell-bent on creating carnage. Not consciously, of course, but that doesn't stop them. Noise and visibility make only a very small difference, and cannot be relied on at all. I won't even mention the fact that exhausts face backwards, away from the direction of travel, throwing the noise they do make away from where the danger is.

Absolutely. Your only hope is to ride like you are invisible.

[Nachlauf]

Noise doesn't work as a safety-net in normal traffic. Most modern cars are designed to shut off their passengers from environmental noise. That's what car buyers demand. And on top of that most car drivers are idiots. They are prone to not see another car. So it is no surprise they don't recognize a motorcycle either. So I refuse to accept the lack of noise to be a problem of any kind except perhaps aesthetics.

[Zaphod]

First I had a beef with ABS......sure, I could see the benefits in less than ideal conditions/enviroments, but I try to pride myself on being alert and competent at my job behind the wheel/bars.

Not that I might not need it, but hell........pride being what it is.

Then I had a beef with traction and stability control devices, for the same reasons.

Now we have reverse, oh wait......all round camera system for the car when parking..........IF YOU CAN'T TURN YOUR BLOODY HEAD (injury/disability sufferers excused)/BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CATCH A BLOODY BUS OR TRAIN YOU MORONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU ARE NO LONGER COMPETENT TO BE IN CONTROL OF A VEHICLE YOURSELF.

(having said that, maybe those camera's could be fitted to Marquez's bike........... )


Don't get me started on cars that park themselves for you.................

Anyone read Hitch-Hikers Guide ?


Wonko the Sane gave up on society when, after eating a meal, he went to use a toothpick and observed that the tooth-pick packet had operating instructions on it.


Go look at a tooth-pick packet.


The human race is stuffed. Even Chimps can use a pointy stick to clean their teeth without being in danger of lacerating their gums or poking an eye out.

[Squidpuppet]

(having said that, maybe those camera's could be fitted to Marquez's bike........... )

Did you really?

[Tom94]

Here where I live in Bavaria the next latest and greatest thing is the electric bicycle. Pedestrians are getting nailed right and left because they don't hear them. OK, no situational awareness and general stupidity might have some small part to play too.

I'm sure this same style of conversation went on over a hundred years ago when those stinky cars appeared on the scene and started replacing good ol' Wilber the horse. I still think a bike should have more character and soul than my toaster.

[Zaphod]

I would like whatever Weihenstephaner you can send me............by the truckload please Tom.

[ieism]

Did a little google the other day..... I can lease an electric "motorcycle" that does 60 miles and 60mph. This thing will do my daily commute for a full week on a electricity that costs me less than a Euro (I would charge it at work, so it would be free anyway).

This is a full operational lease for €180,- with a good company, so if I break it or need new tires they will fix it.

My short daily commute with a relatively fuel efficent Volkswagen costs me €120, - per month in fuelcost alone. Insurance, tax, and parking costs another €250 per month for the car.

Conclusion: If I would just have to do the commute, an electric motorycle would be a hell of a lot cheaper. Probably even cheaper than a normal motorcyle. But I need my car for family stuff, so it won't work. If I would buy an electric motorcycle for €5000,- and keep my car it would take about 4 years to break even.

The only problem is it doesn't look anything like a Ducati 916 http://www.vectrix.com/products/vx-1

[Zaphod]

Good God man !!

That's one step away from one of these !!!






What about one of these ?

Claim 100 mph top speed, and 75 miles before recharge.






Worth a read, I guess...


http://www.gizmag.com/roehr-unveils-esu ... cle/19178/

[Gar]

$18,000

[Zaphod]

Yeah , I know !

Good things to consider in regards to Electric bikes.

New technology, and $18 000.

Should get cheaper, as well as faster and longer range in the future.

Still a long way away from from going touring, but could be neat little track bikes when the price starts to come down.

[Desmo44]

My model railroad engines have onboard sound for steam and diesel that are incredibly realistic. Hopefully, these electric bike developers will have the decency to provide proper engine sounds and good speaker placement to satisfy the old school crowd like myself. If the green meanies make a fuss, then at least provide wireless ear phones for onboard enjoyment. Riding in silence is unimaginable to me.