Kawasaki Concours Forum
Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: stevewfl on May 23, 2012, 11:38:25 AM
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Our dealer is taking orders...curious on thoughts?
http://eurocyclesoftampabay.com/the-brammo-electric-motorcycle-we-are-taking-orders-now/ (http://eurocyclesoftampabay.com/the-brammo-electric-motorcycle-we-are-taking-orders-now/)
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It's VERY interesting although too pricey for me. I'd want to test drive it just to see how it measures up with traditional sport bikes. Do you guys get a chance to drive them?
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It's the future of all kind of vehicles...
But still too expensive for the performances provided.
This bike makes sense in a racing environment, but too many practical obstacles have those today offered on the market for commuting.
First of all the autonomy: electric mopeds and scooters today offer only a home-office-home duration in a not too large city! ;)
Second, the recharge time: most of them offer 3 hours for 80% and one whole night for full recharge.
But 80% charge does not translate into a precise 80% autonomy: it's alway less... :(
Moreover, there are still few corners around where you can recharge the bike (depending on the city) and you need to have a dedicated space at night where to charge it: in Italy for instance it's not so common
It's a good start but I still see a long way before electric vehicles will be able to substitute "almost" seamlessly our current gas thirsty roaring bikes! ;D
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From my experience w/ RC, I like electrics. Also, being a minor history buff, I've read about about the early electric cars, and have followed electric bike & car articles for a bunch (25+) years. At some point, battery and controller tech will make electrics cost-effective alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. I believe that current government subsidies both delay and corrupt that process. When businesses make money for "trying" or "treading water" instead of actually progressing, it is too easy to get off track. In so many cases, we see businesses who are focused more on the subsidies than on the product and its cost and quality. So again, the total cost will be higher and the timeline longer, but the products will eventually come in some form.
For now, short-range and expensive. Toys for the gadget freak, the well-to-do, the innovator, and the poser.
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A nice science project but $19,000 for a vehicle that can only go 56 miles then needs hours to charge is just not ready for prime time yet.
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Living the Life Electric With the Zero DS
By Hell For Leather
May 4, 2012 |
6:15 am |
Categories: EVs and Hybrids, Motorcycles
Read the article on using a ZERO here: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/bike-life-electric/ (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/bike-life-electric/)
Quick points -
Truth #1: Sixty miles is about as much as you’ll want to rely on.
Truth #2: Even with a quick charger, full recharges take five hours.
Truth #3: Easily accessible outdoor outlets are much harder to find than you think.
Truth #4: Plugging in for 45 minutes here or an hour there at some random outlet (the quick charger is too big to conveniently take with you) does absolutely nothing.
Truth #4: Distances aren’t one way when you can only really charge at home. A 10-mile journey has to be thought of as 20 miles, or one-third the 9kWh Zero’s effective range. That’s right, something that’s 10 miles away is one-third of your maximum reliable travel distance. You can travel there three times a day max and, once you’re there, your next move has to be limited accordingly.
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I agree not practicle today but as battery and motor technologies improve and price point decreases we'll see more of them.
One thing we can't debate, those things do haul #$@ while they're charged!
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Our dealer is taking orders...curious on thoughts?
http://eurocyclesoftampabay.com/the-brammo-electric-motorcycle-we-are-taking-orders-now/ (http://eurocyclesoftampabay.com/the-brammo-electric-motorcycle-we-are-taking-orders-now/)
None, nada, zilch.
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The Big drawback, they don't make enough noise to save your life. :)
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The Big drawback, they don't make enough noise to save your life. :)
yeah, Hardly-Ableson riders and one or two others others may suggest "loud pipes save lives"
But facts and every state's compiled statistical data prove otherwise (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/badteeth.gif)
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Not enough range for my daily commute. However, if they would let me recharge it at work...........
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I would be interested in a hybrid for sure.
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I would be interested in a hybrid for sure.
Diesel/electric skip the batteries?
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A gas electric hybrid bike would be best for a straight touring bike not a sport touring. A Gold Wing that used the toyota hsd system would get great gas mileage, I bet above 70 MPG.
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A gas electric hybrid bike would be best for a straight touring bike not a sport touring. A Gold Wing that used the toyota hsd system would get great gas mileage, I bet above 70 MPG.
Give it time!
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Not enough range for my daily commute. However, if they would let me recharge it at work...........
+1 I go 28 miles one way at 70mph, would need to charge at work....
Why water cooled? Is it that hot, I would think that the water pump would be just one more drain on the battery?
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Things we could no longer ask on the forum:
What kind of oil should I use?
How do I get the carbs off?
Premium or regular?
What does "baffle-ectomoy" mean?
My cams are pitted..!!!!
What would we argue talk about? It might mean the end of the interweb as we know it.
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I'm probably the outcast but I'm gonna say no, sorry don't have any interest in this until they are faster than gas powered machines... :(
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yeah, Hardly-Ableson riders and one or two others others may suggest "loud pipes save lives"
But facts and every state's compiled statistical data prove otherwise (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/badteeth.gif)
I do love that emoticon ! ;D
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I'm probably the outcast but I'm gonna say no, sorry don't have any interest in this until they are faster than gas powered machines... :(
Not fast? 6.94/201.37 quartermile
http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=27894 (http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=27894)
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I looked at Zero. Never got out to ride them but my 6 miles commute to work would be covered. Thing i worried about was battery degradation. 60 miles now, what about a year from now? And a new battery pack although replaceable would probably be in the thousands. I still haven't bought that turbo for my Z. what are the changes of dropping 2K on a cheap electric commuter.
Plus i have 60 amp service at home. I can barley run the microwave with Christmas lights on.
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I looked at Zero. Never got out to ride them but my 6 miles commute to work would be covered. Thing i worried about was battery degradation. 60 miles now, what about a year from now? And a new battery pack although replaceable would probably be in the thousands. I still haven't bought that turbo for my Z. what are the changes of dropping 2K on a cheap electric commuter.
Plus i have 60 amp service at home. I can barley run the microwave with Christmas lights on.
60 amp service :yikes: :yikes: Damn was your home built by Fisher Price?
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National Electric Drag Racing Association
http://www.nedra.com/ (http://www.nedra.com/)
Some very cool vids of the Lawless/OCC drag bike. 8)
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I'm kinda looking forward to the practical use of electric vehicles. I've read that manufacturers are going to be installing some sort of sound generator for low speed operation because apparently pedestrians can't hear them coming. Think of the aftermarket support for such a requirement. Instead of straight pipes you'll have mega-speakers sticking out the sides. All of the sound choices would be amazing. I'm going to choose the flying-saucer sound from the old TV series UFO.
http://ufoseries.com/soundEffects/index.html (http://ufoseries.com/soundEffects/index.html)
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I want the sound of a playing card against spokes...
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I want the sound of a playing card against spokes...
Try this: http://www.ehow.com/how_6210016_put-cards-bicycle-spokes.html (http://www.ehow.com/how_6210016_put-cards-bicycle-spokes.html)
To get this: http://youtu.be/2tvLe-_TPRY (http://youtu.be/2tvLe-_TPRY)
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60 amp service :yikes: :yikes: Damn was your home built by Fisher Price?
Built in the late 1800's by Portland Cement in the Lehigh Valley. Still has the original Knob and Tube wiring. Wreaks havoc on wifi signals. ::) I guess they used more candles back then. And I'm not sure how many watts there computer graphics cards used but they must have only had one computer per household or something???
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Try this: http://www.ehow.com/how_6210016_put-cards-bicycle-spokes.html (http://www.ehow.com/how_6210016_put-cards-bicycle-spokes.html)
To get this: http://youtu.be/2tvLe-_TPRY (http://youtu.be/2tvLe-_TPRY)
That's awesome. Don't know what sounded better, the playing cards or the girls cackling!!
I preferred the deeper tone of using a small balloon, clothes pinned to the frame, over the playing card sound.
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Excellent!
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Things we could no longer ask on the forum:
What kind of oil should I use?
How do I get the carbs off?
Premium or regular?
What does "baffle-ectomoy" mean?
My cams are pitted..!!!!
What would we argue talk about? It might mean the end of the interweb as we know it.
There would be plenty:
What kind of dialectic grease do you use?
I had one cell go out, can I just replace that one cell or do I spring $7000 for a whole new battery pack?
Is it really worth $600 for gold terminals and large cables?
Where can I get my motor controller re-flashed?
Don't kid yourself its still a machine subject to breakdowns and customization.
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There would be plenty:
What kind of dialectic grease do you use?
I had one cell go out, can I just replace that one cell or do I spring $7000 for a whole new battery pack?
Is it really worth $600 for gold terminals and large cables?
Where can I get my motor controller re-flashed?
Don't kid yourself its still a machine subject to breakdowns and customization.
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/bigthumb.gif)
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If you had a Bremmo owners group you could have a rally. I can just see it:
Come to the Arkansas BOG rally
We will start in Little Rock at the river front park and ride all the way to
the Holiday Inn in Pine Bluff
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What kind of dialectic grease do you use?
Either this one, or that one.
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If you had a Bremmo owners group you could have a rally. I can just see it:
Come to the Arkansas BOG rally
We will start in Little Rock at the river front park and ride all the way to the Holiday Inn in Pine Bluff.
You will find that the BOG will farkle their bikes extensively. Like this pic to catch sun's rays to ride forever. YMMV in Seattle. :)
(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/06/sunred-solar-bike.jpg)
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Here's home-built Ninja. 40 mph, 18 mile range, 8 hr charge. WOO HOO!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170849389497&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170849389497&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123)
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I'm waiting until they get the kinks out of broadcast power.. Either that, or my own little nuclear reactor.
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Electric is about to kick arse in the best racing known to man.
Making its debut at the 2012 Isle of Man TT, the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc was unveiled today, ahead of the first TT Zero practice session on Saturday. Campaigned again by the Segway MotoCzysz Racing Team, the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc is based heavily off its 2011 counterpart, but with obvious aerodynamic changes, as well as subtle system improvements. Boasting 200+ peak horsepower and 14kWh of battery pack, the new MotoCzysz E1pc tips the scales at 525 lbs — a full 45 lbs lighter than its main competitor, the Mugen Shinden.
Defending his #1 plate, Michael Rutter returns to Team Segway MotoCzysz, as well as American Mark Miller, who has been with the squad since its first TT race four years ago. Unlike last year, both riders will be on the same spec race bike, as MotoCzysz is racing to be the first team to crack the 100 mph average lap speed barrier. The Isle of Man government has put up £10,000 to the first rider to crack the 100 mph mark, which nearly went to Rutter in the 2011 SES TT Zero race.
Noticeably apparent on the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc are the aerodynamic fins and ducts, which the team has developed through the use of Solidworks, and hopes will help make the Ep1c slip through the air on the Mountain Course with ease. Since wind resistance is a square-function when velocity doubles, MotoCzysz has placed a high priority on aerodynamics for the 2012 season.
“We had to look for the areas that would be easiest for us to go faster,” explained MotoCzysz CEO and Team Principal Michael Czysz. “We’ve done a pretty good job of elevating the drive system, the chassis,and the suspension. So we could go back and attack those things again, or we could work on the aerodynamics, which we’ve never really touched. We did little hints, and we tried little bits last year, but we really never studied it — we’ve just always had bigger problems to deal with first.”
Making refinements to the 2011 design, MotoCzysz returns with its under-tank suspension design, which uses two shocks with forward and aft linkages to facilitate the front forks and swingarm suspension duties. Other improvements have been made to the bike’s electric drivetrain, which include increased efficiencies, more accessible packaging, and better mass-centralization.
“We’ve done a lot of what we call connectivities and interconnections…they are all small changes, and that’s what happens. Look at it this way: let’s say we do 100, 102, or 104 mph this year. It is going to be hard to add another 5 mph next year, and another 5 mph the year after that. It gets more difficult obviously, and it’s the same thing we’re talking about with these components. It was easy the first couple of years to make big adjustments, but there weren’t those big obvious ones to make this year, just lots of little ones.”
“Physically the battery pack is slightly bigger, but that’s because we have changed some dimensions for other dimensions. We don’t have air flowing through it this year, so we’ve had to make up that cross-sectional area. We’ve also done a much better job of cooling our batteries, which has meant doing some thermal stuff inside the batteries.”
Though the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc has been tested prior to its arrival on the Isle, tomorrow’s practice is the first chance Rutter and Miller will have to swing a leg over the machine. Talking to Michael Czysz about the TT fortnight, he said biggest hurdle will be setting up the bikes to each rider’s specifications in only two mountain passes. Helping the two Segway MotoCzysz Racing riders conquer the Mountain Course is an upgraded systems dash, which will better communicate the pace of the rider in relation to the course, and what is occurring on the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc.
“We’re communicating to the riders very simple, clean, and efficient strategies on what they can do with the bike — and that’s on-the-fly as they go,” said Czysz. “This is really one of our secret sauces this year.”
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Is this being televised?
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Is this being televised?
Doubt it. I have to follow it over the internetz. :'(