Electric Motorbikes

[Dodgy69]

So hybrid motorcycles are no good then.

[Cousin Jack]

Hybrid cars are ace - but at different stuff than most motorcycles. You want smooth seamless quiet power, and good mpg? Think hybrid.

You want rorty power, real top end, and dgas about mpg? Forget hybrid.

[The Spin Doctor]

Depends how fast you drain the power!

Not really, no. That's what I've been saying.

Batteries aren't like fuel tanks. They're limited on capacity and power (sometimes called capability). If you want a 100bhp motor you need a battery that is also capable of supplying at least the equivalent 100bhp of electricity.

Small batteries can't do that. Its like having petrol tanks where the size of the pipe out is inextricably linked to the volume of the tank.

A 5bhp battery is never going to make a bike fast. Its true that electric motors make max torque at low rpm, but you still need to spin them up to make the vehicle move....which requires power.

OK, so why does the range on the Zero go down if you accelerate harder and ride faster? The answer is that you're drawing more power to do the necessary work.

I'm far from an expert on this, but as far as I'm aware big batteries are - at the moment at least - simply bigger assemblages of smaller batteries.

I believe there's also an issue to do with the internal structure of the battery not being able to discharge fully due to limitations in the rate at which the various chemicals or ions or something can actually be physically transported within the battery, if you're draining the battery very rapidly - as you would at full throttle and high speed. A more measured discharge actually gets to the 'bottom of the tank'.


I agree... I'm not really interested in a 45 mph scooter though it would make a lot of sense for commuting to work in c London... or despatching, quite honestly - I used a 10 hp Kawasaki for several years and it was a hoot in city centre traffic. But as I keep saying, you don't need 100 hp, let alone 200 to have a good ride. 10 hp gets you 60 mph on the flat. 30 hp is good for around 100 mph. 60 hp gets you to 120 or thereabouts.

30 hp was more than the RD250 put out... and it was hard to stop them wheelieing in first gear. That's thrust in action. If people were willing to forego silly and unusable top speeds, you can trade that for thrust.

[The Spin Doctor]

Hybrid cars are ace - but at different stuff than most motorcycles. You want smooth seamless quiet power, and good mpg? Think hybrid.

You want rorty power, real top end, and dgas about mpg? Forget hybrid.

What's the obsession with 'top end'?

My brother's Audi hybrid has quite remarkable acceleration thanks to the electric motors.

[Dodgy69]

If the success of E motorbikes depends on user friendly charging, then the short journeys and home charging is the winner.

Who's gonna leave an expensive bike outside some random charging point, where they can't keep an eye on it, just for the high top transit boys to chuck it in the back and make a good few quid.

Bikes are too easy to pinch and with no deterent they'll be laughing all the way. Would you even leave an Emtb out of your sight for more than a minute.

[The Spin Doctor]

If the success of E motorbikes depends on user friendly charging, then the short journeys and home charging is the winner.

Who's gonna leave an expensive bike outside some random charging point, where they can't keep an eye on it, just for the high top transit boys to chuck it in the back and make a good few quid.

Bikes are too easy to pinch and with no deterent they'll be laughing all the way. Would you even leave an Emtb out of your sight for more than a minute.

Secure charging points for PTWs is something FEMA are pushing for.

https://www.femamotorcycling.eu/motorcycle-charging/

[Cousin Jack]

What's the obsession with 'top end'?

My brother's Audi hybrid has quite remarkable acceleration thanks to the electric motors.

So has my Lexus hybrid. In the 0-30 stakes it will hold it's own against most 'sporty' stuff. What it won't do is compete at higher speeds, say 60-90 mph and upwards. It is however very comfortable and quiet, and delivers quite remarkable mpg for a 2.5 motor.

At low speeds/powers the electric motor adds very useful torque, at the top end the electric motor is more or less redundant.

[Tarmacsurfer]

As mentioned earlier, it's very unlikely we'll see swappable battery packs on anything more than an urban commuter.
On big bikes the pack could easily be 100kg and to make it generic enough for swapping between different model bikes it has to be cubed or similar. This means the bikes centre of gravity will be well out and it'll handle terrible. Something which is a key factor on motorbikes.

Solid state isn't too far away so be interesting to see how this improves charge time.

[MingtheMerciless]

Move over Li-Ion, Li-Sulphur is on the way.

Story here:

https://apple.news/AYkVhoEAuRRSm-wXp60evKg

[demographic]

Lad came through the estate where I was working on a lecky pushbike today, wasn't pedalling but he wasn't half hossing on a bit.
My guess would have been at least 40.

[Yorick]

Lad came through the estate where I was working on a lecky pushbike today, wasn't pedalling but he wasn't half hossing on a bit.
My guess would have been at least 40.

The one I hired yesterday topped out at 28 kph. Went faster with motor off.

[demographic]

This one sure as hell wasn't legal but it looked like fun.

[Yorick]

This one sure as hell wasn't legal but it looked like fun.

Seen some here with big fat tyres and almost look like a motorcycle

[Mr. Dazzle]

Lad came through the estate where I was working on a lecky pushbike today, wasn't pedalling but he wasn't half hossing on a bit.
My guess would have been at least 40.

There's a guy who rides along the cycle lane by my house, I really can't figure it out. He is riding a moped, but a moped in the literal sense in that you can pedal it and it has a petrol engine. He's wearing motorcycle gear but his bike has no plates and he never has the engine running.

He never goes on the road and he uses the pedestrian crossings to cross over.

I wanna ask him WTF his story is

[Taipan]

Lad came through the estate where I was working on a lecky pushbike today, wasn't pedalling but he wasn't half hossing on a bit.
My guess would have been at least 40.

The one I hired yesterday topped out at 28 kph. Went faster with motor off.

I have a G-Tech one and the assistance only kicks in when you go over a certain speed and you have 2 modes and one means it kicks in at higher speed. So I feel like I still get a bit of exercise when using it. I can't wait to get back out on it, assuming my spack knee will let me!



https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes ... lideshow=1

[Horse]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/hi ... ar-AAXw5U3

Electric bikes from ELEEK and Delfast are being outfitted for combat in Ukraine.

[Scootabout]

Lad came through the estate where I was working on a lecky pushbike today, wasn't pedalling but he wasn't half hossing on a bit.
My guess would have been at least 40.

Back in the 70s kids didn't want pedals on their mopeds but had to have them (legal requirement). Now it seems they want them (stealth) but don't have to - or at least wouldn't if they actually rode them legally.

[Deadpool2]

I like the concept and the livewire was lovely to ride. However, I really like using the clutch, gear lever etc and the whole act of balancing that.
If they could at least have something like a clutch to go into neutral, so I don't end up sitting at the lights worrying about twisting my wrist and throwing the bike and me into the junction.

[The Spin Doctor]

I like the concept and the livewire was lovely to ride. However, I really like using the clutch, gear lever etc and the whole act of balancing that.
If they could at least have something like a clutch to go into neutral, so I don't end up sitting at the lights worrying about twisting my wrist and throwing the bike and me into the junction.

Kawasaki have reportedly been working on a electric motorcycle with a four speed transmission.

The Horwin CR6 has a five speed box. https://www.horwin.eu/cr6/