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Pete. |
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 Pete. Super Spammer

Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :     
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 Posted: 19:20 - 17 Mar 2022 Post subject: When will we get an EV commuter bike with decent range? |
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I'm really getting into the idea of an EV bike for work but there's nothing out there that really floats my boat. What I want is:
80-100 foot pounds of torque
200 miles range or at least 160 miles.
Proper 'big bike' size and shape.
I love my BMW boxer for it's road manners and longevity but it's getting very long in the tooth now and I'm trying to make it hang on until something electric becomes available that is suitable to me.
I want something that will soak up both town riding and motorways/fast road. 90% of my work is in London so up to 30 miles each way but sometimes I have to travel further like 4 months I did in Watford so just over 100 miles round trip, plus I want at least 50% overhead.
I don't want any of the yank offerings like Zero purely and simply because I want all metric fasteners on my bike. Not interested in stoopid performance figures either I'd happily trade top speed for range.
What is there that comes close? ____________________ a.k.a 'Geri'
132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good  |
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MarJay |
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 MarJay But it's British!

Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :     
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 Posted: 19:35 - 17 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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The theory is that electric motorcycles will just be electric bicycles. The current thing for building electric bikes that are like big motorcycles is just to keep us olds calm while the electric revolution takes over.
That said, Triumph are working on their Electric Speed Triple thing which should have a good range and power:
https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/for-the-ride/brand/project-triumph-te-1/phase-3 ____________________ British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another. |
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Pete. |
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 Pete. Super Spammer

Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :     
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Kawasaki Jimbo |
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 Kawasaki Jimbo World Chat Champion

Joined: 09 Oct 2015 Karma :    
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 Posted: 20:05 - 17 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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Until a new battery chemistry emerges (and after a century of research I wouldn’t hold your breath, I think it’s a spent endeavour) vehicle manufacturers are just fiddling at the edges to claim 2-3% of “industry-leading” performance, and that’s still a choice between range and performance, not both as the blurb likes to imply.
That said, I surprised myself recently by considering a house move slightly further away from work and offsetting it with a second-hand electric shit-box. Taking advantage before EVs are inevitably taxed to the max. I didn’t though. One has one’s standards.
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Easy-X |
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 Easy-X Super Spammer

Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Karma :   
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 Posted: 20:46 - 17 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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We could have electric motorbikes with better range but the manufacturers don't seem to want to make them. Maybe it's the R&D costs that dictate they only chase the high end of the market  ____________________ Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter |
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MarJay |
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 MarJay But it's British!

Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :     
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MCN |
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 MCN Super Spammer

Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :   
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Ayrton |
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 Ayrton World Chat Champion

Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Karma :  
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Pete. |
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 Pete. Super Spammer

Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :     
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Easy-X |
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 Easy-X Super Spammer

Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Karma :   
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 Posted: 23:55 - 17 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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Ayrton wrote: | Easy-X wrote: | We could have electric motorbikes with better range but the manufacturers don't seem to want to make them. Maybe it's the R&D costs that dictate they only chase the high end of the market  |
I'm sceptical that it can be achieved without making super heavy bikes. The zero sr/s for example is already 230kg with just a 100 mile range.
Zero offer a "power tank" that extends the bikes range and that adds an extra 20kg.
https://zeromanual.com/wiki/Power_Tank |
Wrong direction: make the bikes lighter!
If your checklist is something like must do 100mph, must have >100 mile range, must look like a traditional motorbike, etc. then you'd be out of luck but go the other way...
Something that does maybe 60mph and has a light, carbon fibre or titanium frame, leaning towards more of a bicycle style of construction would maximise the energy to weight ratio. Okay, so it'll fold like a twig in the event of a prang but no one's mention safety so far in this thread  ____________________ Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter |
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Pete. |
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 Pete. Super Spammer

Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :     
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sickpup |
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 sickpup Old Timer

Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :     
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xX-Alex-Xx |
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 xX-Alex-Xx World Chat Champion
Joined: 12 Sep 2019 Karma :   
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Fat Angry Scotsman |
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 Fat Angry Scotsman World Chat Champion

Joined: 12 Jan 2021 Karma :     
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 Posted: 09:53 - 18 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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Pete. wrote: | Why should that be so? A Tesla is the same proportions as any other car, I want a bike that's the same proportions as any other bike, just electric. I don't see the sense in losing battery capacity in the name of weight saving. |
Unfortunately the limiting factor is energy density. You cannot beat the laws of thermodynamics. The pinnacle of Li-ion battery technology caps out around 670 Wh/L (petrol is 8,760 Wh/L).
The battery in the Tesla Model 3 Long Range is comprised of four battery modules which are each 1,850 x 290 x 90 mm in dimensions. Obviously the entire volume of the battery cannot possibly be used for storing energy, but for the purpose of simplicity lets just assume it can. The volume of each module is 48,285,000 mm^3 or 48.285 L. That means in this simplified form the volume of the entire battery is 193.14 L.
As such the maximum possible energy capacity 650 Wh/L x 193.14 L = 125541 Wh (125.541 kWh). As you can see, since the actual battery in reality is only 75 kWh, a significant amount of the volume of the battery does not hold any energy at all.
Now let's look at the engine size of a 650cc motorcycle, we will use mine the Kawasaki ER-6F. It takes up probably half of the whole interior space inside the frame. For simplicity lets assume that because you won't need radiators, etc you can use the entire void in the frame for an electric bike. The bike dimensions are 2,105 x 760 x 1,210 mm, lets say 30% of the volume is usable, it's not in reality - nowhere near it but it's better to over-estimate anyway and give everything the benefit of the doubt.
Bike volume is 193,575,800 mm^3. Now consider that we already worked out the volume of the whole fucking Tesla battery and it's almost the same as the entire volume of a motorcycle and weights 480 kg! Anyway, back to our example, 30% of the volume equate to a maximum possible battery volume of 64.5 L.
Thus the maximum possible battery capacity would be 64.5 L x 670 Wh/L = 43,215 Wh (43 kWh). Now consider the reduction in theoretical capacity of the Tesla battery with the real-world capacity and the bike battery is now around 26 kWh.
We have over-estimated absolutely everything so far and still can only get 26 kWh in the best-of-the-best-of-the-best scenarios. The current fastest electric motorcycle in the world is the LS-218 with a stated range of 100 - 120 miles and that is with the 20 kWh battery option.
There really isn't much more possible range than what is already available. Motorcycles struggle with two critical problems - volumetric capacity and the fucking weight of the batteries. ____________________ PRESENT: 2018 BMW S1000XR SE Sport.
PAST: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6F. 2021 Zontes ZT-125U. |
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A100man |
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 A100man World Chat Champion

Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :   
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Easy-X |
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 Easy-X Super Spammer

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Fat Angry Scotsman |
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 Fat Angry Scotsman World Chat Champion

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xX-Alex-Xx |
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 xX-Alex-Xx World Chat Champion
Joined: 12 Sep 2019 Karma :   
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Londoner2015 |
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 Londoner2015 Spanner Monkey
Joined: 09 Nov 2015 Karma :  
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 Posted: 23:16 - 18 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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OP, my very personal crystal ball says never
The range of electric motorcycles can already make sense for most (not all) commuters. But the problems remain cost and charging points.
Most people in a city like London do not have a driveway where to charge every couple of days. With an electric car you can charge overnight in a public charging point every few weeks (depending on mileage, obviously). With an electric motorcycles you'd charge way more frequently, but, since each charge lasts less than a car, you cannot leave it overnight without paying the idle fee many points charge. Do you want to come back from work, park at a charging point, start charging, walk home, then after 3-4 hours go back, disconnect the bike and move it? Too much hassle for me.
The Silence S01 is a 125cc equivalent scooter, with a cool removable battery on a trolley. But I doubt you can do the same for a Zero.
For motorcycles to be used outside the city, the range is simply not there. Will we get there? Well, some revolutionary discovery is always possible, but I doubt it. You can't really squeeze more power in the same space, nor do motorcycles offer plenty of room to add more battery.
Ah, watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2zlYpy6QCM |
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Pete. |
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 Pete. Super Spammer

Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :     
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 Posted: 11:51 - 19 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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I can put up to a 7kw charging point at home so that isn't a problem. I couldeven put a solar array on my workshop roof but that would only gain me free charges on the weekend or a bit in the summer coz the sun doesn't shine at night.
As for that video, I was hoping that it would contain something useful but it didn't really. ____________________ a.k.a 'Geri'
132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good  |
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temeluchus |
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 temeluchus World Chat Champion

Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :    
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Polarbear |
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 Polarbear Super Spammer

Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :  
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 Posted: 03:55 - 21 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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Wifie has a 50 mile round trip for work and it's getting expensive in her Ford Torneo 1.5 litre with the price of fuel.
We looked at electric cars but the initial outlay means donkeys years until she would break even let alone make money so she looked at using our Fazer hack but even that isn't hugly fuel saving although obviously a lot quicker (and less convenient for her).
We have pretty well decided on a cheap sh1t box eco city car just for that use and sell the Jag and I use the Torneo day to day(her idea )
An electric bike with a hundred mile range would be a viable option but I'm seriously not spending Street twin money on a shitty Zero or similar. ____________________ Triumph Trophy Launch Edition |
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G |
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 G The Voice of Reason
Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :     
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Diggs |
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 Diggs World Chat Champion

Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Karma :   
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 Posted: 16:06 - 21 Mar 2022 Post subject: |
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Quote: | Surely a role for you in the next Star Trek remake.
I am happy to cement my place in history as the most foul-mouthed character ever
" awrite Captin ya fuckin' cunt?" |
As a fat, angry Scotsman you would also be entitled to tell the old Star Trek joke in your accent:
Why is Uhuru black?
Because William Shatner...
followed by
Captain's log.... ____________________ Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting... |
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Easy-X |
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 Easy-X Super Spammer

Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Karma :   
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 3 years, 52 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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