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Scott
06-19-2014, 08:33 PM
Harley badged this as a Buell?

Since Harley still owns the Buell name and trademark, I believe they could call this a Buell . . . and create a whole new line of Buell sportbikes if they wanted to.

On the other hand, since electric bikes are still heavy and slow compared to traditional bikes, it could fit nicely into the Harley family. :lol:

Doosh
06-20-2014, 10:08 AM
Eh.

Electric bikes are probably the future. I can't wait to race one, but like you said, they lack R&D and solving some tough issues (energy density, among others) before they are "fun".

Scott
06-20-2014, 10:37 AM
Eh.

Electric bikes are probably the future. I can't wait to race one, but like you said, they lack R&D and solving some tough issues (energy density, among others) before they are "fun".

I suspect that this bike is similar to the VR1000 for Harley: "Look at this cool thing our engineers can do. See? We're not stuck in the past. Now go buy one of those crappy bikes we actually have in the showroom."

Ed / AF1 Racing
06-20-2014, 02:43 PM
e-bikes really aren't any heavier than gas bikes. We've been selling Zero Electric MCs since 2011. They have come a long way. The newest ones have a 171mile range, and go dang near 100mph. They weigh just over 400lbs which is right inline with other street bikes. The Zero batteries are more energy dense than the Tesla batteries.

Silent, direct drive and really quite quick for what they are.

Doosh
06-20-2014, 02:50 PM
That's a lot better than I expected!

So, in real world conditions doing a real world sport ride, would I expect to get around 120 miles out of it? That's about what I can expect out of the modern crop of gas powered sport bikes at 400lbs.

Ed / AF1 Racing
06-20-2014, 02:57 PM
real close.....their quoted range is more of a city use. A constant 70mph would burn the batt down way faster. Range has never been an issue, as you can plug in anytime to charge. 110V charger with charger onboard. 20 minutes of charge time really boosts it up.



range
ZERO S zf8.5
ZERO S zf11.4
ZERO S ZF11.4 +Power Tank


Cityhttp://www.zeromotorcycles.com/images/buttons/zmtip-trans.png
103 miles (165 km)
137 miles (220 km)
171 miles (276 km)


Highway, 55 mph (88 km/h)http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/images/buttons/zmtip-trans.png
64 miles (103 km)
85 miles (137 km)
106 miles (171 km)


» Combinedhttp://www.zeromotorcycles.com/images/buttons/zmtip-trans.png
79 miles (127 km)
105 miles (169 km)
131 miles (211 km)


Highway, 70 mph (112 km/h)http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/images/buttons/zmtip-trans.png
53 miles (84 km)
70 miles (113 km)
88 miles (141 km)


» Combinedhttp://www.zeromotorcycles.com/images/buttons/zmtip-trans.png
69 miles (112 km)
93 miles (149 km)
116 miles (186 km






That's a lot better than I expected!

So, in real world conditions doing a real world sport ride, would I expect to get around 120 miles out of it? That's about what I can expect out of the modern crop of gas powered sport bikes at 400lbs.

Scott
06-20-2014, 03:15 PM
e-bikes really aren't any heavier than gas bikes. We've been selling Zero Electric MCs since 2011. They have come a long way. The newest ones have a 171mile range, and go dang near 100mph. They weigh just over 400lbs which is right inline with other street bikes. The Zero batteries are more energy dense than the Tesla batteries.

Silent, direct drive and really quite quick for what they are.

:thumb:

They're definitely improving each year, but I think, realistically, it seems like we're still talking about a bike that has the physical size and performance of a 250 with the weight closer to a liter-bike. But I would like to ride one sometime to get a feel for how that electric motor pulls from zero. In terms of having all that torque immediately available, it must have a very different feel to anything I've ever ridden.

Ed / AF1 Racing
06-20-2014, 03:43 PM
I'd put it closer to a 500-600cc bike....faster than a ninja 500 for sure and weighs the same. Not 600cc sportbike fast, but not slow. I took our 2012 to a trackday. I was passing lots of 1000s in the C group. Top speed was the main drawback at Texas World Speedway. It would do 5-7 laps, charge for 25 minutes, and I could do another 5-7 laps.