Grace: An Electric Motorcycle Disguised as a Bike

[UFO]

I thought this was pretty cool.  Not really motorcycle or sport-touring related but it does have an engine and two wheels.  What is cool is having an oversized mountain bike capable of 40 mph, going 25 miles before recharge, and only costing $1.40 per 100 miles to operate.  What's not cool?  The $8800 price tag!!



The Li-ion battery powered bike can hit 45km/h (28mph), powered by a 1.3KW motor (this is actually limited by law — some hacking will get you up to 65km/h, or 40mph), and it will run for an average of 25 miles before needing a recharge. To stop you again, the stiff aluminum bike is equipped with disk brakes front and rear.

Read the full article at Wired.

[county]

  Not really motorcycle or sport-touring related ...

Well, that's about the attitude I'd expect from someone who thinks a sport-tourer needs to weigh in over 600 pounds.

[UFO]

Man, you are one lost and confused little boy aren't you.

[Schneegz]

 it does have an engine and two wheels.  

No, it has a motor and two wheels, as opposed to an internal combustion engine.  

But seriously, I've been thinking lately that a dual suspension mountain bike frame with an electric motor would make a great commuter bike.  I'd mount the motor where the crank normally sits - as opposed to the wheel hub as in this design - and use a belt to drive the wheel.  Trek even has a hub with an internal transmission that is driven by a belt.  The battery pack could fit between the top and bottom tubes.

Think of something like this as a starting point.

[Brad1445]

I came across this one today.

Electric motorbike designer on 'Enertia'

Nov. 18: Brian Wismann explains the difference between his electric motorcycle and more aggressive gas-guzzlers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/34025022#34025022

[county]

Man, you are one lost and confused little boy aren't you.

Well, that's about the response I'd expect from someone who's nearsighted and has tunnel vision.

[coho]

How about an electric bicycle disguised as a motorcycle.
You have to pedal, but thanks to electricity and gearing trickery it goes 50mph.
And since you have to pedal to make it go, its range is until you choose to stop.

http://www.erockit.net/en/

[Oilhed]

I'm a big fan of this "Vintage" motor bike http://www.ridleymotorcycles.com/motorbike/1903.htm

[MK96xj]

Or we could actually ride bicycles and burn calories in stead of fuel or use electricity. What a concept

[jesse0192]

Or we could actually ride bicycles and burn calories in stead of fuel or use electricity. What a concept

Why?  Use electricity, save effort, and take diet pills  

[TuffguyF4i]

Interesting bike...

Is that an emergency blanket that model is wearing?  

[Schneegz]

Or we could actually ride bicycles and burn calories in stead of fuel or use electricity. What a concept

Way to stifle innovation there, Luddite.  

[JustCallMeChris]

Man, you are one lost and confused little boy aren't you.

He's the BSL of sport-touring definitions.

[UFO]

No, it has a motor and two wheels, as opposed to an internal combustion engine.  

No, an electric motor is an engine.  A motor is a subset of the broader "engine."

[JustCallMeChris]

No, an electric motor is an engine.  A motor is a subset of the broader "engine."

Agreed.

mo⋅tor [moh-ter]
–noun
1.    a comparatively small and powerful engine, esp. an internal-combustion engine in an automobile, motorboat, or the like.
2.    any self-powered vehicle.
3.    a person or thing that imparts motion, esp. a contrivance, as a steam engine, that receives and modifies energy from some natural source in order to utilize it in driving machinery.
4.    Also called electric motor. Electricity. a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, as an induction motor.
5.    motors, stocks or bonds in automobile companies.

I think it's accepted to use 'motor' when describing a simple system (electric motors, for instance) that have few moving parts, and 'engine' for the more complex systems.

The term "motorcycle" or "motorbike" is contradictory to that, of course, but it's an oversight we all seem to readily accept. I'm guessing because engine-powered cycles started out as such simple, small, rather primitive appliances.

[scramblerracer123]

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/mcy/1471574060.html

[shah269]

Nice nice...and what is her name and is she single?
Oh wait there was a bike in that picture?  

[sammyseaman]

Or we could actually ride bicycles and burn calories in stead of fuel or use electricity. What a concept

Children ride bicycles  . Real adults roller skate if they wanna burn calories  

[Dan K]

I used to love riding bicycles....until I got my M endorsement.  Now I prefer bikes without pedals, altho I do ride the human powered cycle with my kids.

And that's WAY pricey....don't they sell bicycle conversion kits for WAY less? Or is that only gas driven as opposed to electric...

- Dan

[leveredge]

Nice nice...and what is her name and is she single?
Oh wait there was a bike in that picture?  

She will just want you to give up riding real motorcycles. Then you must dump her. Quick. See. I saved you some time!