Electric Vehicles

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by svenrico

Isn't a big part of motorcycling the character of the engine of the bike you are riding ?! I just don't see much character in an electric motor.

I wear earplugs so the "character" doesn't intrude! For me, it's the acceleration and the quieter the bike, the more effortless the acceleration seems so a faint hum from a motor would be perfect. I'd miss changing gear but I'd get over it.

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by svenrico

Isn't a big part of motorcycling the character of the engine of the bike you are riding ?! I just don't see much character in an electric motor.

nope.. for me my bike is a tool. its takes me places quicker and easier than a car and its fun. i like the idea of a silent smooth motorcycle.

when you go out for 300+ miles in a day runs the sound of loud exhausts just starts to pizz you off.

[Ruffy]

Originally Posted by svenrico

Isn't a big part of motorcycling the character of the engine of the bike you are riding ?! I just don't see much character in an electric motor.

If by "character" you mean feel rather than noise, then that character could be programmed in to the drive system - drive electronics can be made to give pretty much whichever torque curve you want to have (within the motor's overall core capability).

Originally Posted by Seeker

... I'd miss changing gear but I'd get over it.

Also, there's no absolute necessity to do away with a mechanical gearbox (drivetrain efficiency loss notwithstanding). It could be engineered to cope with a different primary input speed range.

There's already talk of artificial sound being incorporated, for safety of other road users (who expect to hear vehicles) as well as retaining driver-desired 'character'.

These may be the sort of marketing developments that become more commonplace in the future?

[svenrico]

Well , there is more than just the sound that gives a motorcycle engine character. Different types of engine, triples, V twins, 4 cylinder etc , all have different characters. I thought all motorcyclists understood that !

[daktulos]

Originally Posted by svenrico

Well , there is more than just the sound that gives a motorcycle engine character. Different types of engine, triples, V twins, 4 cylinder etc , all have different characters. I thought all motorcyclists understood that !

Electric bikes have their own character, too. I know people have preferences, but I've never met someone who said "I only ride twins, I'd never ride a triple as I don't like its character".

[SV650rules]

Originally Posted by svenrico

Well , there is more than just the sound that gives a motorcycle engine character. Different types of engine, triples, V twins, 4 cylinder etc , all have different characters. I thought all motorcyclists understood that !

Everything is gonna become boring and vanilla, bikes will be like kitchen appliances ( I know some people prefer one make of microwave oven to another, but they all look and sound the same ) the only difference will be the tank badge ---- and if the fraudsters at Apple are an example then the bike software will get regular updates ( whether you want them or not ) and each one will slow the bike down. Every time you pass a speed sign the bike will automatically go to set speed and won't go any faster until you pass a higher one, and it that one is obscured by moss and bushes like the one by us - well you will do 30 all day.

[svenrico]

Originally Posted by daktulos

Electric bikes have their own character, too. I know people have preferences, but I've never met someone who said "I only ride twins, I'd never ride a triple as I don't like its character".

I didn't say that a rider only rides a bike with one particular type of engine! I've ridden singles, twins, triples, 4 cylinder as a lot of people will have.
What is happening though is that the only choice will be an electric motor.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by daktulos

Electric bikes have their own character, too. I know people have preferences, but I've never met someone who said "I only ride twins, I'd never ride a triple as I don't like its character".

To be honest, I might be that person but appreciate I'm a strange minority. (Not triples, but IL4's), I stick with twins though, ideally V format.

That said, I've heard good things about electric bikes! From a selfish 'fun' point of view over 'survival of the human race' I hope it doesn;t go the way SV650rules says - we're nearly there though with the AI cars and the blackboxes teenagers have in the i.c.e cars

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by Dave20046

I'm a strange minority

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by SV650rules

Every time you pass a speed sign the bike will automatically go to set speed and won't go any faster until you pass a higher one, and it that one is obscured by moss and bushes like the one by us - well you will do 30 all day.

i like the idea of automatically restricting speed in cities, towns and villages. oohh and the speed wont be set by signs it will be via GPS. my car already has a button to restrict the speed and has settings for 20, 30, etc.etc. do i use it? only in big cities where they keep changing the goal posts. having said that i think i might be getting a nip through the door as i passed a scamera van at 35 in Edin as it was on a hill and the speed restrictor dont work too well on hills.