The future is electric………….

[VNA]

Prototype electric BMW wastes existing S1000R

As proof of just how nifty this thing is, BMW put one of their test riders on an S1000R – no slouch itself with 162bhp on tap. But even the pro, saving absolutely no horses or clutch plates, couldn’t even come close to keeping muster with the relentless electric drive of the E-Power Roadster.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-...e-concept/

[VNA]

[Grahamm]

That's great (apart from the charging time), but it occurs to me that there's a problem I've not seen mentioned:

I'm no particular fan of the A2, A1, A bike licensing system, but I can understand the need for it, to stop new riders going out on machines that are too powerful for their skills and then finding out the hard way that they're not Valentino Rossi when they slam it into a tree.

With electric bikes, however, *all* machines will have the capability of the ridiculous acceleration that the one in the article demonstrates, so there will be no progression of 125, 600, 1000 for example.

Now, yes, you coud electronically "throttle" and limit the power to stop this, but I have little doubt that within a few weeks of these sorts of bike becoming mass market available at prices that people can afford, there will be aftermarket kits on eBay and Amazon allowing you to re-flash the system or simply bypass the restrictions and there's going to be a spate of young riders being scraped off the road and new calls for these "lethal machines" to be taken off the road.

I really don't know what can be done about this, because any restriction can be bypassed if you want to

[agricola]

OMG,  the leccy one looks awful

[VNA]

[BBROWN1664]

OMG,  the leccy one looks awful

Once theres a fairing and a fake underseat exhaust nobody would know

[mtread]

Looks OK apart from the cat litter tray underneath the 'tank'

[YamFazFan]

I'll just give up riding if they outlaw petrol engine motorbikes. Got zero interest in zero emission vehicles. I'd have to get an electric car though because I can't manage without one.

[Dudeofrude]

I'm no particular fan of the A2, A1, A bike licensing system, but I can understand the need for it, to stop new riders going out on machines that are too powerful for their skills and then finding out the hard way that they're not Valentino Rossi when they slam it into a tree.

Not really as the current system is only based on age. So if your 24 you can pass your test one day and then go out and jump on any 200+bhp bike the next. But if you are 23 then youd have to wait a year and take a retest... it's a shit system.

I've long thought it should just be a blanket restriction on everyone regardless of age. 47bhp for 2 years then automatic derestriction

As for electric vehicles, there are categories based on battery output so all they would need if a restriction to say a 12kw battery then a open to a 30kw etc etc

[BBROWN1664]

Not really as the current system is only based on age. So if your 24 you can pass your test one day and then go out and jump on any 200+bhp bike the next. But if you are 23 then youd have to wait a year and take a retest... it's a shit system.

Not quite. Age defines when you can jump straight on and take a test at that level but the limits are still there should you want to take the A1 or A2 test instead of the full A test once you are over 24. BTW, turn up on a 125 to take your test when you are 30+ and you will be stuck on a 125 after you pass too :pokefun

[Dudeofrude]

[quote author=Dudeofrude link=topic=25807.msg306437#msg306437 date=1575996909]

Not really as the current system is only based on age. So if your 24 you can pass your test one day and then go out and jump on any 200+bhp bike the next. But if you are 23 then youd have to wait a year and take a retest... it's a shit system.

Not quite. Age defines when you can jump straight on and take a test at that level but the limits are still there should you want to take the A1 or A2 test instead of the full A test once you are over 24. BTW, turn up on a 125 to take your test when you are 30+ and you will be stuck on a 125 after you pass too :pokefun
[/quote]

Yeah "if you want to",  realistically who is going to turn up and do a test on a restricted bike if they dont have to? Maybe the odd scooter rider but other than that it isnt going to happen.
I took my test under these rules at the age of 25 and the option of a restricted test was never even mentioned.

Only person I've ever known of taking a restricted test when they didn't need to was a poor short girl that took hers the same day as me who unfortunately wasn't tell enough to ride the er6 so had to take her test on a 500cc cruiser that was available. And again she really didn't want to but that's the only choice she had at the time due to her training school being under equipped.

Another friend of mine passed around 5 months ago at the age of 23, restricted to 47bhp, has had an er6 since. He turned 24 last week, passed his full test and has just bought a Honda Cbr1000rr ??
I'll be lucky if I see him again in one piece ?

[coffee]

Don't look to heavy that,does it ? don't think you'll be flip flopping around tight corners on that! :lol

[VNA]

It weighs 290kg but BMW say they will easily be able to trim at least 30kg off it.
What we really need is the next generation of battery technology.  If they can sus graphene battery technology for example.  Well that will slash weight and boost range no end.
Basically if graphene battery technology becomes reality then the internal combustion can be consigned to history.

[coffee]

Never heard of graphene tech,what's that some better kind of lythium or something completely different?

[VNA]

Best to google it bud.
Or grab your pencil and some Sellotape.  Wrap a bit of Sellotape around the pencil tip and remove – you now have graphene.
Graphene is a flat layer of carbon atoms tightly packed into a two-dimensional honeycomb arrangement.

[Grahamm]

[quote author=Grahamm link=topic=25807.msg306414#msg306414 date=1575982465]
I'm no particular fan of the A2, A1, A bike licensing system, but I can understand the need for it, to stop new riders going out on machines that are too powerful for their skills and then finding out the hard way that they're not Valentino Rossi when they slam it into a tree.

Not really as the current system is only based on age. So if your 24 you can pass your test one day and then go out and jump on any 200+bhp bike the next. But if you are 23 then youd have to wait a year and take a retest... it's a shit system.[/quote]

Yes, it's not perfect, but people's attitude to risk does change as they grow up, so it's better than nothing.

As for electric vehicles, there are categories based on battery output so all they would need if a restriction to say a 12kw battery then a open to a 30kw etc etc

Ok, that's something I wasn't aware of and it makes it a bit better, although I don't know whether aftermarket "higher output" batteries would make an appearance...

[Oldgit]

Never.

[bludclot]

I'll just give up riding if they outlaw petrol engine motorbikes. Got zero interest in zero emission vehicles.

Two comments on this:


1) Petrol engine motorbikes generally have one crucial performance advantage over cars and that's acceleration. If electric vehicles proliferate this advantage is likely to be eroded or even eradicated. I don't want to be on two wheels and the slowest thing on the road....


2) Zero emission vehicles do not exist. Mankind has not invented one yet or even come close. In much the same way that compact discs were 'perfect' sound quality and virtually indestructible when they came to market, this is a marketing phrase which, actually, is a complete misrepresentation.




There are many problems with fossil fuel vehicles, there are many problems with electric vehicles too, currently one of which is the attitude of many towards acceptance. (Me included, I run a (nearly) classic van for work which I have invested a large amount of time and money in, I am known for it locally and it alone wins me many jobs, I do not want to give it up.)

[agricola]

Government, local and national, will eventually legislate us off and out of our fossil fuelled machines. The cost of the electrically powered vehicles would have to come down significantly for most of us to be able to afford one, and the sheer size and weight of the power pack would have to shrink too, that should lead to them becoming a little easier on the eye.

[F4celess]

Would be interesting to view a Service schedule, for such an electric motorbike. What's involved, service interval, plus costs.
(not so much tyre wear, but electric motor / battery pack maintenance that might be found on such a machine).

It's not in the manufacturers interest to wave goodbye to you upon selling the bike. They hope you'll be returning frequently with your wallet in your hand (certainly to retain warranty, parts, etc).

Also some electric cars, you don't actually 'own' the battery pack, but are 'leasing' it. An additional regular payment.