.....................would you buy it? :smile: And if so why? And if not why not? (Though I probably know the answer/s to this already) :tongue:
I would only consider an electric bike for riding round the city... assuming that it wouldn't cost more than a couple of grand, had decent performance and looks... I think I'll probably have to wait for a while
Electric bikes are a non starter, the energy density makes it non viable versus petrol which has 100 times as much energy by weight. Apart from that if it doesn't go SUCK SQUEEZE BANG BLOW i ain't interested
A Ducati electric bike wouldn't have the range of a Jap one. Half the battery power would be used up powering the massive speakers with the Termi soundtrack you'd have to have :biggrin:
Smoking used to look cool/sophisticated years ago. It no longer has that association to the majority or punters these days. While the sound of an internal combustion engine is evocative for many I think it will eventually go the way of smoking. I'm quite open to change, and if an electric bike looked gorgeous AND had the performance and range of a traditional bike, I'd be interested. If they bested combustion engine bikes in terms of performance even better. That's some way off though. TL/DR: I have no objection in principal.
If the performance and character were the same as my 1098s and cost the same to run. Yep. Until then, nope
I think electric transport of any sort will only become mainstream when battery tech fully matures and there are standard batteries available from different manufacturers. The main issue with electric IMO is the recharge time - regardless what the range is. Imagine pulling up to a refuling station and an attendant takes your old battery out, puts it on the recharge rack and drops in a freshly charged one. And off you go for another 200 miles. Or wireless under-road charging. Pay a toll and drive along a stretch of motorway that recharges your vehicle as you go.
yes I would if or when fuel becomes too expensive or impractical for day to day use I would never have seen myself selling my V6 Alfa and buying a Aygo 10 years ago either
For once age is on my side. I very much doubt I will see a mainstream electrickety motorbike in my life time, thank the lord. if they ever do become mainstream the most common phrase will be "silent but deadly"
There is a lot to be said for electric motors, they have few moving parts and produce high torque at low rpm. Batteries are improving all the time and charge time is more a question of how much current you can dump into the battery. Similarly on range, you can go fast for a short time or slowly for a longer time. But the answer to the question is no, I would not buy one, even one built by Ducati. I ride a bike for pleasure and not as a means of transport, but if I did then I would consider it, once the battery questions are resolved.
Well, i doubt it'll happen soon enough to worry about as they still cant get a bastard starter motor to turn reliably yet and that technology's about 80 years old.
But Ducati already make electric bikes... Ducati spy shot Electric bike | road.cc | Road cycling news, Bike reviews, Commuting, Leisure riding, Sportives and more Oh, you mean an electric motorbike? Oh god yes! As a bit of a techno-nerd, I'd love to build an electric bike, but having a Ducati one would be awesome. I was seriously tempted to have a bash at making my own having read this... http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=15233
Oh hell, is that a timing belt I see???? Re electic whatsnames, I love variety, wouldn't own a 999S and a '13 BMW GS and others if I didn't, and I've booked a test ride at the BMW bash at Garmisch Partenkirchen next month of the not yet released electric version of BMW's big scoot. Should be a larf. I'd add one to my bikes if they had 100miles range at 75mph. Probably be past the 2 wheeled malarky by then.
Termi could get round the silence by making lolly sticks to put in the spokes , of course there would have to be a selection of carbon , titanuim or polished aluminium
Lets see what the technology is like in another 5 years - if the IOM Zero races are anything to go by, where the lap speeds have gone up from 96 to 109mph in 3 years and reliability increased it may be worth considering - assuming costs have reduced by then, as with anything new.
