Electric motorbikes

martyc5674

Seen a few on holidays that seemed to be able to keep up with traffic. Are there any/many here??... had bikes years back but nothing bigger than a 125 and never did a test and see it’s all changed now so I’d be restricted to the lower BHP anyway. (KW now I’m guessing)
Probably a pipe dream but if I got one we could get rid of a car at home so worth ruling it out first!!
Marty.

martyc5674

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Bikeworld have the SuperSoco TC which I was trying to get when I got my bike. Its basically a 125cc with a half decent range. Looks pretty cool too

Thanks... what kind of money are these retailing at???

SEPT 23 1989

Is it not all about the sound and the smell?

Game over when this junk takes over

martyc5674

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Is it not all about the sound and the smell?

Used to be for me ~25 years ago, now it’s about getting about as efficiently as possible!

listermint

Would love one. But they're mad money .

The Harley looks class. But again mad money.

Take one in a heartbeat tomorrow for free

martyc5674

listermint wrote: »

Would love one. But they're mad money .

The Harley looks class. But again mad money.

Take one in a heartbeat tomorrow for free

Well if they’re mad money they’re not for me!

galwaytt

martyc5674 wrote: »

Well if they’re mad money they’re not for me!

conventionalbikes are much cheaper.

galwaytt

listermint wrote: »

Would love one. But they're mad money .

The Harley looks class. But again mad money.

Take one in a heartbeat tomorrow for free

I'd love a Livewire - perfect for my commute.

martyc5674

galwaytt wrote: »

conventionalbikes are much cheaper.

Don’t want a petrol yoke tho...

CJhaughey

Zero are the only real game in town with a proven track record, Livewire might get big but all indications are that its very expensive for what it is.
There is a new Long Way coming with the Livewire featuring prominently as they travel up from Ushuia to LA but they neglect to mention the fleet of support vehicles and generating capacity that allows them to continue with the 100mi range of the Livewire.
It would be a very long film if they had to rely on South American charging facilities all the way to LA. which is 6000 odd miles.
Someone on here has a new Zero, they had a pic not too long ago.

zubair

Grumpy bike wizard got one a while back, he could fill you in on what they're like and where he got it etc. He had a few posts and a review video on here a while ago.

D3V!L

Just to put it into perspective, the Livewire is the same price as a Street Glide Special here. The SGS has a 114cu (1868cc) engine and takes good auld fashioned dino juice.

I know what I'd spend my money on even for commuting.

listermint

CJhaughey wrote: »

Zero are the only real game in town with a proven track record, Livewire might get big but all indications are that its very expensive for what it is.
There is a new Long Way coming with the Livewire featuring prominently as they travel up from Ushuia to LA but they neglect to mention the fleet of support vehicles and generating capacity that allows them to continue with the 100mi range of the Livewire.
It would be a very long film if they had to rely on South American charging facilities all the way to LA. which is 6000 odd miles.
Someone on here has a new Zero, they had a pic not too long ago.

The show should at least kick of interest and discussion on them.

It's a fine looking machine by all accounts the best looking electric out there. No offence to zero

listermint

D3V!L wrote: »

Just to put it into perspective, the Livewire is the same price as a Street Glide Special here. The SGS has a 114cu (1868cc) engine and takes good auld fashioned dino juice.

I know what I'd spend my money on even for commuting.

The live wire ? Because it's faster

D3V!L

listermint wrote: »

The live wire ? Because it's faster

The SGS is plenty fast

maybe you can import one of these - €2,500 in the US new

https://electrek.co/2019/04/04/review-csc-city-slicker-electric-motorcycle/

top speed of only 74 kph but gets there quickly enough

GBX

Size wise would these be comparable to a grom ? Handy for nipping around the place at a portion of the price compared to the competition.

that US company is not a manufacturer so just imports from China.

bring your own one in

https://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/CN/electric-motorcycle.html

listermint

Good luck insuring that sort of stuff.

MSVforever

I had a go on one of these electric scooters. While you have instant torque the lack of noise would be a no go for me.

I commute nearly every day approx 60 km roundtrip (Dublin area ) and the amount of gobsh!tes pulling out without looking is unreal. I was nearly wiped out at Kishogue college roundabout this morning.
I have changed bikes recently and still have the original very quiet exhaust on it .Can't wait to get my aftermarket cans fitted this weekend. At least they can hear you if they're too blind to see my bright blue LED lights....

Hotblack Desiato

OP assuming you're over 24 you can ride any size bike, just apply for class A learner permit and do class A IBT.

Electric bikes should be competitive for shorter commutes within a few years but ATM are just way overpriced, and the fuel savings don't make up for it.

Lack of noise is a big issue.

galwaytt

martyc5674 wrote: »

Don’t want a petrol yoke tho...

...this is the bike section you know Petrol is where it's at.


....well, for now anyway....

galwaytt

glasso wrote: »

that US company is not a manufacturer so just imports from China.

bring your own one in

https://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/CN/electric-motorcycle.html

I'd love to see the EWVTA paperwork for that :rolleyes:

GBX

GBX wrote: »

Size wise would these be comparable to a grom ? Handy for nipping around the place at a portion of the price compared to the competition.

same size pretty much I think yes.

some Irish retailer might bring it in at some point possibly so EU certified etc etc

certainly a good urban option, particularly if you don't like the look of a scooter.

LIGHTNING

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Around the 3-3.5k mark which is around the price for a decent 125cc. Tidy looking things, I wanted to get one but nobody in Ireland had one at the time. Reviews of it are pretty decent too.

http://www.supersoco.com/second-phase/en/details-tc-overview.php

they are only selling the scooter model it seems (on their site anyways)

https://www.bikeworld.ie/site/motorcycle/supersoco-cux/

at that's €3,750 so very much "Irish Prices"

that would make the TC model (the one that you want) at €5k or so here I would say going by UK comparisons

http://supersoco.co.uk/

veetwin

Franklin Motorcycles in Swords are dealers for Zero motorcycles and have a few demos in stock. Serious motorcycles with a serious turn of speed. You're probably talking north of €14k for one though. If I had a commute long enough to justify it I would probably get one though. Little to no maintenance other than tyres and brake pads.

two wheels good

BMW offer an elec scooter. I've never seen one though.
I was impressed by the Zero bikes at the NEC last year.

GBX

two wheels good wrote: »

BMW offer an elec scooter. I've never seen one though.
I was impressed by the Zero bikes at the NEC last year.

This one .. https://www.joeduffy.ie/motorrad/new-bikes/bmw-c-evolution-electric-scooter/

martyc5674

martyc5674 wrote: »

Well if they’re mad money they’re not for me!

BMW and Zero electric bikes @ €15k+ are not in the OP's budget range from his comment here.

dbas

Commuting from wicklow town on a bike to Dublin 8. I like the idea of doing it on an powerful electric bike, but as previous posters said- the noise of the bike has saved me a few times. A quiet electric bike scares me.
I'd need a foghorn on the thing

two wheels good

GBX wrote: »

This one .. https://www.joeduffy.ie/motorrad/new-bikes/bmw-c-evolution-electric-scooter/

Crikey - from €16k. But worth it for "joy all day long" I'm sure.

"The powerful, fully-electric drive quickly brings you to your destination and in so doing ensures sheer riding pleasure. And thanks to a range of up to 160 kilometres, your joy will last all day long."

Built in Germany at the same plant as the i3 I read.

The Super Soco TC costs less than €1,500 to buy in China I see from an English guy living there who bought one (youtube).

> 3x that price is a bit of a sick one to stomach by the time it ends up sold by a dealer in Ireland ffs

I do like the specs of this one though

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/2-Wheel-8000W-Off-Road-Powerful_60677940684.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normalList.14.7775585butR2IS

Hotblack Desiato

If 160km = "joy all day long" it must be pretty slow :pac:

listermint

Commuting every morning from Wicklow with shed loads of filtering I've yet to see my exhaust save me from anything. I've been pulled across last minute plenty of times with no indication and sometimes with it but as a split second after thought. A few occasions where its been a half pull out but only seeing the lights stopped them


I don't buy this stuff about the exhaust having a major impact especially on the morning commute where folks have radios blaring or are heavily distracted anyway.


My saving grace every time is my speed and my own reaction.. anyone who puts stock in their exhaust saving their arse will find their faith misplaced.

zubair

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

If 160km = "joy all day long" it must be pretty slow :pac:

Maybe they really enjoy watching things charge.

Hotblack Desiato

listermint wrote: »

Commuting every morning from Wicklow with shed loads of filtering I've yet to see my exhaust save me from anything.

Makes a huge difference at 50km/h or less with pedestrians. Also in tight traffic when going to squeeze between two stopped cars a little "pretending to change down" blip before you move gets their attention.

galwaytt

listermint wrote: »

Commuting every morning from Wicklow with shed loads of filtering I've yet to see my exhaust save me from anything. I've been pulled across last minute plenty of times with no indication and sometimes with it but as a split second after thought. A few occasions where its been a half pull out but only seeing the lights stopped them


I don't buy this stuff about the exhaust having a major impact especially on the morning commute where folks have radios blaring or are heavily distracted anyway.


My saving grace every time is my speed and my own reaction.. anyone who puts stock in their exhaust saving their arse will find their faith misplaced.

...you need to commute on a Harley. Bass comes in over everything :P

Seriously, I wouldn't rely on it, but I can tell you there's a noticeable difference between say filtering on the H-D and my Africa Twin. And on our blood bikes (Deauvilles) you're nigh-on invisible.

I agree I woulnd't rely on it, but I like as many weapons in the defensive arsenal as possible.

listermint

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Makes a huge difference at 50km/h or less with pedestrians. Also in tight traffic when going to squeeze between two stopped cars a little "pretending to change down" blip before you move gets their attention.

It really doesn't at all.

It's in your head.

Drivers are distracted and have radios playing. They don't hear you as much as they hear or see a 50 Ton Luas crossing their front path.

If you think it makes a difference then you'll see at some point how it doesn't


Harley or not. There are drivers out there that don't react to fire and garda vehicles full blown lights and sirens coming up their rear I've seen it first hand many times. The only thing an exhaust does is make you feel louder.


It's a feeling.

Hotblack Desiato

Yeah right keep on kidding yourself.

I've ridden the same bike on the same route back to back with stock can and loud can

Big difference in pedestrians stepping out without looking, especially ones wearing headphones.

I've also seen stopped cars oblivious to the world around them turn around and make eye contact with me after I make a little noise to let them know before I go around them.

This is not imaginary.

Filtering on a dual carriageway or whatever isn't the same thing at all.

listermint

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Yeah right keep on kidding yourself.

I've ridden the same bike on the same route back to back with stock can and loud can

Big difference in pedestrians stepping out without looking, especially ones wearing headphones.

I've also seen stopped cars oblivious to the world around them turn around and make eye contact with me after I make a little noise to let them know before I go around them.

This is not imaginary.

Filtering on a dual carriageway or whatever isn't the same thing at all.

No I get it your big exhaust vroom vroom moves everything.

Got it.

Vroom vroom vroom

Colm17RvB

listermint wrote: »

are drivers out there that don't react to fire and garda vehicles full blown lights and sirens coming up their rear I've seen it first hand many times.

Yup, twice this morning alone on the M50 ambulance's with full blues and twos going, 1st the gawbeen in the SUV just sat there oblivious, 2nd the ambulance had to undertake the gormless saloon cager.

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

I've also seen stopped cars oblivious to the world around them turn around and make eye contact with me after I make a little noise to let them know before I go around them.

Noise helps, but it isn't the be all and end all. I'd argue that headlight is the most valuable of things, but that point is made moot by gawbeen and gormless referenced above. Ultimately it's the riders own awareness, skills and reflexes that'll save/prevent a collision.

Electrics are unquestionably quieter than ICE bikes, but they're not silent, you still have your horn, the crunch of rubber on tarmac, and the whine of the motor/sound of the belt drive. I have helmet cam footage somewhere (probably wiped by now) of a BMW C Evo on the M50, and while not as loud as a standard bike, it's certainly not silent.

I was/am looking into the possibility of getting the Zero SR/F, and if it wasn't a financial decision in the here and now I would have bought one already.

I know that Moto4u in Rathfarnham have the Lifan electric scooters in stock and they appear to be selling well. OP, might be best giving them a ring and having a chat about the pros/cons.


EDIT: Does anyone know if electric bikes get the SEAI EV grant??

dbas

You're right about it not having a major impact, but it's the sum of all the small impacts that makes the difference.
Good gear, good front light, hi viz clothing, controlled speed, and a lower gear while lane splitting to make some noise and make emergency braking easier.

Haven't been hit yet but plenty have tried.

Leave my blue fazer alone.

Incidentally, what is the emergency braking procedure on an electric bike? I assume there's no 'engine braking' of sorts?

listermint wrote: »

Commuting every morning from Wicklow with shed loads of filtering I've yet to see my exhaust save me from anything. I've been pulled across last minute plenty of times with no indication and sometimes with it but as a split second after thought. A few occasions where its been a half pull out but only seeing the lights stopped them


I don't buy this stuff about the exhaust having a major impact especially on the morning commute where folks have radios blaring or are heavily distracted anyway.


My saving grace every time is my speed and my own reaction.. anyone who puts stock in their exhaust saving their arse will find their faith misplaced.

zubair

listermint wrote: »

Vroom vroom vroom

XD

rrudden

2020 Zero SR/F Review on irish roads, nice piece of kit but expensive.

https://youtu.be/AeY_OIXji0k

dbas

and fertilize your pants??


thats a definite no no for me then. Great city bike id imagine but not on a motorway.



QUOTE=LIGHTNING;111475237]I think its you scream "I'm saving the planet" and then hope for the best :pac:[/QUOTE]

bladespin

Spent an age playing with power curves from electric generators and inverters, I'm sure I could have some fun with an electric bike, I would miss the sound though.

Hotblack Desiato

listermint wrote: »

No I get it your big exhaust vroom vroom moves everything.

Got it.

Vroom vroom vroom

Why bother replying to a post if you just ignore everything in it?

Have you ever ridden the same bike on the same route with a very quiet and a loud pipe...?

Do you tell people getting aux lights or a louder horn that they're fooling themselves as well?

(Just picking up a Denali Soundbomb Mini from Parcel Motel this evening, but sure, what's the point? :rolleyes: )

listermint

I do ya.


Your road smarts are what keep you safe all the other stuff is window dressing.

You never stop learning when riding . If you replace learning with hi Viz loud pipes and spots your on to a fail.

Hotblack Desiato

It's another tool in my armoury. Adding a new tool to the toolbox doesn't mean I have to throw away another one.

galwaytt

listermint wrote: »

I do ya.


Your road smarts are what keep you safe all the other stuff is window dressing.

You never stop learning when riding . If you replace learning with hi Viz loud pipes and spots your on to a fail.

neither Hotblack nor I said replace. We both stated in addition. ...

Hotblack Desiato

Every day is a school day.

I could talk you through every step of my daily ride afterwards, and there's always something I could have done better