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7 Electric Motorcycles You Must See (including 1 that does 0-60 MPH in 0.97 seconds)

14 points by MikeCapone 18y ago

cperciva 18y ago
0-60 MPH in 0.97 seconds? Why would anyone want a motorcycle which accelerates at 2.8 g?
- utx00 18y ago
  could one even hold on?!
- run4yourlives 18y ago
  The need... the need for speed.
- khafra 18y ago
  The Killacycle is a platform for A123 nanophosphate batteries, which have an extremely high discharge rate. It's a drag bike which doesn't have a range much over 1/4 mile. To put it in perspective, a bog-standard ZX-14 or GSX-R 1300, perfectly usable on the street, does 0-60 in under 3 seconds. It doesn't feel that fast once you've gotten used to it for a few weeks.
- pkaler 18y ago
  I own a Kawasaki Ninja 650R. A fairly slow bike by sportbike standards. It does 0-60MPH in about 3.8 seconds. Frankly, that feels very slow. I've been riding for many years though. It's amazing how your brain and body adapts to fast speeds.
run4yourlives 18y ago
Go figure that both the coolest looking and best performing (overall) bike comes from a chick and her dad in some garage in Sweeden, while the ones available for sale look like they require Birkenstocks to be worn full time by the rider. Yet another example of how an uncompromising small team leads to success.
bprater 18y ago
For those curious about why some of these bikes can be so powerful (besides the fact that the bike itself is very light compared to a car), it's because an electric motor delivers nearly 100% of it's maximum torque constantly. What's amazing is that it can do it at nearly 0rpm. That's like jumping on your bicycle and having the muscle to storm up Mount Everest without breaking a sweat. You can't do it, but an electric motor can. A gasoline engine will only begin to deliver this level of torque when it's spooled up, and even then, only does it for a limited time of the overall rpm range. (And that is why most trains run on an electric motor!)
dc2k08 18y ago
some say that there is not enough lithium in the world to supply the expected demand for the material, future lithium powered bikes and cars being the prime reason behind this statement.. the coming economic collapse will no doubt put an end to (expensive) lithium powered electric car and bike plans though imo.
- DenisM 18y ago
  I shall go buy lithium futures then.

14 points by MikeCapone 18y ago

cperciva 18y ago

0-60 MPH in 0.97 seconds? Why would anyone want a motorcycle which accelerates at 2.8 g?

utx00 18y ago
could one even hold on?!
run4yourlives 18y ago
The need... the need for speed.
khafra 18y ago
The Killacycle is a platform for A123 nanophosphate batteries, which have an extremely high discharge rate. It's a drag bike which doesn't have a range much over 1/4 mile. To put it in perspective, a bog-standard ZX-14 or GSX-R 1300, perfectly usable on the street, does 0-60 in under 3 seconds. It doesn't feel that fast once you've gotten used to it for a few weeks.
pkaler 18y ago
I own a Kawasaki Ninja 650R. A fairly slow bike by sportbike standards. It does 0-60MPH in about 3.8 seconds. Frankly, that feels very slow. I've been riding for many years though. It's amazing how your brain and body adapts to fast speeds.

run4yourlives 18y ago

Go figure that both the coolest looking and best performing (overall) bike comes from a chick and her dad in some garage in Sweeden, while the ones available for sale look like they require Birkenstocks to be worn full time by the rider. Yet another example of how an uncompromising small team leads to success.

bprater 18y ago

For those curious about why some of these bikes can be so powerful (besides the fact that the bike itself is very light compared to a car), it's because an electric motor delivers nearly 100% of it's maximum torque constantly. What's amazing is that it can do it at nearly 0rpm. That's like jumping on your bicycle and having the muscle to storm up Mount Everest without breaking a sweat. You can't do it, but an electric motor can. A gasoline engine will only begin to deliver this level of torque when it's spooled up, and even then, only does it for a limited time of the overall rpm range. (And that is why most trains run on an electric motor!)

dc2k08 18y ago

some say that there is not enough lithium in the world to supply the expected demand for the material, future lithium powered bikes and cars being the prime reason behind this statement.. the coming economic collapse will no doubt put an end to (expensive) lithium powered electric car and bike plans though imo.

DenisM 18y ago
I shall go buy lithium futures then.