We love our internal combustion engines, don't we? Just peruse the Moto Roll Call comments below, and the closest you'll find to anything electric is a reference to a battery-powered vest that keeps you warm in winter. And no, riding an Electra Glide doesn't count...
I recently tested the ZERO X dirtbike (and fell flat on my butt during one wheelie gone bad), but ZERO's competitor Brammo just made big news by announcing that their electric motorcycles will be available at five west coast Best Buy locations, according to AutoblogGreen. The article suggests the store's Geek Squad will be able to address minor maintenance issues, while more serious work will be conducted at service centers around the country.
Could you imagine yourself riding an electric bike? Does this Best Buy connection make it more enticing? Check out the bike in our Brammo Enertia Photo Gallery, and comment on whether you'd give up your internal combustion motorcycle for an electric bike.
Related:
Photo © Brammo
I would think about an electric motorcycle, but all of them seem pretty tall. I guess if you get from Best Buy you will have to keep the box for a year in case you have to take it back.
Wow, $12k. Even if Best Buy discounts, it’s still going to be too high for so little range.
I like it. Looks kind of cool. Fab light weight.The performance reminds me of my first bike, a German DKW250, 1954, with 9hp and I really enjoyed riding that. At 18hp this one should be able to take a pillion passenger? The light weight could also be traded off for bigger batteries and longer range? I’d require about 70miles of such a bike. At least things are developing in the right direction (I would hate to ride the scooter options-give me a proper bike any time)
WOW, over 50 mph! After the first two miles, this is drastically reduced to less than 20mph…
I just don’t think they are practical yet. The range problem gets worse the heavier you are. I don’t know that something like this would work for me, and I don’t commute all that far as it is.
Still don’t understand electric vehicles. They don’t get us away from oil. Most electrical plants in the US run on oil and release more emissons then vehicles. There range is far worse then reg. vehicles. I think this is why most people stay away from them. Can’t see my self buying one.
Ditto Joe on electric generation – sure the electric motors are 80-90% efficient, but how efficient is the generation? And the storage? And the release from storage?
And forget about making a cross-continent trip in any reasonable amount of time!
Greetings. Hope all is well. The comments that are being made, might well be identical to the time when we crossed over from the horse/horse and buggy to the horseless carriage (automobile). At first people were skeptical and they hesitated. In time, the automobile of course improved. If we stand behind these products now and support the companies that are bold enough to produce them, we are in fact helping ourselves and the research & development department(s).
Our capital input is best utilized in product improvement. Somebody has got to step up and be the pioneer. As motorcyclists, we are already saying that we defy conventionality.
We are bold and we are different. So how about it! Ride Safe! GOD Bless!
Holy cow chips, I’d rather go back to the horse…!
I disagree with Rip Taylor and his crazy talk. The only answer is to build safe nuclear reactors. Accidents are bound to happen, thus i recommend we build most of our experimental reactors in Alaska where in a worst case senerio we only lose a few eskimoos and caribo. And whatever radiation doesn’t blow over to russia is aborbed by canadians….
How do I introduce this bike to my fellow riders… How can I be accepted into the group. Oh Yes, I know how. I pin baseball cards to the spokes to make it sound like a REAL Motorcycle.
I would love to get one as a commuter for around town. I only would need a 10-15 mile range. But…. When you figure in the cost of the batteries (assuming the same approx. $3K as the Zero) compared to the cost of a 70mpg 250cc motorcycle, it is an expensive option.
I just read (Popular Mechanics) that the battery life is 50000-75000 miles. Maybe not so bad as I thought. Others claim their batteries last 5 years.
I love the feel of the open road while I am cruising looking out the tint of my helmet shield. Riding a motorcycle has helped me to save on gas and has provided me with a lot of other great benefits. The only part I hate is….the cold months!