Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1134532
VOLUME 56 ISSUE 25 JUNE 25, 2019 P127 requirements or, in other words, global warming and governmental regulation. The difference then, I don't recall the arguments against four-stroke technology adop- tion being connected to global warming as they are today on the subject of electric. Setting aside the sound issue for a moment, let's look at the primary ownership experience differences between electric and ICE. Here's a short list on the plus side. Electric motorcycles are 80% more thermally efficient than internal combustion (much less power loss through heat), no vibra- tion, practically zero powertrain maintenance, ease of operation (no shifting or clutch), meager operational costs, fantastic torque and acceleration, and fuel costs averaging a little over a penny a mile. Anyone looking for basic transportation, commuting, and short, fun weekend rides; electric motorcycles offer everything a tra- ditional motorcycle does in terms of sheer fun and excitement. Moreover, electric technology is already having a significant impact on the youth motorcycle market. Kids are riding in back- yards, in vacant lots and in all sorts of places they couldn't ride before simply due to ease of op- eration (no shifting or clutch) and lack of noise. We need to look no further than the success of companies like Oset and Stacyc to see how important they are to the future of motorcycling. And soon KTM will add a full electric minicycle line to its e-Freeride. On the downside, electric motorcycles have limited range (currently less than 100 miles On- Highway) and therefore limited utility. Also, they require exces- sive downtime when it comes time to refuel/recharge (mea- sured in hours, not minutes). The technology comes at a premium price (30-100% over ICE), and in the initial stages, there are legitimate concerns about obso- lescence and diminished resale value as Moore's Law impacts the technology curve. These are serious obstacles to ownership and the main reason why current sales amount to less than half of 1% of the total market. Now let's discuss sound, which can be argued as both a pro and con. Pro: Quiet bikes provide for a heightened sense of awareness and Zen-like peace of mind while riding, and as mentioned above, may be beneficial in opening up new off-road riding areas. Con: Admittedly, quiet bikes are not everyone's cup of tea, and some will argue sound is one of their primary attractions for riding, and a safety issue as well. In the end, let's just leave sound as a matter of personal preference. The bottom line: Electric mo- torcycles should be judged solely on their value proposition and whether they satisfy your needs as a rider. Quit worrying about global warming, governmental regula- tions, and whether or not they are a part of some hidden agenda to control your life, ruin our sport and kill all our fun. Frankly, we have much bigger fish to fry on real issues affecting motorcycling's future (e.g., trade wars, land use, declining ridership, etc.). One thing is certain: Electric power will play a significant role in the future of motorcycling. It's already positively impacting some model segments. The technol- ogy is improving at a rapid rate and just one generation in battery chemistry and energy density away from solving the main objec- tions against them. The more electric vehicles on the road, the less pressure on fossil fuels, oil reserves and gas prices. This alone should keep internal com- bustion viable for years to come. I, for one, am excited about hav- ing more options when it comes to motorcycling. At the end of the day, motorcycling is, at least for me, about kinesis and freedom, the sensory experience I get from riding the machine, from unfet- tered movement through space. It's about escape from daily life, work and other pressures. It's about discipline and competition; a lifestyle that celebrates quality time with friends and family. Most of all, it's about the joy I get every time I twist the throttle. BTW, the last electric bike I rode weighed 500 pounds with 140 lb-ft of torque! Trust me, it was a very joyful thing and not one time when I opened the throttle did I think I was saving the planet. CN