Ducati Monster Forum

Kinda cool...

Brammo Empulse Electric Motorcycle -100mph/100mile range (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDF2EMjir2k#normal)

And I am going to be at Laguna Seca next weekend  [thumbsup]  [moto]

Brammo CEO Craig Bramscher will be unveiling the Empulse at the 2010 Red Bull Grand Prix at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, 11.15am, Saturday July 24th 2010.

Wow that looks good, I want one.

I like it.

 [thumbsup]

mitt

I like it. It's a nice looking machine and if it can deliver on the performance claims, I would say it is practical as well.

One thing I wonder though, with the electric motorcycles that have been coming out recently for street use, range and top speed have probably been the two things that would keep me from hypothetically buying one. It would seem it would make sense to make faired bikes rather than nakeds as both the range and top speed would improve. Just a thought.

it will need this to make it right http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bicycle-Sound-Like-a-Motorcycle (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bicycle-Sound-Like-a-Motorcycle)

It's a lot closer to where they need to be if they truly want the future to be electric motorcycles and by future I mean immediate future.

Would this bike replace most people's gasoline powered motorcycles?
Unlikely.

Could this bike be a great addition as an urban commuter?
You bet, particularly if they add vroom vroom noises.

I wonder if you need a motorcycle license for that...  You would think yes, but here in MA you only need a motorcycle license to operate a two wheeled vehicle with greater than 49cc displacement, which technically, that thing doesn't have (I'm not sure I'd try explaining that to the  [leo] though).

Looks pretty cool!  [thumbsup]

100 mile range makes it basically a commuter around here. Not far enough to get to and from the twisties.  :-\

It's cool, but still not worth it.

Would take 5 years to pay for itself for gas on my daily commute.  Assuming I ride it 5 days a week, for 5 years, I'd break even

And thats if it never needed anything.

Now, if gas doubles in price, it's looking a bit better.

That looks awesome. I have thought for a while that EV bikes would be the way to go, just because they are already light and aren't expected to have long ranges. I think for a big chunk of recreational sport riders this would fulfill most of their requirements. Heck, it could even work for my daily commute.

There's another way to look at this, I think.  If you're getting a new bike anyway this becomes a lot more attractive, doesn't it?  I mean, if I could get one of these in Australia for the same price it sells for in the USA, it's cheaper than a new Monster.  If I was in the market for the Ducati, and for the same or less I could get this, then my fuel price hardly enters into it - I'm already ahead before I've even left the dealer floor.

Starting to look much better and the price seems to be getting better as well.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20059695-54.html?tag=mncol;txt (http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20059695-54.html?tag=mncol;txt)

i wonder if fairings would increase the range due to aerodynamics... or just decrease it due to weight.

depends on speed.

Hmmmm...

I'm thinking, if I have $13,000, do I spend it on a Ducati 848 evo, or a Brammo Empulse...?

Let's see, Italian designed, Bologna manufactured hand assembled, 60 years of proven race technology, or --- Just because its electric, assembled in singapore, unproven technology and handling characteristics, with 100 mile range and 8 hours before fully charged...

I think the price is a little ambitious. Now if it were priced to compete with say a Kawasaki 250, I think I am more inclined to take that plunge. Otherwise, I'd rather have a Ducati Monster, 848 evo, or MV Agusta F3, Triumph Street Triple, Daytona 675, Thuxton,  or any Japanese 600-750 motorcycle for that same price...

Even Hyundai didn't enter the car market and try to compete with BWM or Mercedes at its beginning. Brammo may or may not even be around in the next 5 to 7 years...

Just a thought...

dont forget that tax credits and other ev discounts would probably get that price down...  but i totally understand what you're saying.

I took another look at it yesterday, and I'm still in that same boat you are.  Even with the 10% Fed tax credit, $13K is just way to much.  I would be interested in the sub 10K price line, for the 100 mile range version.

Take a look at it a third way: With it being effectively silent you could have tracks days for it at Laguna all the time.

Makes me wonder what the range would be at the track?

I'd *guess* 40 miles or so.  That's totally out of my ass.  Laguna would be especially brutal with the elevation changes.  At least you get get a good run up before you start to climb.  Then again, you're unlikely to put in more than 100-130 miles/trackday.   

Gotta remember that "100" mile range is probably the max if you baby the thing, down hill on a nice day. Sorta like the EPA stickers for MPG on autos....

I'd never buy an elec bike, car yes i would. Bike no.