A D16, or...

[Reddymon]

The headlights and tail lights are pretty cool, but I'm not feeling the side view.  I agree that the "vents" are odd and they just dont look right.  The "tank" also looks very tall.  I wonder if the interanls actually dictated that shape, or if it was strictly aesthetic.

I think I agree with just about all your observations.  To me the whole tail section looks a little thin and weak.  Though I usually prefer simple fairing shapes I feel this is so plain it is a little dull.  I like the rear view mirror integration and the windscreen shape.  The headlight rocks.  There must be some way to cut down that really high "tank".  The vents suck.

So you are out on uber bike a hundred miles from home and out of juice.  Assuming some is available, how long does it take to charge this thing?  About the only thing I can think of this might be practical for is as a commuter bike.  That can't be the target.  Who would buy this?

[EEL]

Who would buy this?

Like everything else in that price range, the ultra trendy uber elite-I'm sure brad pitt,tom cruise and jay leno already have their order in.

[Drunken Monkey]

I think the design would be greatly improved if the bike wasn't as thick as it is.

As it stands, it's a bit too "Shamuu the Killer whale, as represented in a really low polygon count 3D model" for my tastes.

Then again, everyone's a critic. It's definitely iconic and I'm sure they'll sell one to Jay Leno, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.

But I'd LOVE to have one as a track bike. Although I have to wonder... If singles give the best "feel" for cornering, followed by twins, then inline fours. What's a motor that so smooth it's effectively an infinite number of cylinders going to feel like?

Then again, I bet you can tweak the inverter powering the motor to be behave like any number of virtual cylinders... Me likey 

[mostrobelle]

But I'd LOVE to have one as a track bike. Although I have to wonder... If singles give the best "feel" for cornering, followed by twins, then inline fours.

Why is that?  I've never heard this... I'm curious to know more.

[Spidey]

But I'd LOVE to have one as a track bike. Although I have to wonder... If singles give the best "feel" for cornering, followed by twins, then inline fours. What's a motor that so smooth it's effectively an infinite number of cylinders going to feel like?

No con-rod driven crankshaft or counter-balancing weights?  Can you imagine how easily that thing would change direction?  OTOH, that lack of inertia would make that thing a total mess for handling.  Mebbe it just has a million ton flywheel?

[Drunken Monkey]

Why is that?  I've never heard this... I'm curious to know more.

With fewer cylinders come fewer pulses of power to the rear wheel.

The theory goes that with a single if you get on the gas in a corner when the cylinder fires it breaks the rear wheel free but then you have a whole two revolutions before the engine fires again. This gives the rear wheel time to recover and regain traction.

On a twin this happens less and on a four the pulses come so fast that the rear breaks free and continues to do so.

Supposedly on twins and singles it's easier to feel the edge of traction and adjust accordingly.

This is why many of the GP bikes have moved to a "big bang" style crank layout, where all 4 cylinders fire very close to one another to imitate the output of a twin or single.

There's a better explanation here: http://www.motorcycledaily.com/08april05_bigbang.htm

Now imagine an electric motor. When you overpower the rear coming out of a corner the power is never going to let off (no pulses at all) so when it breaks free, it doesn't recover.

Of course, being electric, you could easily modulate the power any way you like and make it imitate a single. Or even make it act like an inline four when it's upright and then have the power output act more like a single when it's leaned over.

And traction control is a lot easier if you're just controlling the volts & amps going to the rear wheel motor.

[mostrobelle]

Wow...I must have stumbled upon some previously unknown IQ, because that totally made sense.  Will read the link, too.  Interesting... 

[Desmostro]

The motor will be another flywheel in its self adding a lot of gyroscopic inertia.
There are so many ways to play with the power and weigh distribution - imagine. There's not much dead weight like a transmission except the battery. But there are some experiments going on using uber-capacitors or flywheels that are much lighter than batteries. I think Formula1 is using regenerative braking (KERS - kinetic energy recovery systems) this coming year and storing the electricity in many different way such as this. The power is then going from electricity to kinetic back to electricity. So freaking cool as a concept. Extra power is then available in huge bursts from the capacitors. They're still writing regulations on it for F1 I think. That type of thing can be placed in many different places on the bike in small parts or big lumps.

All that is awesome. The thing that bugs me most about the design is that it's a bit cold. I like a minimalist line like everyone, but, it doesn't look like it can cradle a pilot "inside" the cockpit. It looks like you could slip off the side if you tipped too far over. I mean, flat planes? So weird. If your knees don't fit exactly in that little nook it looks like it would be uncomfortable. It's just a bit over designed IMHO and I'm still pissed I didn't get to work on it 

It remains to be tested though. My friend Noah did some of the shaping. I'm going to harangue him about it.

[ROBsS4R]

I appreciate the Vision of who ever designed this but I personally like it better when I removed the triangles from the rear of the frame.

It makes it flow better with the solid front Fairing. I think with a different color combo this bike can look stunning.

[Holden]

I like it. Bicycle controls.

"Tank" looks high, but might actually be comfortable to lean on...

& someone should copy that headlight design pronto.

[Drunken Monkey]

... But there are some experiments going on using uber-capacitors or flywheels that are much lighter than batteries. I think Formula1 is using regenerative braking (KERS - kinetic energy recovery systems) this coming year and storing the electricity in many different way such as this.

I have seen the future and it is ultracapacitors. Not only should they be able to charge quickly, they should also be able to discharge quickly. So as long as your electric motor doesn't short / melt you can get huge amounts of HP out of them.

The downside: Until they figure out electric front wheel drive for bikes, they can't build a motorcycle with decent regenerative breaking. Unless you want all your braking at the rear wheel, anyway. 

[Desmostro]

and there's another one:

Vectrix Electric Superbike from ROBRADY

Another one that looks like it was designed by those who don't ride. 
It just looks like it's trying too hard.  Too much going on, not enough ride-ability.

[Holden]

and there's another one

That thing looks like it's gonna snap in half if you sit on it...

Here's the real thing:


Never imagined a brake rotor that would give you ground clearance issues...