Last year, the Mission R made history at the TTXGP, throwing down laps of Laguna Seca that would have qualified it for a Supersport 600 race. Here, some schlocky comedian (Wes is jealous -grant) talks to our buddy David Salguero before swinging a leg over the electric superbike. :continue:
In this installment of Drake’s Passage, the professional motorcycle dude visits Barcelona, takes his wife out for dinner, rides his first electric motorcycle, spouts some nonsense about battery pollution, then visits Toby Moody and Julian Ryder at Catalunya. Damn, Drake gets to do some fun stuff. :continue:
Last wednesday, I participated in a discussion in the comments section of HFLʼs last installment of the Life Electric series, something that lead to a very spirited exchange between myself, designer JT Nesbitt and a bunch of regular readers. The crux of the article concluded that electric motorcycles, while interesting and fun, have not arrived to a point of development which makes them practical for most users. I blithely commented my total agreement, but added words to the effect that this was symptomatic of any disruptive technology, and that electrification was the inevitable future of personal transportation. Some passionate reader publicly asked JT for a retort, which kicked the whole thing off. :continue:
We’re live at the Brammo Empulse and Brammo Empulse R unveiling in Hollywood. Here’s all the photos, specs, pricing; basically every scrap of material on the new electric hotness. :continue:
With 9kWh in its battery pack, nearly twice the capacity of the Toyota Prius, the 2012 Zero DS is the fastest, longest-range electric motorcycle to ever enter production. 84mph top speed, 112-mile range. Is that enough to make it practical, useful transportation? More importantly, can a bike that slow be fun to ride? :continue:
My time with the 2012 Zero DS is up. The nice man from Zero came and picked it up this morning. For three whole weeks, the fastest, longest-range electric motorcycle ever was my only transportation. I didn’t drive any cars, I didn’t ride my bicycle, I didn’t hop on any other bikes. I might have walked a little bit once or twice. Why? I wanted to know if it was possible. Early adopters and techno geeks and and greenie weenies aside, can a normal person with normal transportation needs really make the switch to zero emissions? Well…the answer is not what what I was expecting.
Photos: Sean Smith
They fixed the tail! One of legendary auto spy photographer Brenda Priddy’s minions managed to snap a couple photos of the Brammo Empulse R as it appears to be undergoing a commercial shoot. The photos, available on AutoMedia, reveal a bike that’s predictably similar to the concept version from two years ago, just here with the tiniest of tiny tail pieces, upright flat bars, a bellypan, and yes Virginia, pillion pegs. The Empulse R is expected to be the first electric motorcycle capable of exceeding both 100mph and 100 miles in range. :continue:
Wow, is it Thursday already? Sometimes you look up from your computer and realize the week’s almost over. And sometimes you realized you promised your readers you’d be giving them regular updates on the 2012 Zero DS you’re riding for a couple weeks. Whoops. It’s been a few days of highs and lows on the electric. I think I’ve totally fallen for it, but at the same time come to the realization that I could never actually fit one into my life. :continue:
Get past the embarrassing first few minutes of shiny-faced PR replicant intro and there’s actually some real insight to be had into the forthcoming Brammo Empulse R in this mock interview. Brammo CEO Craig Bramscher talks new bikes, new technologies and how the company’s evolving behind the scenes.
Photo: Grant Ray :continue:
Last year, Chip Yates changed the motorcycle world, becoming the first-ever electric bike racer to beat ICE at its own game. What’s next? Oh, just forever altering the aviation landscape. Chip’s a humble dude, here he is talking to PBS about where he’s been and where the world is going through him.
Photo: Grant Ray :continue:
