I think I might want one of these?
A 200 pound electric motorcycle that goes 80mph with a (claimed) range of 80 miles (probably more likely 50 to 60 in real world use) seems like it could be a lot of fun for short runs, as a short range commuter bike. Premium components like Michelin Road 5 tires, wireless phone charger and a removable battery.
But the price is a bit steep at $5000 for a short range bike, at that price I could get a Honda CB300 and still have change rattling around in my pocket.
On the other hand the Harley Davidson LIVEWIRE costs nearly $30,000. The motorcycles from ZERO, probably the best known electric motorcycle company on the planet, start about $10,000 and go up from there. The LIVEWIRE and the offerings from ZERO have longer ranges, and probably more capabilities, but are still hampered by their batteries and the real world ranges for those bikes are in the 100-120 mile range. So for the $5000 price tag of this little bike, it actually seems like a pretty good deal compared to the other electric competitors. Spend DOUBLE the price to get a ZERO that has double the range but does not have double the speed or double the acceleration. Spend 6 times the price and get the H-D Livewire with the ability to go 2.4 times the distance? Sure the bigger bikes are more capable but are they actually much more useful in the "commuter" bike market?
Still, it seems like it would be a heck of a lot of fun, maybe more fun if they put an offroad suspension on it and some tires suitable for dirt & street.
A 200 pound electric motorcycle that goes 80mph with a (claimed) range of 80 miles (probably more likely 50 to 60 in real world use) seems like it could be a lot of fun for short runs, as a short range commuter bike. Premium components like Michelin Road 5 tires, wireless phone charger and a removable battery.
But the price is a bit steep at $5000 for a short range bike, at that price I could get a Honda CB300 and still have change rattling around in my pocket.
On the other hand the Harley Davidson LIVEWIRE costs nearly $30,000. The motorcycles from ZERO, probably the best known electric motorcycle company on the planet, start about $10,000 and go up from there. The LIVEWIRE and the offerings from ZERO have longer ranges, and probably more capabilities, but are still hampered by their batteries and the real world ranges for those bikes are in the 100-120 mile range. So for the $5000 price tag of this little bike, it actually seems like a pretty good deal compared to the other electric competitors. Spend DOUBLE the price to get a ZERO that has double the range but does not have double the speed or double the acceleration. Spend 6 times the price and get the H-D Livewire with the ability to go 2.4 times the distance? Sure the bigger bikes are more capable but are they actually much more useful in the "commuter" bike market?
Still, it seems like it would be a heck of a lot of fun, maybe more fun if they put an offroad suspension on it and some tires suitable for dirt & street.