Bike EXIF » Electric Motorcycles

zecOO electric motorcycle

Chris Hunter — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:30:36 +0000

The Tokyo Motorcycle Show is always a treasure trove of custom bikes. At the most recent show, one of the stars was this extraordinary electric motorcycle, called the zecOO. Designed by Kota Nezu of Znug Design, the zecOO takes a custom aesthetic and applies it to the usually staid world of electric bikes.

This is the zecOO prototype, shot last week at the ancient Chokoji Temple in Sanmu, a couple of hours east of Tokyo. AFG Moto’s Jason Fullington, who helped arrange this shoot, reports that the bike is now being torn down in preparation for small-scale production. He also says that it was “fun, fast and silent” to ride.

The zecOO has a range of between 88 and 136 km (55 to 85 miles), which is pretty good. Top speed is 120 kph (75 mph), which is comfortably more than the 100 kph limit on Japanese highways. Weight is a hefty 245kg, but on the plus side, the bike takes just four to six hours to charge.

The Japanese motorcycling press has been all over this bike like a rash. It’s certainly adventurous, and not just in the styling stakes: just check that front suspension system. The big question now is how many buyers the zecOO will find. It might look like a million dollars, but the projected price is US$70,000—a cool six million yen.

Thanks to Jason Fullington And Anthony Hardie.

Tron Motorcycle

Chris Hunter — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:30:01 +0000

Believe it or not, this is a motorcycle that you can buy. It’ll cost you at least $55,000 but it’s electric, so you’ll save money on gas. The Xenon was styled by Florida-based Parker Brothers Choppers, and it’s based on the gas-powered “Light Cycle” they created for the movie Tron: Legacy. But the core of the Xenon comes from a company called Evolve, which is better known for its affordable electric scooters costing $2,900 and up. There are two versions of the productionized Xenon, a basic model and the “XR”, which doubles the battery power to give a 100-mile range. A 40,000W motor delivers a top speed of 70 mph, and the battery pack is fully charged in three to four hours. And despite the improbable looks, there’s a video to prove that the bike is rideable. There’s no pipewrap and the tires look nothing like vintage Firestones. But I’d happily put this one in my garage for those occasional night rides.

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Orphiro Electric Motorcycle

Chris Hunter — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:30:16 +0000

I’m ambivalent about most electric motorcycles, but this new design from a Dutch company ticks the box for me. In fact, it’s the first electric moto I’ve seen since the Hammarhead Volta that I like. It’s called the Orphiro, and it’s described as a ‘wide-body cruiser’—which also explains the wire spokes and bobber-style seat. To my eyes, it’s a surprisingly successful update of retro styling cues. Like several other electric motorcycles, there’s a hint of the Philippe Starck-designed Aprilia Moto 6.5 in the mid-section—but it’s still a restrained and coherent design. The battery range is around 60 miles (100 km), so this isn’t a bike that will take you coast-to-coast. But the top speed is a brisk 75 mph (120 kph). Plenty enough for what Orphiro calls “sustainable fun”. The order book opens when the bike is launched in September, and it’ll be interesting to see how much this one costs. [Spotted on Wired Autopia.]

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Lito Green Motion Sora

Chris Hunter — Sun, 22 May 2011 17:30:53 +0000

I’m ambivalent about electric motorcycles. The head says yes, but the heart says no. But I like the look of the Sora, which comes from Canadian company Lito Green Motion. It’s due to be unveiled next month, with deliveries beginning in October. Top speed is given as 200 kph (120 mph), and there are novelties like an electric seat—so you can change the riding position from sportbike to cruiser-style—and an integrated GPS system. The $44,000 Sora is designed to be ridden for up to 300 km on a single charge and it also sports a CVT transmission. Unlike most electric motos, this one seems to have an emotive design philosophy behind it: LGM wanted to take “the best design elements of bobber and café racer/streetfighter bikes” to create “a unique style of motorcycle that is part custom, part sport bike.” Now that sounds like they’re on the right track. [Via Autoblog Green.]

Hammarhead Volta

Chris Hunter — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:30:34 +0000

Hammarhead Industries is growing fast. To date, they’ve sold five Jack Pines and a couple of Woodsmen, and they have a firm order for the Ural Solo X we revealed last month. But no one had ordered a Volta. “Then out of the blue we are building one,” says founder James Hammarhead. “We are back in the game with the electric bike, and I will probably build a ‘naked’ version in parallel to this customer order.” Yes, despite appearances the Volta is an electric moto (and only the seventh one we’ve featured on the site over the past two years). The current crop of electric bikes does nothing for me, but there is something interesting about the Volta. Probably because it’s the antithesis of what you’d expect.

It’s a collaboration with the EnerTrac Corp, and according to Hammarhead, “The bike is based on a Royal Enfield Bullet, with modified sub-frame added to support the battery. It’s a nice candidate for electric conversion—a solid, simple open frame that’s widely available on the used motorcycle market. And there’s a huge reproduction parts and accessories market that is affordable.” My electrical knowledge is limited to replacing lightbulbs, so the specs mean little to me. But for our more engineering-oriented readers, the Volta uses “BLDC 3-phase permanent magnet brushless motors”. These have a 10KW continuous output with a 30KW peak. Current top speed is 75 mph, with a range of 50 miles, but Hammarhead is shooting for a goal of ’100/100′. Bringing that within reach is extra capacity in the electrical system: The current battery pack is a 32-cell setup, but there’s room to expand to 36 cells for more power. And the bike weighs just 368 lbs—the same as stock. If an electric moto ever found its way into my garage, it’d probably be this one. Tempting enough for you? [More on the Hammarhead website. Images by Ryan Miller.]

If you’re a fan of Hammarhead’s work and live in North America, grab yourself an exclusive Bike EXIF x Hammarhead tee from Deus’ online store.

Mavizen TTX02

Chris Hunter — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:30:31 +0000

Take a KTM RC8 superbike. Whip out the powertrain and replace it with a battery pack and web-connected electronics. What have you got? The Mavizen TTX02 racer. This English-built motorcycle can be configured like a PC, with hot-swappable battery packs—plus a system bus that allows owners to change settings via a USB port in the ‘fuel tank’. (Predictably, it’s been described as a ‘130 mph laptop on wheels’.) It sounds like a sensible approach to us: after all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And the RC8 definitely ain’t broke. If you have the $40,000 or so required to purchase a TTX02, you can choose from three power packs: an 11 kilowatt-hour unit designed for the full Isle of Man electric TTXGP course, a 6 kilowatt-hour ‘Circuit’ pack or a smaller ‘Sprint’ pack for short races. Let’s just hope the operating system isn’t Windows Vista. [Photo: MCN. Thanks to Chuck Squatriglia of Wired Autopia.]

Update: Next year, Infineon Raceway will host America’s first zero-emissions motorcycle race—on May 14 to 16, during the AMA Motorcycle Sonoma Showdown weekend.

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eROCKIT hybrid motorcycle

Chris Hunter — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:30:26 +0000

Is there room for a vehicle like the eROCKIT in the future of motorcycling? BusinessWeek thinks so, explaining: “The driver’s pedaling motions charge the batteries and control the motor, which multiplies the rider’s effort by a factor of 50. The faster you pedal, the faster the 12 horsepower electric motor rotates. The high torque of the electric motor enables spectacular acceleration.” If you don’t pedal, the eROCKIT will not move. But when you do pedal, top speed is 80 kph (50 mph). We’re not taken with the awful techno-moped styling, but we do like the claim—cue Brüno accent—that riders are left with a “feeling of possessing unnatural powers”. The man behind this contraption is German Stefan Gulas, who is planning a limited series of ten production bikes before the end of 2009. Next step is to find a partner for large-scale production. Any takers with large kugelsacks? [Thanks to Max Lecointe.]