Electric Superbike Race - Zero Motorcycles at TTXGP

[ilovetheninetiesssss]

i miss the sound of the motors!!! without that its like nothing

[TCoops]

Keep laughing. Soon we will all be riding these. Yeah, because fossil fuel is unlimited. Right?

[BravoAlphaSix]

electrics seem like they would be fun. all that instant torque. the only thing i would miss would be the range of gas, the sound of gas motors, and how they can refill quickly.

[quelorepario]

@BravoAlphaSix soon electric vehicles will be drivable all day, and the concept of recharging will be weekly.

The battery technology is advancing very fast, allowing more density and charge per m2.

With oil you can't keep making the gas tank bigger, with battery technology we can and we are just scratching the surface.

[BravoAlphaSix]

@quelorepario Everything you said is true. Just have to wait for it. Ill buy one when it is viable, which should be within a couple years.

Still, I love the sound of gas motors, but hey, I can live without it if it is cheaper for me.

[gasdive]

@quelorepario The concept of weekly charging is a hang over from petrol bikes where it's a drag to go to the shop and buy petrol. Just plug it in every night when you get home and when you next go to use it, it's full! The refueling station is in your garage. They're viable right now, the latest Zero has a range of over 100 km and is good for over 300 000 km riding.

[quelorepario]

@gasdive What I clearly meant is that the technology of improving energy density might eventually make daily charging needless, far surpassing the mileage of combustion based vehicles.

[gasdive]

@BravoAlphaSix In actual use it doesn't matter how long they take to recharge because unlike petrol where you stand there and recharge them, with electric, just plug in and walk away. Next time you want to go somewhere they're full again and ready to go.

[BravoAlphaSix]

@gasdive Youve got a very good point there

When the batteries of the near future can last ~350 miles a charge, then charge them at night, that will be when I buy one.

[gasdive]

@BravoAlphaSix How often do you actually ride 350 miles in a day? We're talking dirtbikes here. Even in the Dakar they don't have many stages longer than that and they have supply dumps where you could change batteries. Last year they had only one stage over 350 miles. Are you riding a Dakar bike now and finding the range limiting your fun? The 2012 DS has a range of 100 miles and will 95% recharge in as little as 2 hours (with optional chargers)

[BravoAlphaSix]

@gasdive No no, not dirtbikes, im talking a touring style bike. 350 is the absolute maximum that probably anyone would do on a bike in a day. And I mean absolute. If you drive 350 miles a day, then damn. I want everymile i can get.

[gasdive]

@BravoAlphaSix Yes, sorry, I'm embroiled in a couple of these discussions and I forgot which video I was on. Most of the output from Zero has been dirt bikes. Last big ride I did in my CBR1000 was 383 miles, that was a big day. Still, that was 10 years ago and I've done nothing like that since. In reality the average distance ridden by USA bikes in regular use is only 1800 miles and the average commute distance, only 5 miles each way for 10 miles total. 100 miles range is really plenty.

[BravoAlphaSix]

@gasdive Like I said, 350 is way over what anyone is doing a day, but that is what gas can do (average), so when they match the standard.

[BravoAlphaSix]

@gasdive Also my commute is upwards of 80 miles back and forth every day. I want those extra miles where I can get them.

[nhand42]

@BravoAlphaSix " im talking a touring style bike. 350 is the absolute maximum that probably anyone would do on a bike in a day."

When I toured Australia on a motorbike, I was averaging 800km (500miles) per day and my biggest day was 1150km (715miles).

[FFsCMs]

...sounds like carrera toys.

[N1GASynagogueClan]

This is just so stupid.

[Giang1911]

ohhhhhh......... the boys beware

[Mayondor]

GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN

[steadiworkz]

its the future......probably :)

[bonds911]

i want one of this bikes even if they not as fast, they are cheaper to run

[yes333yes]

hahahah at 2:08 NO MY CAMERA!

[themaniusedtob]

i wish it would be legal to ride an electric bike on NY streets

[edwardyourlord2]

no sound =(

[REM44MAG]

No real power??? Did you not read the description? Only 18 seconds slower than AMA race bikes... If that isn't real power and a huge accomplishment for electric motorcycles than I don't know what would impress you. Eventually these will be better than what is on the streets, imagine having to smog your bikes by law, some day soon. The technology for this will only get more compact and light weight, and may one day smash gasoline superbike lap times.

[zzzzz31a]

There just no excitement for me a those battery bikes. I wouldn't be seen dead on one. There's no real power , sound or smells.

[Kounglou]

@zzzzz31a

Lols iz just matter of time when electric is gonna smash gas performance by far.

Look to the rc plane world, in 10years electric went from merely able to keep it's batery's up to 2tims fatser then gas rc plaanes.

Remember battery stocs are owned by fossilfuel company's and the only company;s trying to innovate on batter's are the phone/laptop/ tablad developers atm

[davidrunnenburg]

LOL look at the bike in front @ 40 sec its like going back in time :P huge square back

[ASHLambretta]

arhhhh shit DAVE u got a spare battery mines gone flat lol

[CAESARbonds]

I want one :)

[stompman101]

haaa a silent race start lol

[joseabreu00]

What some of us dont understand, instead of winning about... Wahh, It doesnt sound like a real bike! Wah, How much is the battery, Wah what if it break down? NO NO NO NO!!! Be happy that these people a taking it a step further and soon we will have the OPTION TO CHOOSE, instead of being slaves on dependency of the GREED of oil companies.

[Godv2]

Hehe, you could overtake by smacking the big red safety cutoff button on the back of someone else's bike...

[skatepunkzero]

I wonder what the cost per repairs is? Plus you probably need an Electric Engineer to fix the bike.

[rckrackedup]

@skatepunkzero if well made ,,,other than moving parts ,notting should brake,,its like pro quality r/c brushless engine system,,virtualy maintenance free

[skatepunkzero]

@rckrackedup What about the battery cost, most the electric cars they cost $10,000 for a battery, a performance superbike must be more

[coalandnuclear]

@skatepunkzero toyota says $6000 for theres in the prius. add that to forks rims frame and it will cost a pretty penny

[skatepunkzero]

@coalandnuclear I can build a 600hp Chevy 350 for $6000, that will be a 9-8 second car.

[rckrackedup]

@skatepunkzero just need to learn to fix it,,its like a gas engine,,but electronic,just a little bit more complicated

[skatepunkzero]

@rckrackedup and probably way more expenisve. Sorry but electric sucks, Ill stick with gas.

[coalandnuclear]

@rckrackedup electric is less complicated if you ask me, i personally would rather have a gas engine though, love the sound.

[rckrackedup]

@coalandnuclear yeah right ,for the sound ,,wath a dumb answear!!!!!

[gasdive]

@skatepunkzero generally much cheaper to repair than petrol bikes.

[chickendippers24]

the only reason i like superbikes is for the noise....

[Errordemn6]

Sound isn't exciting or anything, but it's cool to see electric motorcycles doing this. Looking forward to future developments.

[THEUNSPOKEN100]

An Australian has just created a new energy source as an electric generator. Its to last for 15 years or more with any fluctuation. Its on You Tube somewhere. once he designs an Engine for an Electric Superbike!!! Welcome Tron Boys

[sonicnofadz]

electric batteries are still far too heavy and don't carry enough energy to be meaningful for commuting. Electric motors are also very heavy and low power, and EXPENSIVE. It will be another twenty years before this technology is actually economically viable for the average commuter.

[gasdive]

@sonicnofadz No, electric bikes are much *lighter* not heavier. The Zero XU is 221 pounds ready to roll. Electric motors are lighter than petrol motors and make more power per kg. Power is far from "low". The Zero XU is about the same as a 250 single (but just over half the wieght), the SWIGZ race bike makes about the same power as a MotoGP bike and does 190 mph.

[joe9813]

OMG really orrible sound.. :S

[itube4521]

do they have gears?

[Woodee]

@itube4521 I don't think so

[pjatres]

That's realy weird see a burnout without the explosion/motor sound. heheheh

[burmkilla]

haha those bikes are slow as hell

[bolindo69]

It's said that the top speed is around 120-130mph

[catainsilver]

whats the top speed??

[gnoxycat]

Make it a 12hr or 24hr race where they allow them to replace the batteries in pit like tires so the engineers have some data to work with :D

[brandontntbel1]

I totally agree with jonny343nw. This will definately change the concept of gas bikes all together, and still acheive the thrill, speed, and competition of traditional bikes. GREEN POWER ALL THE WAY.

[sampixBE]

sounds like my RC car...

[NebunLaCap]

that dude is fuckin annoying

[dumpedcorolla]

sounds like those little slot cars you play with when you were little lol im going to say no to the elecric bikes... :( i need a real bike with pipes etc nothing like the sound of a screaming streetbike mmmm

[thirteenfingers]

I have such mixed emotions...

On one hand - I've always known it'd be possible to make electric vehicles that look good and go like stink.

On the other hand it seems a real shame there's no engine note (one of the best thing about a good bike - they SING) and that the batteries needed to run electric motors are seriously nasty things when they reach the end of service life.

Roll on the day we have fusion power nailed down and miniaturised. That'll be fun! (Not that we'll live to see it.)

[gasdive]

@thirteenfingers No, the batteries in a modern electric like the Zero are completely non toxic. You could eat them. They're certified for landfill but you wouldn't because they're too valuable to recycle.

[LowKeyYingYang]

I can honestly say im impressed. And truthfully if i could say, and I'm a very enthusiastic biker and M.C. president, that if they ever made 1 of these with the performance and power of a GSXR1k or even a 750, I'd get it. As a daily go to work ride i'd save so much many and wear and tear on my weekend track baby.

[gasdive]

@LowKeyYingYang As a commuter my Zero DS is much faster than any petrol bike simply because I just jump on and go. All petrol bikes need to be warmed up for a few minutes. By that time I'm nearly at my destination!

[tantragna]

Do they have gears like the regular machines or just one ratio? Gears are fun!

[scioruch]

this is the future, really exciting stuff!

[kathlene2gmail]

Congratulations Mr S. Higbee, Well deserved!!

[STEVEDIGIBOYtv]

I have an '89 RZ350 frame ready for a motor but have not settled on DC or AC

nice video.

[johnny343nw]

But all this little manufacturers like Enertia, the Zero DS, the GPR-S cant do aneything on the big market. Nobody know them. I mean, serious, would a biker buy a motorcycle wich de doesn't even heard of? NO. I use to ride motorcycles. I would chose a bike wich is made by a good brand. Thet got experience, quality, safty, strong tehnic,

Any questions?

[InternConflict]

@johnny343nw Well, yes and no, sure I know that japanese bikes have a high Quality ( Yamaha, Suzuki ) BUT I would say that after well known and famous magazines will test the first bike and give their "ok" people will start to think about Pros and Cons.

No question, believe me, I love the sound of my SFV Twin, haha, that electric ssssssssssound is terrible :p

[julingy]

@InternConflict yeah the electric sound is bad. but imagine going dirt bike riding (where electric bikes really shine) and being able to hear everything around you instead of that horrible 2 stroke noise!!!! and more places would let you ride the bike because its not annoying and disturbing to the environment.

[mrxgonza]

Is the winning bike not last year's IoM ttxgp winner?? To me it looks like they got it from Agni motors (Cedric Lynch) and then painted it blue and grey... either that or it's a perfect replica... :S

[ivaniclixx]

Nice.

[3000psiandfalling]

This kinda remindes me of Rod Kimble and his moped. We will not see the battery or power cell technolgy this sport needs anytime soon. Maybe run an extension cord along? Or better install a wip like the bumper cars have?

[jpmorgan187]

@3000psiandfalling

I bet your ancestors were the ones who thought the earth was flat are could never be convinced that it was round.

[kawasakicoby125]

Only18 seconds? I think that electric bikes are fun, sure. Produce torque, sure but never can an electric bike be a better preformance replacement for a gasser.

[StupidCelebrities]

@kawasakicoby125

Just give it a few years.

[theslowblade]

@kawasakicoby125

I think to say never would be incorrect, though as of right now they are not. But this race is just a taste of what is to come as unlike gas engines, electrics are experiencing huge advancements constantly. mark my words, in ten years you will have an electric superbike that will blow any ICE out of the water

[Zamboro]

@kawasakicoby125

'cept on the drag strip, where performance EVs can't be beat.

[johnny343nw]

all the big motorcycle manufacturers sould start to build elektric bikes, sport bikes and street bikes. NOT ONLY ELECTRIC SCOOTERS !

[Zamboro]

@johnny343nw

Lots of good electric motorcycles out there these days. The Enertia, the Zero DS, the GPR-S. The only downside is that they all cost around $8,000 and top out at 70mph. In another ten years battery capacity will be so cheap that those specs will look like a joke.

[johnny343nw]

The Enertia, the Zero DS, the GPR-S are just shit, you can't compare them with the products of the big companies. Thouse are tested, strong, safe, AND THEY GOT EXPERIENCE IN MOTORCYCLE BUILDING !!!

[gasdive]

@johnny343nw I've got a Zero DS. The parts of them made by Zero are outstanding quality, far better than anything I've seen on a mass produced bike. The parts they buy like the headlight are not good quality, they're just as bad as on other mass produced bikes!

[allen423100]

@johnny343nw  well said

[ThePhiltastic]

Go Electric POWER!!!