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[NEW2elec]

Wavelet, Damon seems to be saying their bikes HS, SX, SE will basically be the same bike but with different battery configurations which lowers the range and power for each model.  Maybe different software maps as well but they didn't elaborate to that extent.
You can read through some of the comments on their FB page and see their responses.

They seem to feel it's the best way to have the bikes setup so we'll have to wait and see how it goes.

[ultrarnr]

NEW2elec, Do you have any insight into why Damon decided to use a sport bike configuration as their base model? It seems to me that if you are going to design a bike with adjustable ergos that it would make more sense to start with something like the Energica Ribelle. Then you could adjust to more sport bike like the Ego or more upright like the EsseEsse9.

[princec]

It's a curious choice to be sure given that the sportsbike market is almost dead.

Cas

[NEW2elec]

You can watch the last interview I posted where Jay talks about going with a sport bike for the "first" offering.
Also talks about when they want to enter the UK.
He also talk about what I picked up on early on.  Do it just like Tesla.  So Sporty exciting Tesla Roadster came out first and for Damon the Hypersport comes out first.
                                                           HS
                                                           SE
                                                           SX

Going down what do those model's second letters spell? A bit like Tesla's models S3XY, huh. 

He mentioned how their HyperDrive drive train/battery combo setup can be used in adventure bikes and "other" platforms.

They have a time line projection on their main website with goals up to 2030.
Quite simply they intend to be major EV players.

[princec]

Hm I'm really not sure about that, the motorcycle market is so utterly alien to the car market.

Cas

[NEW2elec]

That's just it, Tesla's business model was utterly alien to the car market too.
It worked pretty well for them though.

Here in the US there is a company called Carvrana which is an online (mostly) only used car seller.  It works because at least in the US people HATE dealing with car dealers.
It's an unnecessary middle man mark up.  One person may pay thousands more for the same car as someone else. 

[princec]

The US car industry model is already as absolutely whacko as it is possible to be, they deserved to be blindsided. We genuinely appreciate dealers here for the aftersales backup, and it's a major impediment to "online" vehicle sales in, say, the UK, because we won't buy something if we've got to drive 50 miles to get it back to the dealer... assuming there even is one. Aprilia and KTM for example are hamstrung here because they don't have a big enough dealer network.

Cas

[Crissa]

It's a curious choice to be sure given that the sportsbike market is almost dead.

Sportbikes are the #2 largest segment in North America.  And their market is interested in the latest-greatest technology.

Anyhow... It's almost fifty miles to the BMW dealer which services my Zero.

-Crissa

[NEW2elec]

Guys trained to work on electric motorcycles 50 miles away?
Interesting.

[ultrarnr]

Hopefully someone at Damon has spoken to an old timer at Zero who remembers why direct sales didn't for Zero so the same mistakes aren't made. And while Tesla does direct sales they also have brick and mortar stores where you can go to get a test drive or just check out one of their cars  in person and talk to people about them.

[NEW2elec]

The podcast thread with Damon COO and co-founder of Alta Derek Dorresteyn addresses the problem with setting up a dealer network is that it costs almost as much as setting up production. 
While Jay talked about the extra 12-15% you have to charge to offset the dealer's cut.

In the longer term, who knows, but for now test ride events and partnered service centers should cover most needs.

[ultrarnr]

But Zero clearly felt the cost to use dealers was worth it after trying to sell direct.Guess time will tell if it works for Damon.

[Curt]

Anyhow... It's almost fifty miles to the BMW dealer which services my Zero.

Zero ought to set up a small garage bay at their factory and provide spectacular direct service in your area (and much of the SF Bay area). It could also be a facility for apprentice training and observation, for hardening the products, maintenance tools and procedures.