I did a bit of research before I got my Ribelle and will admit now, I am partial to the Energica Brand, but with that being said.
I like the adjustable wind screen on this one, but is that something that is really useful or just nerd bragging rights?
THe frunk, yah thats nice too being able to store stuff, I'll say permanent storage stuff, like the can of fix a flat, a tire PSI gauge, a wrench or minor crap you might find yourself needing on a ride. Even a small huffer ratchet with a head to move the wheel in case you have chain issues. (you can kind of hand feel what you need for torque but just get the damned thing tight to get home and then spec it later)...
They have a lot of room up there, Energica does not. What do they have up there that's taking up all that space? The extra 4kw of battery? is there room somewhere Energica could squeeze a twin charger in for a full 6 =7 KW of onboard charging?
Belt drive, probably quieter, but I love the chain drive of the Energica. Because of the stupid massive HP this bike can put out and torque values, you need a chain, you'd tear up a belt after a while Id believe. Not to mention Belt / Chain, it's not THAT much quieter, most the noise would be motor noise. I ride in max regen and feather the throttle to get where I need speed wise, that big ole 100 KW genset you are sitting on can make some noise when winding down / (charging up) although 24 - 30 kw was the max I EVER seen it at with a full regen after a full throttle event. (Thinking trying to keep it within 1C of the battery cap??)
No one bike I think will EVER be perfect for everyone, it's the jack of all trades, master of none thing IMO, but I really like this bike as well and might take a test drive just to give it a whirl.
I think everyone has range anxiety when they first get a bike because they heard all the ICEholes crying about it, making it impossible to NOT hear about it, but once you been on a bike and see first hand what they do, yah, not a big deal.
I have not done any long distance riding on a super comfy bike that is a Lay Z Boy on wheels so can't say this from experience, but from my limited short semi fat troll riding exp. After 100 Miles on the bike being beat up by wind / traffic etc. Yah I can stand a little break. Let my hand un fall asleep, let my legs stretch. Taking 20 minutes to take a leak, grab a drink, quick chuckle with a buddy you are riding with, maybe ram a hot dog down. No biggie, in honesty that's about what you'd do on a gas bike anyways.
Honest ?. If you are not on just a trip, I am going from point A to B. If you are riding for fun, with a group ride, a poker run, a Legion Riders romp around town, you are stopping anyways fairly often right? Tap the plug every stop, even if you only got 15 miles in, that's plenty to your next destination stop right? ::shrug:: Shit, I can get that on a J plug almost. (Imagine if a bike could charge off a reg 240 at 6K, then you absolutely WILL get that in.... hint hint)
Morgan is right, there are just so many GOOD bikes out there now, it's only a matter of taste, kind of like the Ford .vs. Chevy crap that goes on eternally.
My main concern is, the globalist cancer is trying to blow up the world here. The economy is going to total shit. Will these companies be around in 3 to 4 years? People need to realize ..fuck sending the kids to college, it's just Marxist mind poison at this point anyways, your 'sweet little girl' will just dye her hair purple, put on 120 Lbs and learn to hate you because they convinced her that you are evil somehow.
Get an E Bike instead. Let the kid learn a trade, goto a trade school instead, they'll be much better off AND the money you save you can get an E bike from a few of the companies, that way you got ALL your desires, (speed, touring, etc) covered! The kid won't be 250K in debt making 35K a year after the lie is revealed and instead making 125K a year, probably much more if they got their act together, much happier, and can get an E bike of their own to join you, (now BOTH of you are saving mother earth /sarc-off ) for the weekend ride while the moms watch the kids.
All snark aside. There are so many decent E bikes out there, and more promised, and of course the existing companies I am sure are planning bigger better stuff as well. With that, Price HAS to be a major factor in ranking them.... since they all are really good, they have to figure some way to parse them out right?
For you and I, spending 30k on a bike, meeh. not a HUGE deal, I make 175K a year, I make 250, 500k a year, no big deal. BUT.... for someone who makes 75 K a year, this DOES become a big deal, especially since the cost of food has roughly doubled over the past year or three, so for someone who has to budget carefully, yep, that extra 75 / mo for 48 months CAN be an issue.
Also, some more PTC.
ALL ice engines eventually wear out, clearances widen, the HP is no longer there etc. This really is not an issue with a motor. Either it runs or it don't. They don't lose HP over time really. Ok you may sloppen up a tranny over time but a new gearbox for an e vehicle, is not that huge a price part if you have to replace it, and if you do, it's not like an ICE setup where, ok you replaced component A, NOW you have to replace B, C and D or new A will tear them up, type thing. You'd have to seriously molest the thing imo to bugger up a gearbox though, I mean jeez.
That 170 HP motor from Energica is STILL a 170 Hp motor 8 years down the road, you won't have to really worry, well how did he drive it, as badly as you would have to with an ICE engine.
Even with their steeper price tags, there also comes a lot of benefits as well with E vehicles. Hell, maybe one day we find that motors are universal, I get a 2034 Bike, trade in my 2023 for it, they take the motor out of my 23 paint it, buff it, and plop it right into my brand spanking new '34. My 170 Hp '23 motor runs just as good as the brand new snazzy '34 motor. now I saved 4k on the new bike because I was able to use parts off my old one. just sayin''
Aaron