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[Richard230]

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/gasoline-vehicle-bans-coming-and-motorcycling-isnt-ready.
 
One thing they are right about is that both the major motorcycle manufacturers and their customers are not ready for this trend. It is going to take a lot of work to get from their estimated 4K sales a year for highway-legal motorcycles to picking up the slack if ICE bikes are banned. The toughest issue is likely to be changing customer perceptions of electric motorcycles. I don't think you will find a more conservative group of vehicle customers than motorcycle enthusiasts.   

[BigPoppa]

I think that as more riders start riding electrics, the adoption rate will increase. I'm just finishing up my second day of owning an electric and I've had more comments and questions from both motorcyclists and drivers regarding the bike than I've had with my ICE bikes...usually starting with just the styling and then amazement when told it's electric.

Again, just my opinion but I firmly believe that the more people in general see and are exposed to electric motorcycles, the more comfortable with the idea and the more likely they'll in turn become owners. If we really want to increase the adoption rate of electrics though, I think it's going to take the manufacturers taking a hit for a few years to drive the pricing down much closer to the $10k-$15k range instead of the $20k+ range most of the decent bikes are at now.

Energica was able to bring their pricing way down by selling clean air credits...hopefully other manufacturers will do the same...sell credits and use that to offset the cost of their electrics to build market share.

[Fran K]

This type of article will make hostility more likely.   My experience, and it is not the road legal segment, better received in person than on the internet.  Only unfriendly reaction is about forcing fears   Click bait.  Title and article not good match especially if rural USA.  Complete with shopping cart.

[Richard230]

As someone who has bought 45 motorcycles over the past 58 years, I see the vast majority of motorcycle enthusiasts being dragged kicking and screaming into electric propulsion. Motorcycle buyers hate change - no matter what they might say.  All of the riders that I have talked with see electric motorcycles as a curiosity.  While they wouldn't mind trying one out, they wouldn't want to actually own one.

I don't see the major motorcycle manufacturers entering the EV market with mass production electric bikes until they can see the likelihood of sales being in the 20K a year range - unless they are forced to do so by government laws, such as ones prohibiting the sale of ICE vehicles.

I have been on a number of motorcycle forums over the years, where I have been beating the EV drum for the past 10 years. Unfortunately there has been little interest in electric motorcycles.  On the other hand, there is a lot more interest on installing mufflers that make more noise.   

[Fran K]

Since this thread involves bans.  And you brought up loud exhaust.  And you are in California.  How is that loud pipes legislation I read about governor Arnold signing being enforced?

[ESokoloff]

I'm hoping to see the day when battery's get so good that no one will want an ICE vehicle.
Some day getting petroleum will be as difficult as finding an EV charging station today.
I'm just not sure I will live long enough to see that day.

[Bill822]

...  All of the riders that I have talked with see electric motorcycles as a curiosity.  While they wouldn't mind trying one out, they wouldn't want to actually own one...

As electric bikes start to gain visibility as sporting machines rather than as drab commuters, with MotoE this weekend and Zero SR/F reviews online, the acceptance will grow. Nobody (said said out loud that they) liked ABS or then Traction Control until they could "dial it in" for hypothetically faster lap times (on their street-only sportbike).

If Tesla started with slow boring cars they would only be a footnote in history today. Now all the other manufacturers are trying to catch up. Lightning and Zero announce sporty electrics and get bombarded with preorders. It's no coincidence that soon after Triumph polls it's owners then announces it will join the party.

Time will bring change, maybe not fast enough, but it will.

[Richard230]

Since this thread involves bans.  And you brought up loud exhaust.  And you are in California.  How is that loud pipes legislation I read about governor Arnold signing being enforced?

California has strict laws banning any changes to motorcycle or car exhaust systems that are not approved by the vehicle manufacturers.  They are being enforced on auto or motorcycle dealers who can be fined for replacing the exhaust systems. The reasoning for this has more to do with violating emission control laws than noise. However, the laws do not seem to be enforced on individual owners, only franchised businesses. Certainly cruiser and sport bike owners don't seem to be bothered by these regulations, which is helped by there being no after-sales inspection of motorcycles in California.  And the cops who have the ability to enforce noise laws have their hands full just handing out speeding and distracted driver tickets as fast as they can.  And of course, responding to accidents that seem to happen every few minutes during the day.   

I have no doubt that electric motorcycles will eventually be accepted into the mass vehicle market, but I bet it will be long after other EVs have been sold in large numbers for many years.

[NEW2elec]

The market will work all this out.
First by that time they will have made like 100 million or more gas bikes. 
I think most countries got some monetary incentives to "say" they would ban and just like most other agreements they make they will break them if it doesn't suit their needs or if the people don't want it and they risk losing power.

To me the EVs are heading in right direction but still a ways to go.  Speed will get attention like it or not and that is coming along nicely.
Next the components and build quality needs to improve and when all the big boys get in, the parts suppliers will up their game.
Then it's just a matter of price.

I want electric to be the clear better choice and that comes from competition not force.

[folmonty]

Couldn't agree more.  When traveling abroad it's shocking how many scooters / ICE small engine bikes are running around this world.  Zero's SR/F might be a game changer for Zero but it's out of reach for most to become a main stream EV.  They make options and seem to be on the right track.  If the market is left to work and evolve, that's the magic to "kick start" the evolution.   

[Doug S]

I'm hoping to see the day when battery's get so good that no one will want an ICE vehicle.

I don't think that's necessary and maybe not really possible. I have to think some applications will always be best filled by fuel-powered vehicles -- ocean liners, for instance. I can't imagine a battery pack suitable for that application, or how and where you'd charge it if you had it.

But I absolutely do agree that personal EVs will very soon be the best solution for personal transportation needs of all sorts. Aside from purchase price considerations, they already are the best solution for commuting, which makes up over 90% of American personal transportation needs. Even range and recharge times aren't factors nearly as often as many people think they are. I think it's mostly a matter of fear and misunderstanding. All you have to do is try an EV for a while to realize how convenient and useful they really are.

[Bill822]

The market will work all this out.
....
I want electric to be the clear better choice and that comes from competition not force.

Unfortunately the market's time horizon is far too short. It can't leave money on the table. We can no longer wait to address changes we are making to the atmosphere today. The consequences are too dire to wait and the impact is too far off (beyond the next quarter) for the market to respond effectively. Governmental guidance will be required. Thank goodness EVs are being developed today. Without them the impact of needed cuts would utterly disrupt our way of life. By beginning some time ago government incentives encouraged private companies to develop things like our bikes. It is no longer early days though and the transition must increase its pace. Once gasoline is banned or taxed at a strong disincentive lets hope  manufacturers have the technology and infrastructure in place to replace its function.

[alko]

Widespread L3 charging will be a huge step forward. There are more L3 charging stations in my area than L2. In fact I can ride from Las Vegas nv to north of Salt Lake City using  L3 chargers placed roughly every 50 miles or so (with the acception of Las vegas to Mesquite nv being about 80 miles) thanks to Electrify America.
That's why it saddens me that Zero has fallen behind, not only by not including L3 on the sr/f,  but also with its 1C charging limit.

[Apriliarsv]

After watching Tony's video I can't wait to see how it all plays out.

 

[DonTom]

After watching Tony's video I can't wait to see how it all plays out.

By the time that video is over with, it will be all played out!

-Don-  Reno, NV