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[Richard230]

Is there a version of the magazine that is online?  I'm interested in reading that article.

I don't know if the magazine is available on line.  But the American Motorcyclist magazine website is: www.americanmotorcyclist.com

You can try digging through the site.  It looks like they might have previous issues available on line.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Yesterday, a bus driver stopped his bus just to ask me how the hell I passed him without making any noise. He was really excited to learn that electric motorcycles existed at all. So, we're still at that level of awareness. I think I like the sentiment that the best market for these bikes is people who don't even look at motorcycles now.

[Doug S]

I think I like the sentiment that the best market for these bikes is people who don't even look at motorcycles now.

Honestly, I didn't go looking for an electric bike. A year or so ago my only vehicle was an aging (1997, 178k on the clock) BMW 528i that I've loved dearly, but clearly it was time to start looking at new rides. I'm a huge believer in EVs, but a Tesla is way out of my price range and no other electric car inspired me much if at all. But I'm also a lifetime bike rider, had been without a bike for two years, and suddenly realized that an electric bike would fill my needs even better than an electric car: I could keep the BMW for long trips/carrying passengers/bad weather, but an electric bike would handle 95% of my driving needs (commuting and short errands) and allow me to cut WAY down on miles on the car. I figured it would also cost a lot less and be even cheaper per mile to drive than an electric car.

How right I was! My transportation expenses are now a small fraction of what they were, I get to ride a very fun and satisfying motorcycle just about every day, and I still have an ICE car for when I need it, whose gas tank now gets filled less than once a month, instead of more than once a week.

In terms of filling all of my transportation needs, reducing costs, but not leaving me without options for long drives, carrying passengers or bad weather, I don't think there's a better combination than the electric bike and ICE car. Maybe when the electric cars have Tesla-like ranges at Honda Fit-type prices, and fast-charging stations are all over this nation, things will be different, but for now I don't know of any way to beat my combination. And even when/if that day comes, electric cars will still never offer the sheer efficiency and low driving costs of an electric bike.

[francesco]

I think I like the sentiment that the best market for these bikes is people who don't even look at motorcycles now.

I never considered buying a motorcycle before I heard about electrics (which was during a conversation about Tesla, btw).

e-motorcycle companies should really find a way to benefit from Tesla's visibility, e.g. partnership for joint events.

[benswing]

Thankfully the conversations are very different now than they were even 2 years ago.  People used to look at me skeptically when I said my motorcycle was electric and I didn't have the performance attributes of the SR to point to as an example.  Now when people realize I have an electric motorcycle they get excited to see one in person because they probably have read about it.

Changed my tire yesterday at a shop that sells all kinds of gas bikes and both guys behind the desk in the service department were genuinely excited to see my bike in person.  They didn't give me a discount, but we had a great conversation.   

[Richard230]

As part of my campaign to spread the word about the usefulness of electric motorcycles, I posted a short article about my 100-mile ride the other day on my favorite BMW forum:  http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/208730-A-100-mile-ride-on-my-electric-motorcycle

I figure these guys can afford an electric motorcycle - in addition to a BMW motorcycle or two.   

[Mike Werner]

Not to forget the BMW solution itself...

[Richard230]

Not to forget the BMW solution itself...

Which has never been mentioned by the BMW crowd.  Fortunately, they have an "automated news bot" that picks up everything on the internet having to do with motorcycles, including the C-Evolution.  Unfortunately, no one on the site seems to own one and I don't have any experience with the C-evolution that would allow me to comment any more than what the internet has done.

I might also add that the BMW IC scooters don't get any respect, either.  So it may be just a bias against owning a scooter.   

Speaking of scooters: I just returned from my BMW/Vespa/Triumph dealer and they had a 2014 Vespa Model 946 on display.  Its price has increased to $10,495 USD.  You wouldn't think that they could sell a 150cc 55-mph scooter for that price.  But I was told that they have sold about 8 of them since they were introduced by Vespa.  (I was also told that the U.S. is allocated 300 of this model each year.)  My guess is that they are bought by well-off customers who want to display them as works of art in their homes.  They do look very nice, but don't seem very practical.

[chdfarl]

Here's a sad spin on things that you might not consider since the larger percentage of you likely live on the west coast there are little to no EV sales out here on the East coast.
There is no Brammo dealer within id say 600mi. of where I live (1hr south of Boston). The nearest Zero dealer is a couple hours away. Now I did go there to test ride an FX and it was a pretty cool outing but I went looking to ride it. You never hear of or see anything of EV on this shore.
Due to the kindness of one of the promotions people with Harley I did ride the Livewire and it was a great bike. The thing I did notice was the number of gawkers at every light while on the demo ride. I felt the urge to engage the onlookers and let them know what the bike was and what was going on down the street but I don't work at HD and wasn't looking to overstep my position. I would say though aside from the one kind woman that offered me a spot on her group ride the reps weren't that engaging. So what im saying is if they aren't even doing it someone should.
I personally don't have the disposable income to go out and buy a new bike not to mention one that is twice the price. if I had the money to buy a Brammo or an FX (I don't like the other Zeros) or even a decent lithium pack and motor/controller but if I did id be out there riding and racing that thing everywhere and anywhere! So go out and ride with other motorcyclist and show them whats out there. Oh and if any of you would like your bike raced with ICE bikes id happily pilot it for you! you know to put the word out;)
 

[Mike Werner]

Not to forget the BMW solution itself...

Which has never been mentioned by the BMW crowd.  Fortunately, they have an "automated news bot" that picks up everything on the internet having to do with motorcycles, including the C-Evolution.  Unfortunately, no one on the site seems to own one and I don't have any experience with the C-evolution that would allow me to comment any more than what the internet has done.

I might also add that the BMW IC scooters don't get any respect, either.  So it may be just a bias against owning a scooter.   

Speaking of scooters: I just returned from my BMW/Vespa/Triumph dealer and they had a 2014 Vespa Model 946 on display.  Its price has increased to $10,495 USD.  You wouldn't think that they could sell a 150cc 55-mph scooter for that price.  But I was told that they have sold about 8 of them since they were introduced by Vespa.  (I was also told that the U.S. is allocated 300 of this model each year.)  My guess is that they are bought by well-off customers who want to display them as works of art in their homes.  They do look very nice, but don't seem very practical.

It's true. First, scooters are seen as "less" by motorcycle riders. Don't really know why, apart from the 60-70's Mods vs Rockers in the UK. But it's the same license, the same dangers, the same techniques. Only difference is the position and some of the controls. It's my first ever scoot, and am flabbergasted by the fact that I get very few waves back from bikers.

BMW also have not been pushing their e-Scooter. They don't have any sales objectives for their country and dealers, so there's no real push, little info. It's a strange way of doing business, but I guess some Prof. Dr. at BMW has though out the strategy. But one thing is certain, at least in France, they've sold out.

[AustinSZF8.5]

So go out and ride with other motorcyclist and show them whats out there.

I'll be running a gimmick TSD rally with my Zero S ZF 8.5 in a couple weeks.

http://www.rallyerepublic.com/#section-4713

I registered as team "Silent but Deadly."    50-80 mile course... might be pushing the boundaries depending on average speeds... We'll see what they throw at me. Should get Zero some good exposure with some other riders.

[MichaelJ]

e-motorcycle companies should really find a way to benefit from Tesla's visibility, e.g. partnership for joint events.

Funny you should mention that.  It goes the other way around, too.  At the local Harley Davidson Project LiveWire event, Tesla Motors and the local electric utility each had tents to take advantage of the attention.  My wife and I took turns photobombing the LiveWire event by riding our EBoz Empulse R there on separate days for our scheduled test rides.

Inspired by this thread's call to gain exposure, I "raced" a Tesla Roadster on a highway on-ramp and later rode home the long way on city streets instead of the highway from my destination this morning.  Just in case someone sounds like they would be open to a test ride, I carry a supply of business cards for the local Brammo dealership and have a Brammo QR code sticker on the tail assembly.  I also answered visitors' questions at the local National Drive Electric Week event.

Looking forward, I asked the local convention center about their plans to host EVSE inside their parking garage in time for November's International Motorcycle Show, explaining that it would be nice to offer electric motorcyclists the opportunity to recharge before they return home from the show, which includes Zero Motorcycles as a vendor with significant floor space and featured CEO Richard Walker back in February.  Hopefully the event facilities manager will consider the idea.