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[Alan Stewart]

https://electrek.co/2019/04/03/evoke-motorcycles-120-kw-electric-cruiser/

[JaimeC]

More Pie-in-the-Sky.

That thing looks about as aerodynamic as a cinder block.  Put a rider in a typical Cruiser's seating position and you now have a parachute on it besides.  Be interesting to see how they'll get any decent range out of that thing at highway speeds...

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Aside from the unclearly justifiable specifications, and the fact that we’re only seeing a rendering, the model label “6061” suggests they’re doing a lot of laser cutting of 6061 grade aluminum to get those chassis parts made.

[Doug S]

Honestly, though, I like it. It's NOT a sportbike, looks like a fairly upright seating position (good for us old farts), and has a very nice, low seat height. That not only makes it better for shorter riders (do none of the manufacturers think women and shorter guys like to ride bikes, too?), it also gets the rider lower to help reduce the aero disadvantage. We know 15.4 kWh is reasonable for a full-sized bike, and the power and torque numbers are very achievable with electric motors. I'm more skeptical of their fast-charging claims, though it's not THAT far out of line with what Energica and Lightning claim to be doing. I have to agree with Brian that laser- or water-cutting flat stock doesn't seem like a very good way to make a motorcycle frame, but maybe they'll make it happen. Battery modules seem to have pretty blocky shapes, so why not slab sides on the bike?

Pie in the sky? Until they're in production, sure. But they DO already have one bike in production, admittedly much lower performance, but we'll see how this one works out.

I'm all for competition in the marketplace, and it's nice to finally (maybe) have a cruiser to pick from.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

The form factor is a good idea. I really wish Zero had worked a low seat model into the S platform by rearranging the powertrain layout and cable routing, even at the expense of range (picking a single long-brick capacity).

We’re just at a precarious inflection point in public awareness where product quality might tank perceptions of electric motorcycles as a viable option.

I’m wary of what each manufacturer is doing right now with expectations and image. Evoke is a manufacturer aiming for a point priced lower than Zero that everyone seems to think is easy, but might actually be too risky a bet.

[Doug S]

Seems to me the handwriting is on the wall for Zero: at some point in the very near future, they're going to have to re-design their drivetrain for higher voltage.

I understand and agree with their argument that lower voltage is just plain safer, and maybe easier to design driver circuitry around, but it doesn't matter. The industry has already ruled out DC charging below 200V, and that's not going to change. Zero is going to HAVE to accommodate DC fast charging soon, that's a train they can't afford to miss (if they haven't already), and to do that they're going to have to be above 200V.

[Alan Stewart]

It looks so wide in the front, I was really expecting a rather large battery. If that had been the case, slap a windshield and saddlebags on it and go touring.