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[mistasam]

Sam I also want to say welcome to the Damon section.  I think this is your first time here.
I gave you a shout out in the Job opening thread for an opening they have that you would be great for but you'd have to either go to VC or convince them to send a bike to NZ.

Thanks!  Yeah this whole global situation is screwing up my test riding ability, but I'd love to see a Damon in real life.  My biggest reason for being skeptical is that they posted the specs before building anything.  They said it would have 200hp before getting Mission's motor tech.  They said it would be 200kg before even designing the "Hyperdrive" battery-frame-motor they have now.  And the first prototypes were built on R1 frames, so everything was/is hypothetical.  Hyper-thetical? 

Damon skipped the step of building a bike to prove what it can do.  Even Mission took their ONLY bike out to win races and let Jay Leno ride it.  I hope Damon eventually does the same.  Right now we can just speculate on what it can do, and the numbers don't add up.

[Crissa]

This is probably why we need some straight up miles-at-speed like Zero has on their specs page.

-Crissa

[NEW2elec]

Sam I fully understand cautious skepticism.
They seem to really be following the Tesla business plan with the concept of put $300k into R&D and not advertising.  So they are slowly releasing details keeping a buzz going.  Did you see the picture of Jay standing beside the Hypersport and THE Mission behind him?

I guess I can say they will be putting out new videos pretty soon but haven't given a release date yet. 
I'll post a link when they do though. 

Crissa I'll say from all the interviews I've watched the bike is still getting adjustments and some compromises will likely be made here and there before the final delivery bikes are ready to go.  I think they dropped the moving windscreen already and that left side grip lever isn't there anymore either.

[Richard230]

All I can say is that there is a huge difference between developing a prototype electric motorcycle and getting a vehicle approved by government regulatory agencies, creating an operating factory with a volume production line, arranging contracts with parts manufacturers for chassis and power train assemblies, establishing a dealer, distribution and service network and training technicians to work on the bikes. If you ask me, those tasks are much harder than designing an electric motorcycle from scratch and are the walls that most brands hit in the end before they ever make it in the consumer market.  (Just check out the brands on this forum which are no longer around.) It is a tough life out there in the electric motorcycle market - especially when that market really sucks when it comes to volume sales and actually making a profit. 

[NEW2elec]

Richard no new business is easy for sure.  Remember (at least for now) there will be no dealer network, just like Tesla.  They will have service center agreements just like Tesla.  They will use 2170 cells for their battery, umm just like Tesla.  They will use the ride data linked into the cloud to improve crash probability again just like Tesla.   

From the interviews I've watched they are hinting that if a dealer works on any current manufacturers electric motorcycle then they can be setup to work on a Damon as well.  Maybe even electric automotive service centers?  Just a guess.

There is a saying in business from Daymond John which is  "pioneers get slaughtered while settlers prosper" it means let someone else prove something works and then come in and don't make the same mistakes they did.
Get in early but not first.

Damon intends to make much more then just a sport bike and even more than just two wheeled motorcycles so their appeal should be broader.

I hope you sign up for a test ride as they will surely come to CA first.  Even if that style isn't for you it would be fun to ride.

[Fran K]

Is there really enough information to say it would go 200 mph at the 16,000 max motor rpm.  Like the reduction gear teeth count the sprocket tooth count and the driven tire size?

I figured earlier at least 1000 cells needed, he got 1300 or so.

[NEW2elec]

LOL, well Fran K do you feel that the ability to go 200MPH or not would be a deal breaker for ya?

When I find out I'll let you know.   

[Richard230]

I was always impressed the Alta got as far down the road as they did before the financial bottom dropped out of their company. I assume that Damon  will not be heading to H-D for a financial bailout if they run low on cash.   

[NEW2elec]

I posted the interview Derek Dorresteyn (Co-Founder of Alta) gave where he talked about Alta.
He said it went like this:
Alta had backers and was going along just fine.  HD came and said lets make Electric bikes but just us.  Then Alta cut ties with their backers with the expectation of being with HD.  He said later HD came in and made a low ball offer for Alta that they refused but by that point their old backers had moved on so they went out of business.

He also said in that interview that when Jay came to him about joining Damon, Derek felt he had unfinished business in the electric motorcycle world.

[Curt]

Then Alta cut ties with their backers with the expectation of being with HD.

Really?? Such greed and hubris.

[Crissa]

Then Alta cut ties with their backers with the expectation of being with HD.

Really?? Such greed and hubris.

Not really, investor deals are often exclusive in some way.

-Crissa

[NEW2elec]

What do you call solid vapor?

I guess you just call it fast.

[Curt]

What do you call solid vapor?

I guess you just call it fast.

It appears to be some sort of yellow motorcycle.

[ultrarnr]

Is Damon planning on having stores like Tesla has where potential buyers can go for test rides or to just physically check out the bikes? Just curious.

[NEW2elec]

Not at this time.
You can go to Damon.com make an account and request a test ride invitation and they will email you when they are coming to your area.