ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
General Category => Electric Motorcycle News => Topic started by: Richard230 on May 04, 2011, 08:31:29 PM
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Well, here is the latest news from Brammo. New dirt bikes with transmissions and new motor technology. Read all about it here:
http://www.clutchandchrome.com/news/news/brammo-improves-technology-electric-motorcycles (http://www.clutchandchrome.com/news/news/brammo-improves-technology-electric-motorcycles)
and here:
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/brammo-engage-and-encite-race-off-road-with-mechatronic-6-speed/ (http://green.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/brammo-engage-and-encite-race-off-road-with-mechatronic-6-speed/)
Also, a message from Brammo to people who have pre-ordered the Empulse states that the delivery of the new model will be delayed in order to incorporate the new technology into the Empulse. So we will have to wait longer before getting our hands on the bike. My guess would be that the new release date will be sometime in 2012
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For those of you who might wonder what a "Mechatronic" propulsion unit, or an "Integrated Electric Transmission", is, here is a link to SMRE's explaination:
http://www.smre.it/eng/propulsore_meccatronico_con_tecnologia_iet/scheda.php (http://www.smre.it/eng/propulsore_meccatronico_con_tecnologia_iet/scheda.php)
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Very nice.
Some great quotes from Bramscher here...
http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_news/first_looks_articles/11q2/brammo_shifts_gears_-_first_look?zeta_mid=HFM2_415561&zeta_rid=80695166 (http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_news/first_looks_articles/11q2/brammo_shifts_gears_-_first_look?zeta_mid=HFM2_415561&zeta_rid=80695166)
“On a motorcycle, part of the deal is that we want to be able to smoke the tire, lift the front wheel.†That requires torque multiplication, which is what gears do. “But there’s too big a jump with only two speeds,†added Bramscher. “There’s a problem of synchronization.
“Our research turned up a company in Italy with experience here. It turns out that with [six] traditional motorcycle gear ratios, the bike starts to feel regular, and motorcycle riders know just what to do. And it revs very quickly. We’ve been working on this [gearbox and clutch] for six months.
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I kind of hate to say it, but I am not interested in performing burn-outs or wheelies. And I don't need an electric motorcycle to feel and act like an IC one. I don't need to go over 80 mph and 0-60 in 6 seconds would be plenty for me. But then I am not Italian...... ;D
Just give me as much range as you can stuff into the batteries and send me off into the sunset. To my mind, for street bikes, the range is more critical to sales and potential customers. High performance can come later. However, for racing motorcycles on pavement or dirt, a high-speed motor (that sounds like angry bees) and a 6-speed gearbox may be just the thing.
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I kind of hate to say it, but I am not interested in performing burn-outs or wheelies. And I don't need an electric motorcycle to feel and act like an IC one. I don't need to go over 80 mph and 0-60 in 6 seconds would be plenty for me. But then I am not Italian...... ;D
I hear ya. I think Brammo wants to expand to other riders who want pull up the front every once in a while. That is a skill riders who have honed the skill over the years don't want to walk away from. Its fun and people think its cool. And it is ;) imho.
But I am half Italian so... :D
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I like to pop up the front tire for offroad to go over a log, root, or something.
It does have an actual purpose. It seems simple and light weight to have just 1 gear,
but maybe 6 is better for electric too. I am not really sure what all that meant in the article on the drive system. I think it was written by a marketing person instead of an engineer.
Either way, its cool Brammo is entering the offroad market. With nothing under the seat like exhaust or air filter box, why still such a thin seat, and tall seat height? I think they went for styling or commanality to existing gas bikes, rather than function. With nothing to get in the way, perhaps a low seat option would be easy for them to offer though, that would be a neat option. I guess this bike is still under development because I can't find any specs. I hope the bike turns out great, great enough for me to buy one even.