ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mike Werner on August 13, 2014, 11:41:50 AM
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I have found a really big downside when riding an electric motorcycle (or in my case a scooter). And it's not the range. It's that in almost 8 out of 10 rides, when I stop, I get people coming over with questions. Of course, the BMW C Evolution looks futuristic, but most people hear me arriving (or better, don't hear me coming, just see me).
They'll approach me hesitantly, and ask if the bike is electric. Then the flood gates open, and I get bombarded with questions. The first few times, it was cool, but when you are in a hurry, it's getting too much. One guy just wouldn't let me go, and spent 30 minutes asking so many questions, I felt dizzy. Nowadays I just keep my helmet on, which reduces the number of people coming over.
Any of you encounter this????
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Just hand out cards with http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/ (http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/) written on them. :)
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Just hand out cards with http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/ (http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/) written on them. :)
:) :) Been actually thinking about making some bragcards and handing those out. Good idea, just put this URL with it.
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Me too. I've got photos with me in my tankbag of my Zero in front of a charging point with my Blog adress printed on it; Additional I put a sticker with the QR code of my Blog on the upper side of the license plate holder.
So if there is a crowd arround me i can serve them simultanousely. I talk to one guy, another is maybe in a hurry so i give him the photo away. The techies use their Smartphones to visit my Blog.
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Me too. I've got photos with me in my tankbag of my Zero in front of a charging point with my Blog adress printed on it; Additional I put a sticker with the QR code of my Blog on the upper side of the license plate holder.
So if there is a crowd arround me i can serve them simultanousely. I talk to one guy, another is maybe in a hurry so i give him the photo away. The techies use their Smartphones to visit my Blog.
Great idea to make some publicity for my site.... ;D
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I made a web page and then a QR code sticker and stuck it on my bike. Then I can say "dude, just scan this". There is another darker down side I found. I pulled up at a busy intersection and had to wait while loads of pedestrians crossed. During said pause I had to let one rip (fairly big as it turned out). 50 pedestrians stared in disbelief and confusion trying to rationalise why they heard a huge fart but couldn't hear the bike. There's a dinner conversation for 50 people,
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I made a web page and then a QR code sticker and stuck it on my bike. Then I can say "dude, just scan this". There is another darker down side I found. I pulled up at a busy intersection and had to wait while loads of pedestrians crossed. During said pause I had to let one rip (fairly big as it turned out). 50 pedestrians stared in disbelief and confusion trying to rationalise why they heard a huge fart but couldn't hear the bike. There's a dinner conversation for 50 people,
:D :D :D :D
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All the time.
Especially when I went to the Tail of the Dragon where basically everyone is a biker. Every single place I stopped there were at least 5 people asking questions.
Additionally I go to Cars & Croissants events just about every weekend here in NJ and when I pull in nearly silently a crowd of people follows and peppers me with questions before I can even get off the bike.
Should get a QR code. Good idea!
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I showed off my Zero at a car show this weekend, but I didn't get much interest. Over a period of 5 hours only 2 people came over to ask me about the bike and I couldn't even give away a Zero brochure. Maybe a car show isn't the place to show off an electric motorcycle? One thing is for sure, I had the only electric vehicle there. ???
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I showed off my Zero at a car show this weekend, but I didn't get much interest. Over a period of 5 hours only 2 people came over to ask me about the bike and I couldn't even give away a Zero brochure. Maybe a car show isn't the place to show off an electric motorcycle? One thing is for sure, I had the only electric vehicle there. ???
I get very little interest, too. Maybe a dozen people have asked me about my SR since I got it in late January -- and I ride my bike, I've got 5400 miles on it. Maybe Californians just aren't the right crowd to wow with a high-tech ride. We may be a pretty automotively jaded bunch.
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I get asked about my XU and FX almost every time I take them out.
I see it as an UP side to be able to enlighten people about alternative
fuel vehicles. The reason you are not "bothered" as much might be
that they are getting to LOOK more mainstream.
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Richard230, I am usually part of a larger EV group at car shows with a LEAF, Tesla Model S, BMW i3, etc.
The other thing that helps is that I made a little sign and tape it to the side of my bike (see attachment). That way people who aren't bikers will know that they are looking at something special. Also, I usually talk to so many people that many folks only have time to read the sign while I'm discussing the finer points of 2-wheeled electric awesomeness with someone else.
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That is a great sign, benswing. I need to do something like that the next time I display my bike at a show.
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One guy in a parking asked me for a test ride, in the parking. I was hesitant, I did it but I'm not sure I would do it again. If a policeman showed up, I would have been in trouble.
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One guy in a parking asked me for a test ride, in the parking. I was hesitant, I did it but I'm not sure I would do it again. If a policeman showed up, I would have been in trouble.
The only time the police and fire department show up at the car shows around here is when they start serving lunch. ;)
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I need to design a sign like that for my SR, too. It is pretty awesome!
Does anybody else have a custom license plate? It took a while, but I finally found that "ELKTRCK" was available in California. All the good ones are long gone.
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Okay, I shamelessly copied benswing's great idea and made a picture for the SR (I have no pride). What do you guys think? I may have tried to squeeze too much information on it.
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I particularly like when another biker (on ICE) points and asks "is that electric" at a stop light. I just nod and leave when the light turns green smooth and quick. I know they wish they could test ride the bike. ;D
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On My zero xu, I have GASSUX. My Volt has GOGREEN. Have not figured out one for my FX yet.
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Most recognize it as electric and ask about range, speed and charge times, a few are just impressed with the styling and share their admiration only to find out it is electric.
One fellow driver recently - noticed my driving was missing something... and asked at the light - "is that an automatic?" only to learn electric motorcycles exist and go quite fast.
Another asked "how many cc?" (besides my insurance guy) only to marvel at the technology.
Some select riders, I let them take a ride, either swapping bikes or just hanging out holding their bike "hostage" after a handshake, instruction and a glance at licenses. We are after all ambassadors of the new technology. Sometimes clicking it to Economy mode, and then letting them go again in Sport if their eyes are not wide enough when they return.
Family, friends, co-workers I offer to swap for up to a week, but I do get twitchy near the end.
Others decline... I offer to them run it a while, but the Midwesterner in them declines (a Midwesterner declines anything offered until at least the third time) so I make sure they can get ahold of me if they change their mind.
My bike was last year's model and discounted - so I figure I owe the dealers some promotional work and eager references, the tax incentives indicates to me every taxpayer is part owner, so I am beholding to them to some degree.
Share the road, share the ride may not suit other situations, or many other riders but to me it is my part.
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My license plate says NOCO2.
Doug S, the sign looks good. You can delete the MPGe stuff, nobody really pays much attention to that, and maybe simplify a bit. However your bike has more to brag about than mine, and the photos are what draws people in anyway. Nice!