ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Alta Motorcycles => Topic started by: odedmaz on February 17, 2018, 04:28:30 PM
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Have the EX for a week now, after owning the Zero FX for the past 2.5 years (off road only).
First impressions are all positive. The Alta is a high end quality machine, right down to the bolts & plastics. Really impressed with the machine. If I have to think of something to improve, its the lights. Was expecting leds in this high end machine.
Riding it is very smooth. Sitting position is high (especially compared to the FX). I love it (I'm tall). For shorter riders, it can be a bit problematic.
I mostly use map 2 which is plenty for enduro type riding. It has more power than the FX at that power level, and the Zero os not weak by all means. Pegs position and handlebar are right where I want them, no adjustments needed.
Replaced the stock tires with the Pirelli MT43 which are my favorites (trial tires characteristics).
I ride mostly rocky type terrain (enduro) and the bike is amazing. The suspension swallows everything with ease. Places where I had to recalculate my line, I can just pop over now.
One hour and 15 minutes of mostly technical ride, resulted in 70% battery capacity left.
Only thing missing is a left hand brake, but it is in the works to my understanding.
Almost crashed into a cow that did not hear me coming, but managed to avoid it (thanks Brembo 🙂).
I will publish a more comprehensive review when I get more ride time, and will compare the Redshift to the FX (dual sport machine).
Love this bike so far! Very pleased with the support I get from Alta (in this forum). Zero was lacking in that department. Extremely important for me as a customer.
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Some more photos
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Photos
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Photos(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180217/e335641bc1e17cd0e5934a24efa83eeb.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180217/1284f83e7897d7187f1a37bde09a6451.jpg)
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Very cool! That must be the only one in Israel right now... is there a dealer there, or did Alta ship it directly to you? The charger looks beefy :)
Ray
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Awesome awesome awesome!! Of course I want one, as well as the MX-R but can't have them all, I'm especially glad to hear about the 70% batt remaining after 1.25 hrs of technical riding, that's what I'd do with one primarily. I would recommend changing the gear oil after just a few hours, mine (super moto) had a little fine metal fragments on the plug but nothing bad (to be expected), I forget when the 1st is recommended but it's pretty soon, I've since changed mine 2 more times and it now comes out totally clean, it only holds a couple ounces and takes literally 5 minutes. Congrats on the bike and keep us posted!!
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Thanks guys.
We have a dealer in Israel, and I think there are already 2 Alas, but I am not sure.
Thanks for the tip about the gear oil. Will make sure I replace it.
If it's like the Zero than slow technical ride is very efficient (battery wise).
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Oh yeah, I echo your comments about the lights, looks like our bikes run the same set up, they could stand an upgrade, especially the headlight, I don't see well at night anyways so I try to avoid riding the bike at night.
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nice spoke wrench, I have not seen ones like that, kind of made one like that at one point.
I take it the owners manual is digital. Is that a thumb drive. Kind of looks like a thing I have to read the card out of a trail or game camera. Do you get a parts sheet with numbers to aid ordering parts?
Cast footpegs
Is that the more expensive charger? How many amps does it draw?
Does it push easy? My ktm freeride must have some electrical or magnetic resistance that seemed not there on the Zero fx I test rode.
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The owner manual is digital, and goes into great detail. They basically guide you through all maintenance procedures and such. I suggest you download it from their site. It is well written.
the charger's amp draw is 12A. In Israel we use 220v, so it goes quite quickly. The charger arrives in its own metal suitcase. Nice touch.
"Ireek", Is this the same charger you use?
There is some resistance when pushing the bike, but remember that the Redshift is quite a lot heavier than your Freeride. Making it even harder to push.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180218/996c123158401a53e1e9d6808809363c.jpg)
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(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180218/5a63de3bed6e8729aa75a6c23004efa3.jpg)
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The owner manual is digital, and goes into great detail. They basically guide you through all maintenance procedures and such. I suggest you download it from their site. It is well written.
the charger's amp draw is 12A. In Israel we use 220v, so it goes quite quickly. The charger arrives in its own metal suitcase. Nice touch.
"Ireek", Is this the same charger you use?
There is some resistance when pushing the bike, but remember that the Redshift is quite a lot heavier than your Freeride. Making it even harder to push.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180218/996c123158401a53e1e9d6808809363c.jpg)
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(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180218/5a63de3bed6e8729aa75a6c23004efa3.jpg)
No Sir, my bike has the smaller on board charger, I guess since it's more of a street bike, they figure it would be more practical being on board, I have ridden to a buddies house some miles away and carried my charge cord in my back pack, slower charging compared to your bike for sure, right now, I'm looking at over 6 hrs from empty. Oh, that charge case is impressive:)
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Since I am a weekend warrior [emoji3] and my rides usually last for 3 hours once or twice a week, I am pleased with the off board charger. Would not like the bike to be heavier than it already is, carrying a heavy charger.
I think it takes 2-2.5 hours to fully charge the pack. Not bad.
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I was able to find and download the owners manual. It is like the one for a Montesa/Honda trials bike in that it is real close to a service manual. Unfortunately if I click on any of the links that one would expect to change to a different page the thing blanks out and I have to open it again. Maybe my adobe is old.
I can not seem to find a specifications section, weight ground clearance, wheel travel brake diameter etc.
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I was able to find and download the owners manual. It is like the one for a Montesa/Honda trials bike in that it is real close to a service manual. Unfortunately if I click on any of the links that one would expect to change to a different page the thing blanks out and I have to open it again. Maybe my adobe is old.
I can not seem to find a specifications section, weight ground clearance, wheel travel brake diameter etc.
From Alta's site. They have all specs there.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180218/34365ce7a6c2a55ed0a48706054725c8.jpg)
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So what would be your estimation on run time on trail conditions in the video attached?
180# rider moderate speeds.
https://youtu.be/YPv5HhnHGWQ
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Since I am a weekend warrior [emoji3] and my rides usually last for 3 hours once or twice a week, I am pleased with the off board charger. Would not like the bike to be heavier than it already is, carrying a heavy charger.
I think it takes 2-2.5 hours to fully charge the pack. Not bad.
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Yeah, just don't get too far away and you'll be fine. I have a Honda AT DCT, Rally 250 and CRF230 playbike so I'm covered but I would've liked to have known the EX was coming, I would have waited on it...
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Since I am a weekend warrior [emoji3] and my rides usually last for 3 hours once or twice a week, I am pleased with the off board charger. Would not like the bike to be heavier than it already is, carrying a heavy charger.
I think it takes 2-2.5 hours to fully charge the pack. Not bad.
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Yeah, just don't get too far away and you'll be fine. I have a Honda AT DCT, Rally 250 and CRF230 playbike so I'm covered but I would've liked to have known the EX was coming, I would have waited on it...
Seems to me you are covered in the off road department. The EX is not a substitute to the SM. It is basically a MX with licensing equipment. Other differences are minor IMO.
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So what would be your estimation on run time on trail conditions in the video attached?
180# rider moderate speeds.
https://youtu.be/YPv5HhnHGWQ
Since I have the bike for a week or so, I can't really tell.
It seems like a flowy single tracking, so I guesstimate 3-4 hours?? Perhaps those with more experience chime in.
This is not the type of riding I usually do. I'm after ascends & descends...
Nice riding BTW
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Sadly our owners manual is outdated; I am working on updating it and in the mean time, please use this:
(https://preview.ibb.co/jjqbVn/Maintenance.png) (https://ibb.co/kP88bS)
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I have a question related to pushing resistance. On a gas bike, there have been times when I kill the engine, leave it in gear to lock up the back tire, then grab the front break and attempt to walk/slide/fall down a hill. Depending on the hill, sometimes you just cannot ride it. You cannot go back up either, so you better have another way out. It's not common, but I have done it as a choice in some cases, or its been forced on me by going down a sand hill that ends in a cliff and it would have been hard to get turned around to go back up. Is it possible to lock up the rear wheel with having to hold the break lever? As far as pushing the bike when it runs out of power, I heard of people taking the chain off. That's a pain but it would provide low rolling resistance. I imagine there has to be resistance to pushing because it is turning some gears and the motor. Unless there is a shift type lever for putting into neutral or the one gear.
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I do not have an Alta but did bring up the pushing. One can feel what it is like on the showroom floor. A bit of resistance and a bit of a lumpy feel to it definitely different than a transmission bike in neutral. It for me becomes an issue when coming to a stop and having to drag the bike backwards. One can use the throttle to help go forward or as a brake of sorts on a hill if pointing up. It isn't really all that significant say if you have to push your bike from the parking to the start or something like that. Just sort of significant initially getting it rolling and when one has to push backward chances are the wheel is in a hole in that situation. There may be different types of electric motors, that bike bandit link lately specifically said what kind was in the freeride and skipped it for the zero that seemed to push easy.
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Video of my first day out with the Redshift EX -
https://vimeo.com/256854926?ref=tw-share
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MMMmmm that new bike smell :)
Great video man really nice closeups and drone work. It looks like it ate up that rocky ground like it was nothing.
Enjoy.
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Yep.... That's some pro video work right there.... Very well done....
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I would have hoped it was quieter with only single stage reduction and helical cut gears. After that not much point of having the sound on. Lots of folks seem to like music to their videos though. They are supposed to have demo day sometime soon for a club I am a member of.
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It's a nice surprise when I check these posts to see if anything is new, and I find a video. I like watching the videos people post. Thanks.
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Thanks guys.
Amazing how the video smoothen everything up. There were some nasty climbs & rocky terrain. Watching the video, it seems like a walk in the park..
The Alta just run over anything in its path. With the FX, I had to plan ahead more.
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Man, all this EX chatter is going to make me go into debt:( What a fun thread this is!!
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Man, all this EX chatter is going to make me go into debt[emoji20] What a fun thread this is!!
+1
Looks like a lot of fun. I took my 2014 Zero DS off road a few times and loved it. Unfortunately I came to the conclusion that the bike isn't designed for it, despite its Dual Sport designation. It's not just the belt drive but also the bearings. They're not sealed! Which idiot designed that?!? It is also rather heavy of course, but I can cope with that.
Now, I wonder whether they sell them in the UK and how many coins they want...
Thanks for posting! :-)
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I do prefer a smaller bike though. MX is pretty much straight line riding with a big sweeping corner at the end of each straight section. It is much different than single track and woods riding. A long bike gives stability at speed, so thats ok for the track, but not so good for offroad. I wish the dual sport Alta was not the same as the MX version. Shorter and lower would be nice.
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a collaboration between Zero & Alta to visit one of Israel's most beautiful places :)
https://vimeo.com/257203437 (https://vimeo.com/257203437)
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Please keep the Alta upright and the videos coming !!!!
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Very nice!! Spectacular views!!!
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Looks like an amazing place to ride! Might have to start planning a riding trip!
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Looks like an amazing place to ride! Might have to start planning a riding trip!
We'd be glad to put you on a bike.
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Added a Rekluse left hand brake. Works great. Helps a lot with steep descends, and feels very natural for an electric motorcycle with no clutch to interfere.
Alta is coming up with their own kit soon.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180310/5446fd5604ecdfa7d3dd71f1718079a5.jpg)
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I never get around to making vids anymore, too busy riding. I am happy to see others' stuff though, keep it coming
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So what would be your estimation on run time on trail conditions in the video attached?
180# rider moderate speeds.
https://youtu.be/YPv5HhnHGWQ
I've had my Redshift MX for 16 months, mostly riding trails, kinda like the vid, buts lots of elevation change. I get about 40 miles, three hours on a charge. I weigh 140 pounds and am pretty light on the throttle...
Oh, and the LHRB is freakin awesome. It changed the way I ride; I can get a lot of stopping power out of the rear wheel.
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I would have thought more than 40 miles on trails like that. Those slow speeds seem like best conditions for range. Also hard to use full throttle there or you will hit a tree or something. I like single track trails like that. Alta webpage says 4+ hours for trail riding. So I figure 15mph, thus 60 miles. Thats same as their city range guess. When I used to ride a lot, I typically put 32-40 miles of trail and that was enough.
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This bike is too much fun on your everyday trails -
https://vimeo.com/261638615?ref=tw-share
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You don't have to pick up your bike so fast, the carburetor won't be leaking gas.