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[DonTom]

I am hooked on EVs, regardless if cages or cycles. But I cannot explain fully why. Why do we like them so much, even with all their hassles, especially on the electric motorcycles.

Is it because it is different?

Is it because of the gas prices?

Is it because of the lower maintenance and we have no engine oil to ever check?

Is it because of the infinite torque? No clutch ( was stuck in VERY slow stop and go freeway traffic on my Harley a few weeks ago and I was thinking how much I would rather have been on my Energica or Zero.)  Because no tranny?

No noise?

No engine heat in summer?

And are we more patient than most others? And do EVs help us learn to be patient?

I find now when I am at a restaurant and the food is extra slow to come, I say (when charging my Zeros) "good!".  I will get a much better free charge! 

-Don-  Reno, NV

[TheRan]

For me it's the immediate and constant acceleration from the instant torque and lack of a transmission, the ease of riding, the reduced noise, and the reduced maintenance.

[Mooseman]

Pretty much all of the above, no matter if car or bike.

Except for the refueling situation I just can't see any advantage of a combustion engine.

[princec]

WHS. All the things! But also, very important to me, the environmental considerations. Though secretly I now believe it's way too late to save us.

Cas

[Richard230]

For me it is the ease of use. You can just jump on and ride away without needing to warm up the engine. Riding short distances at the drop of a hat is easy to do and also you can let the bike sit around for months, if necessary, without worrying about the engine oil becoming acidic, the battery going flat, or oil leaks developing. (The Royal Enfield brand used to be called the Royal Oilfield.)

Then there is the lack of needed expensive periodic engine and drive-line maintenance (familiar to all BMW owners), the smoothness and quietness of the ride, the less expensive per-mile traveling cost and the ease of cleaning when the bike is ridden on wet streets as there are no hot surfaces, like a muffler or engine, to cook off the wet debris and bake it onto metal surfaces.  All useful features. 

[DonTom]

Pretty much all of the above, no matter if car or bike.

Except for the refueling situation I just can't see any advantage of a combustion engine.

I see a larger advantage in not having to go to the gas stations, at least in EV cars. Since 2018, when I purchased my Tesla, it's been charged on the road two times. Both were overnight trips, one was to buy my Energica in Mt. View.


No way could I count how many times I had to go out of my way in my ICE cars to go to a gas stations.


OTOH, Electric motorcycles more often need to charge on the road because of their limited range. But I don't mind the breaks every hour or so, at least when there is a place to charge.


-Don-  Reno, NV
 

[Mooseman]

I absolutely agree with you. I was just trying to be fair and nice to the gassers.

Especially with the car there really is no issue. Last summer when I went from ON to BC I got 167 km of range in just 6 minutes. More than enough to get to the next supercharger. Try to pee and grab another drink in 6 minutes. It really doesn't slow you down at all.

[NEW2elec]

Ease of use and the torque with it's smooth quiet launch.  It's just such a unique feeling that's so addictive.

Like Richard said, and it's an aspect I think gets over looked, just hop on it and ride. Go out for an hour or even less and just see your little corner of the world.
I see so many gas bikes for sale 6 years old or older with less than 5k miles on them.  It's like they get tired of all the little hassles adding up and they feel like if they don't spend a whole day riding it isn't worth pulling it out and seeing if it will start.

[Crissa]

All my riding is in the Santa Cruz Mountains so everything seems to be a short ride to you guys.

But I use it to get to the grocery store a mile away (and several hundred feet down the hill) and back all the time.  It's a blast

-Crissa

[DonTom]

All my riding is in the Santa Cruz Mountains so everything seems to be a short ride to you guys.

But I use it to get to the grocery store a mile away (and several hundred feet down the hill) and back all the time.  It's a blast

-Crissa

Yeah, I love my Zero SR in the mountains around Auburn. However, the areas I like to ride in are now all burnt down because of the "River Fire" which is the Bear River, just north of Auburn.


-Don- (Cold Springs Valley, NV--perhaps my last post from here, this house will no longer  be mine in a few more days).

[Oldun]

Wot 'e sez:

For me it's the immediate and constant acceleration from the instant torque and lack of a transmission, the ease of riding, the reduced noise, and the reduced maintenance.

[Eicas]

It is a hassle free operation.  No going to the service station and siting in line to gas up, no checking oil, changing oil or tune-ups.  No warming up the engine to get going.  Instant available torque is great and I am really enjoying the quiet ride sums it up.

[stevenh]

Quiet and quick.  Great combination for a motorcycle (or car) in my opinion.  Also not having deal with oil and gas.  Also my "fill ups" are free half the time (at work).

For the bike, the acceleration is pretty breath taking, it's just so much fun taking off from a light.

Steve

[flynnstig82r]

For me it's the complete lack of drama or concern. I can accelerate away from traffic without making a lot of racket and looking like a hooligan. I can split lanes at low speeds without babying the clutch or shifting the weight to the left. Whenever I'm on the road, there is an awareness that my miles are almost "free" from a sustainability standpoint, not just carbon footprint but also that my ~630 gross lbs vehicle is not tearing up the roads or adding to traffic congestion. When I'm on a twisty road, I get an almost zen-like feeling of being one with the road and surroundings without my attention being grabbed by a loud engine or rev-matching and gear selection. Unlike my old Ducati, I'm not mentally counting down each mile to a $2,000 valve adjustment. Finally, riding an electric motorcycle before the technology is ready for prime time makes me feel like a pioneer with geek chic cred.