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[valnar]

It seems there are quite a few of these coming out these days.
https://solarscooters.com/pages/e-clipse-product-page

I think the sweet spot for most electric non-pedal street-legal motorcycles will be in the lighter dirt-bike'ish category because they can actually compete there.  Not only does it bring the weight into par with their gas counterparts, but closer in price too.  It seems Zero agrees from their recent announcement.

[Richard230]

The design of that Solar E-Clipse electric motorcycle reminds me a lot of the Brammo Enertia. Attached is a photo of the Eclipse that I took in the Best Buy store in 2009 when they tried to sell them in California before realizing that they needed a DMV retail vehicle license to do so. And that was the end of that big Best Buy idea. After that the Brammos were sold at mom-and-pop electric bicycle and scooter dealerships.

[Fran K]

Do you think if it was 300 volts or so that diameter of motor could use a sensible sized front sprocket?

[hotsauce]

With a 3.5ish kWh battery, 35 miles is a more realistic range estimate, and the use of the phrase "fast charge" and "10 amp charger" in the same sentence is kind of laughable. I was about to say that I like everything else about it, until I saw those brake discs and that chain. Neither of those seem adequate for a 60-70mph bike. But at 138 pounds maybe it's light enough not to need more and I just don't know much

[Richard230]

With a 3.5ish kWh battery, 35 miles is a more realistic range estimate, and the use of the phrase "fast charge" and "10 amp charger" in the same sentence is kind of laughable. I was about to say that I like everything else about it, until I saw those brake discs and that chain. Neither of those seem adequate for a 60-70mph bike. But at 138 pounds maybe it's light enough not to need more and I just don't know much

At that weight, just put up a sail and use wind power to get where you need to go. Even better for the environment than electricity.   

[valnar]

I'm seriously considering the race edition of this bike.  The $1000 off sale this month is tempting.  Depending on how it lays down, you can throw it in the back of a truck.  138 pounds is half the weight of a Zero FX.
https://solarscooters.com/products/e-clipse

[scottwstevenson]

I'm seriously considering the race edition of this bike.  The $1000 off sale this month is tempting.  Depending on how it lays down, you can throw it in the back of a truck.  138 pounds is half the weight of a Zero FX.
https://solarscooters.com/products/e-clipse

I've been following the Solar E-clipse for a while now and am planning on getting the race edition, with the carbon fiber wheels, which drops the weight to just over 100lb. This will be perfect for me for traveling with my RV. (I won't even need a ramp to get it on to the carrier.)

I've currently got a 2020 Zero DSR that I'll put up for sale (here, actually) that I really HATE to part with, but  with this form factor- up to 65mph probably at my body weight, but also so small and light - it's worth it given what my future holds travel-wise. 

The Eclipse can be licensed without an issue unlike other comparable (Surrons, etc.) bike in it's class, so to speak. (Dirtlegal does get you around things, but this is just the amount of security  I'd like to have just in case, as I could be anywhere in the US and even Mexico.)

(I'll report back after I get it and let folks know.)

-S

[valnar]

I've been following the Solar E-clipse for a while now and am planning on getting the race edition, with the carbon fiber wheels, which drops the weight to just over 100lb. This will be perfect for me for traveling with my RV. (I won't even need a ramp to get it on to the carrier.)

I'd like to get the carbon wheels, but that put's it a little too $$ high for me.  I will buy the race edition too, if for no other reason than it raises the motor up a bit.  I'll get the supermoto tires.

What color for you?  I'm thinking Red.

[scottwstevenson]

I'd like to get the carbon wheels, but that put's it a little too $$ high for me.  I will buy the race edition too, if for no other reason than it raises the motor up a bit.  I'll get the supermoto tires.

What color for you?  I'm thinking Red.

Yeah the carbon wheels are pricey, but from watching you youtube videos (of course) they do seem to be a game changer in terms of MC performance and the 33lb weight loss is going to be REALLY nice when it comes to moving the beast around. (I WILL be locking it up as I would any e-bike or bicycle with a lock at the bike rack when I can, as at that weight, it can easily just be picked up, loaded in to a truck bed, and off it goes...)

I have a 12kW "e-bike" (with pedals) that weights in around 165, and while I can move it around pretty well, when I have loaded it up to a carrier sitting above waist level (for a departure angle clearance on my RV), it's a bit of a PITA.

I'm also going to get a GPS Tracker (probably stow an Apple AirTag in there on day 1), just in case too.

I'm going with Black for sure (matches my RV), but I'll wrap it for a custom look, as I did with my Zero DSR. (Will probably go with a 3 color flame wrap, as I already have the wrap material.)

If you were to get the CF wheels, this would be your bike!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MOQAn7HJeAk


(BTW, there's a new REDDIT forum for the E-clipse:  https://www.reddit.com/r/Solareclipse_emoto/)

-S

[scottwstevenson]

I've put an order in for a Solar E-Clipse 2.0 Race Edition with the Carbon Fiber Wheels.  Deliveries are running a bit late, but it should be dispatched in a few days per their Support. 

I'll report back here if there's interest!

-S

[Specter]

Scott, even though you may not 'think' you need a ramp... get one just in case.  All it takes is one slip or twist on crappy ground and you pop something in your back manhandling that bike up there and you'll be sorry you ever thought about doing what you just did.

35 lbs different from regular to the carbon wheels,wow, that's a lot, especially for a bike that size, thats a major game changer there.  I wonder if there are any aluminum wheels out there for it.  Maybe not quite as expensive .. although not quite as light either it still may save quite a bit.

given bike is so much smaller and not really being made for total abusive use, I wonder if you could get something out of plastic or other resin made? 3 D print some rims   that'd be an interesting task for sure!

Aaron

[scottwstevenson]

Hey Aaron!

Thanks for the thoughtful advice!   I do indeed have a ramp and a carrier, so I'm good to go.  (I'm not as strong as I used to be, but I'm currently 1 arm rowing well over 100lb, so in a pinch I could probably manage without the ramp. (I've been lifting over 40yr now.)   I've ALSO learned how silly I can be with trying to move heavy things, and have wised up a LOT. This is my 5th motorcycle, and 6th if you include the 170lb e-bike I have that hits 55mph:  I definitely have learned the value of a ramp the hard way!)

I would imagine you could get wheels pretty easily in a number of other configurations.  I've got minimal experience with 3D printing, so with wheels being pretty damn important for a bike's mechanical integrity, I'm saving that project for down the road! LOL

I was told that there might be a delay on the CF wheels - I've already placed my order -  but they would ship my E-Clipse with the regular wheels on if so, and send the CF wheels a couple weeks later, so I might end up with an extra set of wheels. (I know someone who got the 2.0 Race edition, w/o the CF wheels who received a shipping notification the same day I did, so they are shipping the 2.0 Race edition, meaning it might pan out that I have 2 sets of wheels if the CF wheels are actually coming in later.)

I did look around for other wheels on alibaba.com etc, where you can buy many of the electric dirt bikes (Surron, Tilaria, etc.) and a few MC at reduced prices, but didn't find what I was looking for. So far, though, Solar has been very responsive wrt my inquiries, so I'm hoping for good customer service given I've got all in on their product (and will have added nothing that could void a warranty, e.g., added an aftermarket part like a wheel they could blame for an issue I have down the road.)

-Scott

Scott, even though you may not 'think' you need a ramp... get one just in case.  All it takes is one slip or twist on crappy ground and you pop something in your back manhandling that bike up there and you'll be sorry you ever thought about doing what you just did.

35 lbs different from regular to the carbon wheels,wow, that's a lot, especially for a bike that size, thats a major game changer there.  I wonder if there are any aluminum wheels out there for it.  Maybe not quite as expensive .. although not quite as light either it still may save quite a bit.

given bike is so much smaller and not really being made for total abusive use, I wonder if you could get something out of plastic or other resin made? 3 D print some rims   that'd be an interesting task for sure!

Aaron

[TheRan]

How much extra did you pay for the CF wheels? I'm automatically redirected to the UK site where the race edition is a pre-order and the CF wheels aren't even an option. It's only £500 ($620) more for the race edition which is a no brainer if you ask me, not only do you get more power but also better brakes with adjustable levers and floating discs (the swingarm is different too with a "raised motor", not sure that would make much difference). I'm just curious if it's still A1 legal, the regular edition peaks at 10kW so is under the 11kW limit, the race edition is 16kW so would depend on if they managed to get a lower continuous output rating on it.

[scottwstevenson]

How much extra did you pay for the CF wheels? I'm automatically redirected to the UK site where the race edition is a pre-order and the CF wheels aren't even an option. It's only £500 ($620) more for the race edition which is a no brainer if you ask me, not only do you get more power but also better brakes with adjustable levers and floating discs (the swingarm is different too with a "raised motor", not sure that would make much difference). I'm just curious if it's still A1 legal, the regular edition peaks at 10kW so is under the 11kW limit, the race edition is 16kW so would depend on if they managed to get a lower continuous output rating on it.

The CF wheels where an extra $1700.00.  This seems reasonable given what I'd found in looking around a bit (E.g., https://www.webbikeworld.com/carbon-fiber-motorcycle-wheels/).  For the weight savings and not violating warranty with aftermarket wheels (not even sure if this is the case, but being careful), etc. it was worth it for my use case.

I'm in the US, and not sure about the UK laws, but here given it comes with a US VIN, so it's registrable as a full blown motorcycle (no speed limits on the vehicle itself per se ala a moped). 

Solar has always gotten back to me within a day when I inquired via the website.  The question about legality has been addressed again and again on YT reviews, on the FB page, etc., but I've not paid attention to the UK laws, so I can only say that I would expect you could probably get an answer to that question pretty easily by digging around at bit online.

I should get the MC this Friday, so should be able to put up a review here sometime soon, and will be able to compare it with my 2020 Zero DSR...

-S

P.S. Yes, the higher wattage in the Race edition, totally makes sense to me, too, price wise.

[TheRan]

I was hoping for a little cheaper, if I was to have one I wouldn't be lugging it about often and the stock weight wouldn't be a problem so it wouldn't be worth the extra cost for me. I'm not a huge fan of how they look either. I'd more likely get a set of on and off road wheels.

I'll be interested to know how it holds up to the specs, like range, if it can actually hit 70mph, and if so down to what battery percentage. That's one of the things that really bugs me about me Zero, the decrease in performance as the SoC drops. Coming back from my sister's the other day down near 30% and cold temps I couldn't even get to the 70mph speed limit sometimes.