KTM reveals race-ready electric motorcycle, production within 2 years

[Hondacrrider]

High-school motocross teams, anybody?

That is what I was thinking!

[offroader]

I likemthe idea of urban riding and old abandoned warehouse tracks.Unfortunately i don't think they would allow them in state parks with mtb and hiking trails.Wonder how much a spare battery would cost?

I likemthe idea of urban riding and old abandoned warehouse tracks.Unfortunately i don't think they would allow them in state parks with mtb and hiking trails.Wonder how much a spare battery would cost?

Around 3000

That is one of the problems.The exspense.I imagine with new technology the batteries will have longer run times and/or shorter recharge times and a drop in price.

[JETZcorp]

I certainly hope they'll be able to get more than an hour out of a charge in the future.  When I go riding, it's usually a four+ hour ride.  My Husky has a 2.1 gallon tank, and I carry a Gatorade bottle in my backpack for extra gas.  Can't do that with a battery.

[JohnN]

You can ride for 4+ hours on 2.1 gallons of gas!!! That's amazing!

[juliend]

I don't like how they make peak power at any RPM.  It would feel awesome on low-end, but then you'd get ready for the top-end and it would feel, well, flat.  The problem four-strokes have is that their power curve is a smooth, shallow arc.  Two-strokes are more fun because their dyno chart looks like the Matterhorn, so you've got to shift and clutch and stay in the meat of the power.  There's challenge.  With an electric bike, it would feel like going back to the one-speed 50cc with the centrifugal clutch.  "Okay son, twist this to go fast, push on this to go slow."  There's no challenge; nothing to do.  When you take away the powerband and transmission, you get to the point where you might as well have training wheels.

That said, if someone could program it to feel like a two-stroke in power delivery, and figure out that the transmission is not just a means to an end but an end in itself, I'd be satisfied for a playbike.

Yeah, the transmission would no longer be necessary. Perhaps a 2 speed gearbox. I can relate to your concerns about the power delivery being TOO linear. I've ridden 250f's and was bored to tears. I wanted my 2 stroke back ASAP. I've played around a lot with programmable ESC's and brushless DC motors though, and there are many options for power curves, regenerative engine braking, etc. It's an interesting field with a lot of possibilities. Like I said though, it has a long way to go before it could be considered as a replacement in my mind. I'm just excited about the technology is all..

[JETZcorp]

You can ride for 4+ hours on 2.1 gallons of gas!!! That's amazing!

It's more like 2.5 with the Gatorade bottles, but we also do a lot of stopping and taking in the scenery and such.  The 120 was a beast on fuel economy, though.  The little wonder-bike has had to go back to camp and rescue other riders with an emergency Gatorade bottle of gas more than once.  One time, my dad's 100 Yamaha ran out of gas way the HELL away from camp, so we transferred some gas from the Kawi to the Yammie with a beer can.  Then he ran out again, so we did it again.  When he ran out a third time, we gave up transferring and did the Gatorade bottle trick.  I don't know what the thing is burning to make power, but it's not gas, apparently.

Off-topic, I know, but it's a fun story.

[miedosoracing]

High-school motocross teams, anybody?

That is what I was thinking!

Did any of you guys know that there use to be school motocross?  Here in Texas they had that...

[Hondacrrider]

High-school motocross teams, anybody?

That is what I was thinking!

Did any of you guys know that there use to be school motocross?  Here in Texas they had that...

Now that would be sweet, exclusive, but sweet!

[JETZcorp]

I'd just love to show up with my Husky 250, be wildly underestimated, then wipe everyone out.  Probably wouldn't've done it as a Freshman, but after being on "the team" for a few years I think the 42 horsepower would prevail against whatever Wal-Mart bikes the school would issue.