ultramoto

Voltra

2009-12-05T19:49:00.000-08:00

The Voltra design shows what can be done when you don't need a gas tank.

See more here....
http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/eco-motorcycles-voltra-an-all-electric-motorcycle-for-the-fashion-conscious

Cool concept

2009-09-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Most "real bikers" comments are lame and I'm pretty sure anyone who really rides a bike doesn't want that exposed rear tire.... but no denying the look of the electric motor is cool!

Without an exhaust pipe and a loud rumble to show that there is something mean under the bodywork, electric bikes are going to need to have creatively designed batteries and motors. I think there is an opportunity for electric motorcycles to actually look cooler than gas powered bikes. Visible spinning armatures, controlled sparks, artfully designed processors, circuit boards and wiring. It's all about showing off the flux capacitor.

Vectrix on the ropes

2009-07-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Vectrix builds electric scooters but had some cool concept electric motorcycles. Too bad they are going out of business... they laid off all their employees and are reported to be filing for bankruptcy. Even their website got laid off! Well at least they are still here on Wikipedia...

The FIM creates a new Series for Electric Motorcycles in 2010

2009-07-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

A racing series for electric motorcycles will bring technology to a new level!

Press Release:

The FIM creates a new Series for Electric Motorcycles in 2010
Following the success of the TTXGP race held on the Isle of Man on June 12, the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) has decided to create a FIM Series for electric bikes in 2010. This new FIM Series will be managed by the Road Racing Commission, a great and innovative project led by Mr Azhar Hussain a UK Entrepreneur founder of the TTXGP. The FIM Series for electric bikes will provide an international platform for the development of electric bikes and the technology behind them to be tested in an exciting and challenging way. It aims at driving low-carbon technological innovation forward, to demonstrate that clean-emission transport technologies have matured and can be fun, fast and exciting.
FIM President Vito Ippolito

“I am very happy to welcome this new Series, the future of the sport depends on our capacity as well as that of the manufacturers to innovate quickly. We are convinced that very shortly the motorcycle World Championships will be accessible to non-polluting engines as far as gas and sound emissions are concerned. Now that this important decision is taken, we have to work on rules and calendar to be ready to compete in 2010”

TTXGP Founder Azhar Hussain
“With the success of the TTXGP on the Isle of Man, we have shown that low-carbon technology is ready to deliver the thrills and passion for both spectators and riders. In partnership with the FIM, we are taking the next step and proud to be pushing new frontiers in motorsports technology both on and off the track. Competition improves the breed, so we hope this new Series will come to be seen as a milestone event in bringing new transportation technology to the world beyond motorcycling. We invite the best and the brightest in the world to join the global Series and be with us at the dawn of the next generation of motorsports.”

Eastlake high school student builds electric motorcycle

2009-06-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

How cool is this... For his senior project Brunner built a silent running electric motorcycle... read the rest of this article here on the Sammamish Review

Electric motors can look cool

2009-05-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

The quantya supermoto has done a great job of making their electric motor look cool!! Forget about wrapping it in a plastic box! show it off...

Almost an electric motorcycle

2009-04-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

This Peugeot Concept is almost a motorcycle! With its three wheels it would pass as a motorcycle in many states.

See more of the Peugeot Design Contest 2008

Isle of Man TTXGP race on June 12, 2009

2009-04-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

The first of its kind, an all electric motorcycle race will be held on the world famous Isle of Man.

The race website can be seen here: http://www.ttxgp.com/. 13 teams are competing from around the world but primarily UK and West Coast, USA.

View the list of teams here:

Mission One - electric superbike

2009-04-26T09:37:00.001-07:00

Check out the cool futuristic bike from Mission One. It uses a 3 Phase AC Induction motor with 100ft lb of torque and lithium-ion batteries. Top speed reported at 150mph.

Dirtbike tracks in your neighborhood?

2009-04-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

With new electric dirt bikes being developed and now sold like the Zero X maybe we will see more motorcycle tracks for kids to ride on! Here's an article about someone trying to establish an "electric only" dirt bike track in Cape Code. This could be a first!

Where I grew up houses were spread out so it was OK to have a dirt bike and ride in empty lots. Some neighbors still complained but there was not much they could really do about it and it was easy to just move on to the next area. Living close to the city there is no place for kids to ride and it would be great if there were some public tracks. The problem is nobody wants to live next to a noisy racetrack or a riding area! Electric will change that!

Zero X - Electric Streetbike & Dirtbike

2009-04-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

Check out the Zero X street and dirtbikes! Very cool. The street machine only has the equivalent of 30hp and goes 60mph but check out the torque! Over 60ft/lb has to make this bike super fun to ride. Torque is a huge advantage of electric motors over gas.

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s-specs.php

Electric torque is fun stuff, back in high school a friend and I stripped down an old electric golf cart to where all that was left was the frame and the batteries and mounted up some toyota truck tires on the back (I wish I had pictures.) Anyway because of all the torque and the light weight it would literally pop wheelies!!!

Electric Motorcycle Grand Prix

2009-04-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

Part of the thrill of riding a motorcycle is the sound it makes. For me I loved blapping the throttle on my Harley with straight pipes or now opening up the throttle on my Ducati with its race pipe. As a spectator motorcycle races are somewhat defined by the sound, whether its a road race or a VTwin drag race it would be hard to imagine them being as fun if they were electric silent but as a rider I don't think I would care! As long as the bike is fast and can handle around the turns I'm going to have a blast whether its running on gas or battery!

Here's an article on the first "Motorcycle Green Grand Prix" from WIRED mag....

"Twenty-three electric motorcycles from around the world will line up at the starting line for the world's first zero-emissions grand prix, a 37-mile dash around the famed Isle of Man." ... read more here on WIRED.COM

How awesome is that? I want to go electric motorcycle racing! A huge benefit of electric motorcycle racing whether its dirt or street is that because of the noise reduction tracks could be located in closer to cities! People wouldn't mind living by a electric race track as much as they would for a gas powered vehicle track.

Other benefits:

Electric dirtbikes could be ridden on trails closer to sensitive wildlife areas because the noise wouldn't freak out the animals.

You can work on your race bike and "fire it up" at all hours of the night in your driveway without your neighbors yelling at you

The only electric motorcycle I have ridden to date are my daughters' Razor Quad and Razor 350 Dirtbike and its easy to see that if they had more power they would be easily just as fun as my Ducati....

Ultramoto.com - Electric Vehicles Blog

2009-04-21T23:42:00.000-07:00

Check out this electric motorcycle concept. I wonder if it is using gyroscopes? Although it looks like you could easily put your legs down. Great idea and cool Japanese retro styling. Speed Racer would approve.