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I have subscribed to Motorcyclist for about 15 years. Subscription runs out next June and I will not be renewing. The magazine blows anymore.
Perhaps a year ago they did an all electric bike issue. Probably the first issue ever that I didn't read or re-read the entire issue. Now I get the November issue, another e-bike issue. This time it is filled (literally almost every page is e-bike stuff) with $30k "superbikes" that will go 40 miles and need to be recharged for 8 hours.
Other articles included a Piaggio 3-wheel scooter and a column about the Harley XR1200X being "the last real sportbike".
WTF?!?
These guys have lost it. Nobody I know gives a crap about electric bikes. There is no magic technology right around the corner that is going to mkae these things ever be viable transportation like a gas engine will be. Nothing affordable nor even in development in chemical storage will allow riders to take off for a weekend covering hundreds of deserted backroads. These things are pure green tree-hugger feel-good marketing bullshit.
I'm really starting to hate these things as they take away from real sportbike development and let lawmakers think there is a viable alternative if they want to ban conventional bikes.
I would propose a 24 hr endurace-style roadrace with these "e-superbikes" and a lowly 250cc Suzuki, or perhaps one of those many cheap Chinese imports. Or even something really slow like an 883. 24 hours at whatever pace you can comfortably run. E-bikes have to keep the same battery pack, so run for 20 minutes and charge for 2 hours on a fancy and expensive charging system. Then factor in a "fuel equivalency" for all the extra tires used by the superbikes trying to make up time lugging around heavy battery packs.
Even the cheapest lowly air-cooled starter bike would wipe the floor with these things over any real distance.
Perhaps a year ago they did an all electric bike issue. Probably the first issue ever that I didn't read or re-read the entire issue. Now I get the November issue, another e-bike issue. This time it is filled (literally almost every page is e-bike stuff) with $30k "superbikes" that will go 40 miles and need to be recharged for 8 hours.
Other articles included a Piaggio 3-wheel scooter and a column about the Harley XR1200X being "the last real sportbike".
WTF?!?
These guys have lost it. Nobody I know gives a crap about electric bikes. There is no magic technology right around the corner that is going to mkae these things ever be viable transportation like a gas engine will be. Nothing affordable nor even in development in chemical storage will allow riders to take off for a weekend covering hundreds of deserted backroads. These things are pure green tree-hugger feel-good marketing bullshit.
I'm really starting to hate these things as they take away from real sportbike development and let lawmakers think there is a viable alternative if they want to ban conventional bikes.
I would propose a 24 hr endurace-style roadrace with these "e-superbikes" and a lowly 250cc Suzuki, or perhaps one of those many cheap Chinese imports. Or even something really slow like an 883. 24 hours at whatever pace you can comfortably run. E-bikes have to keep the same battery pack, so run for 20 minutes and charge for 2 hours on a fancy and expensive charging system. Then factor in a "fuel equivalency" for all the extra tires used by the superbikes trying to make up time lugging around heavy battery packs.
Even the cheapest lowly air-cooled starter bike would wipe the floor with these things over any real distance.