Man Creates Electric Motorcycle Using Simple Retrofits

Actually Linton posted it first http://hugg.com/story/Videos-Electric-Bikes-Taking-Off-Around-World/

Half the safety in riding a bike, is that people can hear you coming. This is death waiting to happen.
Also what is the point of max 40 miles distance, would not get me to work and back.

I don't buy this notion that everybody has to suffer from noise pollution because somebody wants to ride a motorcycle. It's all an excuse for louder pipes so guys can show off how small their penis really is.

Many drivers are too busy listening to the radio or talking on a cell phone to be paying attention. 130 decibel pipes aren't going to fix that.

Interesting,

Who cares about the issue of sound when we are talking about environmentally friendly transportation alternatives?

If someone thinks safety is being loud like a Harley, then you are missing the issue at hand, safety is not about noise, it is about the drivers.

First, the average driver in the United States drives an average of 43.5 miles a day. Thus, "the point" is that this design, as is, meets the needs of anyone who drives an "average" number of miles or less.

Beyond that, this is a single, custom design for one person. You can be pretty confident that if he needed to drive 60 miles per day, he'd have crammed more battery capacity in there.

On the prevention of accidents, if you look at the actual factors involved in motorcycle accidents, you're actually left with far fewer than you might think if you just remove people who are riding a bike with no training whatsoever, no experience with the bike their on, riding after dark, riding without a helmet, riding under the influence, those under 30, etc.

For those that remain, where sound would actually make a difference, there's no reason that the sound has to come directly from exploding hydrocarbons. If the sound were coming from a speaker instead of a tailpipe, it could be tuned to be heard inside cars more easily, adjusted to the optimal level, etc. instead of just making it as loud as possible in the hopes that it's enough to be heard.

Who cares about the issue of sound when we are talking about environmentally friendly transportation alternatives?

Noise is an environmental issue. If I live somewhere with lots of noise, I will tend to close my windows and use energy for heating and cooling instead of using the outside air to help moderate temps when it's possible. I see this happen all the time where I live.

Also on another level, sprawl is a response to things like noise. Ask people why they live so far from their workplace and they often tell you it's because of the peace and quiet.

Noise also correlates with crime. Take a look at a crime map overlayed on a road map and see if you don't see patterns. Cheaper housing and dead space is what buffers larger, noisier roadways, and therefore that's where poverty and crime tend to concentrate.

Noise also cuts into people's sleep on a chronic bases and makes them irritable as well. It makes them less likely to be available to be altruistic and in touch with nature.

If you don't think noise matters, imagine someone coming into your home and blasting the sound of a Harley whenever they felt like it.

More often they will tell you money. That it costs too much to live near work. The noise issue is silly and stupid. Especially the penis commenter. Who has penis envy?

There are noise ordinances and I've seen many loud motorcycles ticketed. Unless your riding on or near aloud bike the noise in temporary. I can't believe someone is arguing over noise when the bigger issue is emissions.

More often they will tell you money.

Maybe you know a lot of penny-pinchers.

That it costs too much to live near work.

If they do, they're lying.

The noise issue is silly and stupid.

You obviously don't live amidst a lot of noise.

Especially the penis commenter. Who has penis envy?

No one mentioned penis envy. Funny you would bring it up.

There are noise ordinances and I've seen many loud motorcycles ticketed.

Where? When? I've never seen such a thing in my long life.

Unless your riding on or near aloud bike the noise in temporary.

Unless of course you live by a large road. Keep making my point about people escaping noise.

I can't believe someone is arguing over noise when the bigger issue is emissions.

The latter is much more tangible when you're exposed to it on a regular basis. Again, you speak like someone who has chosen to live somewhere (and in a specific fashion) as to avoid constant noise.

Perhaps you should review the literature on the subject, or better, go live somewhere that's constantly noisy -- especially with frequent disruptive noise from vehicles like Harleys, buses, semis, trash trucks, and tuner cars.

http://www.nonoise.org/library/handbook/handbook.htm

{i]On the prevention of accidents, if you look at the actual factors involved in motorcycle accidents, you're actually left with far fewer than you might think if you just remove people who are riding a bike with no training whatsoever, no experience with the bike their on, riding after dark, riding without a helmet, riding under the influence, those under 30, etc.[/i]

The stats you're quoting are out of context. While it's true that [u]single vehicle motorcycle accidents[/u] are largely due to the factors you've listed, 3/4 of all motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. Google it.

I can tell you that a house in downtown Indianapolis, where I work, is at least 2x the price of the house I live in.

So - yeah - it is too expensive

You want to know about noise? It's not the motorcycles that bother me, and there are plenty. It's the damn MOCKINGBIRD that lives in the tree near by bedroom. I can't sleep with the window open! If someone wants to ride a Harley, what can I do about it? It's there choice. I lead by example. My bike has pedals and is silent, except for that clicking sprocket. I don't think that the click click click has saved me from any accidents though.

So we all agree, noise and emissions are both issues. This is an excellent solution to both issues.

Kudos to those of us who lead by example.

(By the way, people live far from work for one of two main reasons, Job scarcity or housing scarcity. There may not be any jobs close to home that you'd want, and there may not be any homes close to work that you'd want!)

Bull. My bike is practically whisper quiet. Heck, so are many cars.

When I'm cranking 75 on a highway, and some moron in a tank top zips by, with his helmet perched OVER his head, I do NOT hear or see him.

I hear wind noise, first off, but that's not relevant. By the time I hear his pipes, he's already alongside me, and the only reason I didn't see him is because he zipped over two or three lanes, sped past me, and immediately got lost in traffic. He snuck past me in the time that I was looking at something ahead of me, instead of in my mirrors. If I'm doing 75, how fast is HE going?

Loud pipes throw sound BEHIND the bike. That's no good, as the guy behind you can SEE you. The guy in front of you still has no idea that you're coming, and will STILL run over you before he knows what's going on.

Loud pipes are a nuisance. If you're that worried about something in front of you, take your left thumb, drop it below your turn signal switch, and press on your horn a few times.

If the bike gets 40 miles on a charge, and the average person drives 43.5 miles per day then charge it at work and you'll be all set. I realize that some employers wouldn't allow that, but others will.

Loud pipes cost rights. Not as catchy, but true.

The concept is cutting edge as well as super cool, a bunch of attention has been made to address the sound issue, and frankly the bike is neither quiet or noisey, it has a pleasant whine about it. And as far as the range goes, technology and battery science will take care of that, give it time. I want one.

I've always liked the idea of a "sleeper", something that's stealthy and high performance. Admittedly, the motorcycle here has a ways to go in the performance department, but new battery and motor technology is upon us. I'd like to take a high-performance motorcycle and convert it to electric drive myself. Then I can get a bumper sticker that says, "Loud pipes are for morons who burn hydrocarbons".

My experience in 20 years of motorcycling is that loud pipes do reduce accidents but only in cities where there are lots of pedestrians, skateboarders and cyclists. Comparing my Harley with a quieter Yamaha that I used to own, far fewer people walk or cycle out in front of the louder bike, reducing the number of minor accidents and near-misses. Car drivers are less affected as they're inside tin boxes and don't hear much outside anyway. How about fitting a stereo - people would hear you from a few yards away and you'd have the choice of what to hear and also how loud you want it!

This vehicle is both safe and effective for most short trips that people make. I would love one myself.

Safety is more training than noise.
Example: Yellow helmet, day glow yellow jacket, yellow bicycle - if you can't see this you're blind or not paying attention. Nearly got run over anyways. Sudden loud yelling is what saved my life - no loud motor would have mattered. It was the shocking and different noise that did it. That's why horns are effective. Just wish there was an easy air horn for a bicycle. Better yet, a miniaturized directional sonic weapon attached to a helmet. Look at the offending vehicle, hit a button and get that specific person's instant attention!

BTW, highly directional sonic emitters do exist. One guy has developed a system for the military. He's even developing a miniature system as a very effective hearing aid. New market anyone?

Car = 2 tons
motorcycle = .25 tons
4x mass = car winning

Auto driver attention is key. & it starts and ends w/ 1 sentence in drivers ed: "pay attention for other motorists". Now all cyclists need to get other motorists to take it to heart.

I am having a hard time understanding why it is necessary to get stuck on the topic of noise importance.
1. This bike has less pollution; noise pollution, air pollution.
2. This bike is less expensive to operate.
3. If storage of charge is a fault to this, the capacity may be able to be increased.
4. If you like to ride motorcycles this is a nice eco-friendly way to do that.
5. If a bike like this could be produced and sold and if they were easy and inexpensive to maintain. I would like to get one.

As far as the stupid noise topic, I have ridden a motorcycle over 25 years clocking in over 300,000 miles on 2 wheels.
I have had a lot of accidents, just myself and involving other drivers. I have 6 motorcycles the ones I want to be very fast are very noisy, I have some very quiet bikes.
As a general rule, If you are going faster than 40mph you are invisible, it does not matter how loud you are. Yes, Pedestrians and bicyclists are more likely notice a loud bike.
BTW my neighbors don't complain about the noise, if they said something I would try to be respectful of their space.

People most miss the real point the environment when thar thinking of how far thay can go and how fast. To the people that only see how fast and how far thows problums can be fixed. If the distance of only 40 miles max bothers you when you try to make your own add soler panels to the outside of the body. when you are out you will have it charging that will let you go farther. for the speed sarry i cant help you yet, im only 15 and working on a moped. Its slow not haveing a job to save money but i have most of the soler panels and most of the techinal detales done. We shud all do sumthing like this its good for the environment

I appreciate your comments, I rode my mtn bicycle 6,000 miles in 1998. I own 3 motorcycles which get 35 - 60 mpg. all have stock exhaust, all 50 state legal. The 1968 is muffled and a bit louder, the EPA began in 1972. The dual sport I ride in National Forest quietly. I like power and I like speed and I like QUIET. The TOPIC here is THIS ELECTRIC BIke built around a derbi 50cc road bike. I never met a real motorcyclist who wasn't brave, bulding your own stunning electric prototype --- amazing.

About the noise safes lives, bull wearing reflective clothing, (vest, jackets, etc) saves lives. They make cool looking bright green and orange vest, even silver.

My "loud" Ducati 900ss Marving race cans has saved my life twice here in the SF Bay Area. Not to mention the warm and fuzzy feeling I get when I see motorist looking in their rear view mirror as I approach.

Whether or no you like load pipes they do work to keep my butt off the asphalt.

This is pretty cool. Thanks for the information.