Is this the bike for you?

[Tinker]

It is illegal.
If you want to break the law, go ahead and accept the consequences.
If you collide with anything, you will not be insured and an innocent person could suffer the consequences of your 'personal responsibility'

It's illegal to discriminate against the disabled but your Goverment are doing it now.
Electric bike have been around long before Pedelecs. it strikes me that those who oppose anything different from their 'rules' usually have a financial stake in it somewhere.
Rules are made to be broken. Worry instead about the 'MAMIN' riding in a peloton at 45mph (in a 40mph limit) who took a tumble on the A40 today and nearly caused a serious accident

 

[flecc]

Thats based on the 250w motor with all its limitation, so do u think this bike with 2x 1500w motors. 96 volts battery power could go up a 1/8 hill power only at 15mph+ anyone ?

No, not based on a 250 watt motor, what I described was as said for a given power, any power. If only with one gear, it can be used to maximise speed or climbing. The two optimums cannot both be achieved at the same time.

The Rolls Royce Merlin engine produced 400 mph in a spitfire, but the spitfire couldn't tow over 100 tons.

The same Merlin engine in the Thorneycroft Antar tow truck will pull over 100 tons all up weight, but at a maximum speed of 12 mph.

Designer choice, maximised speed or maximised pulling power.

 

[sdrio]

No, not based on a 250 watt motor, what I described was as said for a given power, any power. If only with one gear, it can be used to maximise speed or climbing. The two optimums cannot both be achieved at the same time.

The Rolls Royce Merlin engine produced 400 mph in a spitfire, but the spitfire couldn't tow over 100 tons.

The same Merlin engine in the Thorneycroft Antar tow truck will pull over 100 tons all up weight, but at a maximum speed of 12 mph.

Designer choice, maximised speed or maximised pulling power.

I'm sorry but modifying tow trucks so that they can fly is just irresponsible.

 

[overlander]

You don't have to ride it at @ 40mph you know.

Just like I don't have to drive my Cosworth at 150mph But there are times when I've had it @ 140mph in a safe and controlled manner

Slightly off topic but the escort cosworth was my dream car when i was younger and still like to see them on the road. But i came across one on my kawasaki ZZR 1400 and the guy was just a jerk, to such an extent it was in my opinion dangerous.

Talk about boyhood dreams being shattered, taking away from the lights the guy gave it every thing but as this point i had had enough. I really was surprised at just how slow it was, it was a dot in the mirror after 4 seconds and that was the last i seen of it.

I would not even say i gunning the bike as the road was damp and i had it on low power with traction control on, but it still looked nice. I should add that not many cars can keep up with that bike so the poor old cosworth probably never done too bad just things have moved on but it was a lovely example just a jerk behind the wheel.

Back on topic, the won't use the throttle argument does not wash with me. When i bought that bike i was determined i would keep the throttle back and treat it with respect, 95% of the time you do. But human emotions come into play like that cosworth jackass and i used it pretty hard. And the times when you do use it are most likely when you are angry so not the best.

You get used to extra speed it's amazing how quickly, the problem with the zzr is how easy it does it, even exotic cars ares disposed of with ease. So my point is don't kid yourself saying I won't use it, you will as 25 will start to feel slow then 35 and so on. Trust me I used to think 100 mph was fast until you have a machine that can reach it in 5 seconds and it's amazing how quickly you get used to this, but at least the bike has the stopping power and technology behind it unlike the DIY job on eBay.

I really would not like to hit a pothole at 40 on a cheap push bike you really are in the realms of needing proper suspension and frames designed to go that speed. Now if they said 25, then probaly ok for a bike frame, remember the base bike is cheap designed for 15 mph or thereabouts but whack a heavy battery on and this stresses the frame more.

 

[amigafan2003]

Oh I agree with you - that bike isn't one I'd want to go 40mph on.

But that wasn't the point Indalo was trying to make with his original post

Oh, and my Westfield is quicker than my Cosworth by some margin. But nothing beats motorbike at a red light grand prix. I'd whip your ass on a lap of oulton park though

 

[overlander]

Oh I agree with you - that bike isn't one I'd want to go 40mph on.

But that wasn't the point Indalo was trying to make with his original post

Oh, and my Westfield is quicker than my Cosworth by some margin. But nothing beats motorbike at a red light grand prix. I'd whip your ass on a lap of oulton park though

lol my days of racing are over i'm hanging about with the old duffers in here now

Don't want to get off topic too much but that bike is pretty obscene yet so docile. The problem is the rate at which it can reach ridiculous speeds more worryingly how you stop noticing this as you adjust to it. Thats why i get into the habit of using it on low power but thats relative that just means your shoulder sockets don't feel like they are getting ripped out. But my point is you do get used to the speed if its their so you will use it. On low power i do not know what the 0-60 time is but i would put it in the mid 3's to 4 plenty fast for commuting. Full power 0-100 in 5.3 seconds, but that is not where it shines 20-100 is madness.

 

[themutiny]

You must have the 2012 model - I'm suitably jealous. I've got a 2007 model, so no Traction Control or Power Modes, just full on lunacy all the time.

I also make no bones about it, I didn't buy a ZZR1400 to ride slowly, I bought it to indulge my occasional need for a speed fix. The way I restrict myself is by only commuting on it once a week - the rest of the time the commute (120 mile round trip) is done on either a 400 or a 650 Burgman. Unfortunately, whilst they are great commuter bikes, just about every other road user tries to carve you up when you ride one, particularly bikers. I have a special dislike for GS riders who in my experience are the counterparts to the 3 series car drivers (although this does seem to be moving to Audi A4s of late).

The ZZR proves a good foil - as you have noted, in a straight line nothing else can touch it for acceleration. I previously had a Blackbird - at very high speeds, the Blackbird is better IMHO as you get much less wind buffeting.

Back on topic - I see no real issue with an ebike capable of assisting to 20 - 25mph or so, but this level of power on a pushbike is lunacy.

 

[amigafan2003]

One thing I've been thinking about is if this bike can't handle 45mph how come it's already lasted 6 months use?

Also, as most bikes list 110kg as max rider weight, what's more stressful on a bike - a rider weighing 110kg with no battery or a 100kg rider plus a 10 kg battery? No difference I'd guess so you can't say adding big batteries to a bike suddenly makes it unsafe.

 

[jazper53]

One thing I've been thinking about is if this bike can't handle 45mph how come it's already lasted 6 months use?

Also, as most bikes list 110kg as max rider weight, what's more stressful on a bike - a rider weighing 110kg with no battery or a 100kg rider plus a 10 kg battery? No difference I'd guess so you can't say adding big batteries to a bike suddenly makes it unsafe.

Gravity is a good stabilizer, no doubt will get some mathmatical formula to counter the argument.

 

[sdrio]

Unfortunately, whilst they are great commuter bikes, just about every other road user tries to carve you up when you ride one, particularly bikers. I have a special dislike for GS riders who in my experience are the counterparts to the 3 series car drivers (although this does seem to be moving to Audi A4s of late).

I use a motorbike in London. The most badly behaved riders there seem to be the ones on those wierd scooters with 3 wheels,

My theory is that they take the attitude that "I might look like a bit of a tool, but look how fast I can go".

 

[sdrio]

Gravity is a good stabilizer, no doubt will get some mathmatical formula to counter the argument.

I'd say if anything, the 100+battery, as the battery is fixed to the bike, whereas the rider isn't. To a small extent, the battery is unsprung, so would cause greater stress on the frame.

 

[flecc]

Also, as most bikes list 110kg as max rider weight, what's more stressful on a bike - a rider weighing 110kg with no battery or a 100kg rider plus a 10 kg battery? No difference I'd guess so you can't say adding big batteries to a bike suddenly makes it unsafe.

Rider weight and battery weight are two very different things though. The rider continuously and automatically dynamically balances their body to keep the bike's trim correct. Therefore it matters little how heavy the rider is, they are not a part if the bike's inherent dynamic stability. The battery is, so it's weight and position has a permanent and unchanging effect of handling.

 

[themutiny]

I use a motorbike in London. The most badly behaved riders there seem to be the ones on those wierd scooters with 3 wheels,

My theory is that they take the attitude that "I might look like a bit of a tool, but look how fast I can go".

You mean those Piaggios?

I borrowed a Piaggio (not a three wheeler) when my Burgman was in for a service. It was very nicely presented and well equipped. I stopped off for some breakfast about a mile from the Dealer, pushed the seat release button in and stowed my helmet and gloves under the seat. Unfortunately when I came out, no matter how much I pushed the button, it would not release, and neither would the fuel filler cap. I had to ride back to the dealer with no helmet (well I didn't have to, but I did). The service desk were not suprised and showed me all the manual overrides muttering about Italian cr@p. There were other problems too, and all this on a bike with only 200 miles on the clock!

It was economical on fuel though.....

 

[boyced]

that looks a crazy bike, I had 35mph on my racing bike (no motor) going downhill on snakepass and that wasn't fun... well maybe a little.

 

[amigafan2003]

that looks a crazy bike, I had 35mph on my racing bike (no motor) going downhill on snakepass and that wasn't fun... well maybe a little.

Doctorbass' 2003 GIANT DH Comp

Now THAT looks fun!

I'm in the process of converting my full sus using a mid mounted motor to drive through the cranks - I hope that's fun as well!

 

[flecc]

Re: the question of breaking the law, a BBC Radio 4 program from the Edinburgh Festival called "The Philosopher's Arms" wonders whether we have any moral reason to obey the law. Set in a hypothetical pub with a wide range of customers, it brings to light some interesting attitudes and is often amusing. You can listen to it on the BBC i-player on the link below, 28 minutes and 30 seconds duration:

The Philosopher's Arms

 

[amigafan2003]

The Philosopher's Arms

Yes, I've listened to that - excellent series of programmes

 

[boyced]

that bike looks good.

 

[overlander]

that bike looks good.

You won't be saying that when you get T-Boned and picking your teeth up off the road

 

[overlander]

The more i think about this new breed of 40 mph + bikes the more i feel they can only be bad news for the future of electric bikes. Putting the legal bit aside as we could argue that all day.

From a practical point of view after 40 mph you are now in the region where if you went down you would rip your skin to shreds on the road. Even on scooters everyone wears helmets some wear protective gear and this makes a big difference, no one on a push bike is even going to wear gloves.

Also at 40 mph your in the region where you could kill yourself without any other vehicle involved. For that reason alone its just a matter of time before it ends in disaster. I think the only reason nothing has happened yet is the small numbers on the road.