I saw this in the august pages of Motor Cycle News last week and they were quite bullish about it. One of the interesting aspects of the bike is that the frame is designed by Lotus and is based on the design they were offering for Super Bike in the nineties. This could be quite credible. The builders were certainly thowing the gauntlet down by stating they were out to win, not demonstrate!
I hope they compete, this is looking quite interesting!
Although the idea was entirely laudable, holding a race for electric vehicles may be better on a course which is neither 37 miles long nor known as the mountain, at this stage of their evolution. My local cycle club holds its races on public roads (nice flat ones) and that would be a far more suitable place to get the technology out there & known amongst people. It would also encourage teams from local schools and individuals to have a go themselves, whereas a famously testing course in a fairly inaccessible location is probably the finest deterrent going.
So, how do I get Bernie E to sponsor the UK Electric Bike Road GP series?
I saw the same article, and the same thought occurs now... That was a frame designed for a conventional bike (and nobody took it then!), whereas a 'leccy bike has loads of those pesky heavy batteries. The picture shown looks incredibly nose forward weight wise, and I don't think I'd fancy trying to stop the thing in a hurry, especially on those bumpy Manx roads!
Royce Creasey's design looks like something straight out of Speed Racer cartoons... (shivers in disgust)
On the other hand, the other bike looks promising. As someone noted, the ginormous sprocket on the back suggests this beast won´t have a too complex gearbox, improving both weight and efficiency. The lack of volume in the "tail" also suggests they have enough space for the batteries also.
Someone mentioned that leccy bikes won´t be pleasantly noisy, but if you enjoy slot racers' noises, you might like it, I guess!
The original point of motor racing (2-wheel and 4-) was to challenge the inventors and manufacturers of the day to better their machines. What better challenge for electric motorbikes than a course that pushes the fossil fuel variety and their riders to the limit already. The 37 mile Mountain Circuit is perfect. Who cares if the first few bikes don't make it round. The same was the case when the TT began back in 1907. Better luck next year. :)
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Isle of Man e-bike trial loses racers
Anonymous Coward
Looks shooped to me ... #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 13:38 GMT
That's not a "CGI mock-up", he clearly just cut and pasted his helmet onto a still from Tron 2.0!
Matt W
Where's the hydrogen crew #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 13:38 GMT
Have Intelligent Energy gone titsup ?
Hmmmmm - 'Unable to load this page'
Andy
EV0-RR #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 13:38 GMT
Impressive looking indeed, but why is there a crankcase cover poking out of the fairing side?
-A.
Andrew Newstead
EVO pedigree #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 15:29 GMT
I saw this in the august pages of Motor Cycle News last week and they were quite bullish about it. One of the interesting aspects of the bike is that the frame is designed by Lotus and is based on the design they were offering for Super Bike in the nineties. This could be quite credible. The builders were certainly thowing the gauntlet down by stating they were out to win, not demonstrate!
I hope they compete, this is looking quite interesting!
Andrew Newstead
Anonymous Coward
re. EV0-RR #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 15:35 GMT
It's not a crankcase cover, it's the battery compartment!
Richard Cartledge
What gobshite #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 15:35 GMT
Since when did generating electricity become zero emissions?
Dave
EVO-RR #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 15:35 GMT
The rear sprocket on the Evo is HUGE. Is the motor going to be turning at 40K rpm or does the bike max out at 25 MPH?
Anonymous Coward
Local Heroes #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 15:36 GMT
An Isle of Man team is in on with a top rider.
http://www.iomtoday.co.im/tt/Clean-mean-Manx-machine-for.5101670.jp
Scott Evil
leccy gp bikes #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 15:36 GMT
Do they produce the spine tingling goose bump raising uber exhaust notes like their fossil fuel driven cousins do?
It would make for poor spectatoing to see but not hear the bikes blast past you
zzzzzz
Tim
Oh well.. #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 15:36 GMT
Although the idea was entirely laudable, holding a race for electric vehicles may be better on a course which is neither 37 miles long nor known as the mountain, at this stage of their evolution. My local cycle club holds its races on public roads (nice flat ones) and that would be a far more suitable place to get the technology out there & known amongst people. It would also encourage teams from local schools and individuals to have a go themselves, whereas a famously testing course in a fairly inaccessible location is probably the finest deterrent going.
So, how do I get Bernie E to sponsor the UK Electric Bike Road GP series?
Tim#3
fifi
Someone who will be there. #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 16:33 GMT
my mate Keith will be there
http://www.iomtoday.co.im/tt/Clean-mean-Manx-machine-for.5101670.jp
Steve Evans
@Andrew Newstead #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 16:33 GMT
I saw the same article, and the same thought occurs now... That was a frame designed for a conventional bike (and nobody took it then!), whereas a 'leccy bike has loads of those pesky heavy batteries. The picture shown looks incredibly nose forward weight wise, and I don't think I'd fancy trying to stop the thing in a hurry, especially on those bumpy Manx roads!
JonB
“That's motor racing.” #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 16:38 GMT
Errr.. no, that's drawing a picture on a computer. They're different activities.
Alistair
EVO-10000xAA #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 16:54 GMT
Seems odd to think that an electric battery powered race bike would look anything like a '90s superbike.
I much prefer the feet-forward bike!
Anonymous Coward
Leccy Bikes... #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 16:56 GMT
Royce Creasey's design looks like something straight out of Speed Racer cartoons... (shivers in disgust)
On the other hand, the other bike looks promising. As someone noted, the ginormous sprocket on the back suggests this beast won´t have a too complex gearbox, improving both weight and efficiency. The lack of volume in the "tail" also suggests they have enough space for the batteries also.
Someone mentioned that leccy bikes won´t be pleasantly noisy, but if you enjoy slot racers' noises, you might like it, I guess!
jake
The question remains ... #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 19:57 GMT
Do any of these things have the range to complete a full circuit at race speeds?
GremlinUK
Re. Oh well... #
Posted Wednesday 25th March 2009 19:57 GMT
The original point of motor racing (2-wheel and 4-) was to challenge the inventors and manufacturers of the day to better their machines. What better challenge for electric motorbikes than a course that pushes the fossil fuel variety and their riders to the limit already. The 37 mile Mountain Circuit is perfect. Who cares if the first few bikes don't make it round. The same was the case when the TT began back in 1907. Better luck next year. :)