It's no secret that in the UK, E-motorcycles have been a lot slower in sales uptake compared to electric cars. We've looked at a few of the reasons in previous blogs and it's often a point of discussion on our Facebook page. This isn't the place to start a new debate but for the sake of this article, lets talk about noise and range.
Exhaust and Engine Noise
Exhaust and engine noise is THE top objection we get from motorcyclist in the UK. Yet we never hear this from scooter bikers. We get it! There's nothing like a nicely tuned exhaust popping and growling it's way up your favourite route. But it's not all about volume; there is something primal in hearing - 'feeling' - the power. Some might say that the benefits of electric drive, with power-availability and so much more torque, outweigh the requirements for making everyone look. We don't disagree, but we still get it. How would anyone know your riding a beast unless they hear you coming? Well, there is one way.
There's no better place to test your new e-motorcycle than when you're riding with other bikers, This is where your 'noise' will be just a small part of everyone's total noise. This is where, just like on the race circuit, the noise becomes second place to a much more important element of riding. That is, the ability to overtake anyone and leave them for dust. Riding an electric equivalent to a traditional ice machine means you'll probably blip your friends out of the hatch and leave them for small specks in the side mirrors. So as it goes, you won't be able to hear they're engines anyway.
Scooter riders, as a type, don't care about this. According to our insights, scooter riders prefer a quieter motor, and are much more inclined towards the reduced maintenance that an electric vehicle offers. (Less than a push bike). Plus the advantage of zero pollution is also a favoured result from this tribe.
Are Electric Motorbikes Silent?
When it comes to e-scooter mopeds, they are generally very quiet and you'll only be disturbed by the whirring of your powerful new electro-magnetic coil that catapults you to your chosen speeds. But e-motorcycles do offer an alternative to the loud growl of the petrol engine. The sound of a modern e-motorcycle, especially at speeds, is the sound of the future. think Tron, The Matrix or Blade Runner. The combination of electronic rotors, switches and the sound as air pushes through the dynamics of the bike, keeping you on the tarmac and helping you maintain stability, is second-to-non. You can't really appreciate it until you try it. It is for this reason, and other more obvious ones, that we recommend everyone does.
Range
But what about range? everyone cares about range, right?
It's a difficult one. Range is hotly contested across all EV's. At Buck City Biker we believe the problem is more about recharge time than range itself, although they are closely related. So, does range effect everyone in the same way? Well, apparently not. According to our research, scooter riders use their machines mainly for the commute, or to pop around town, all of which means that ranges are often pre-determined. That is to say, they know how far they will be going, and plan their route accordingly. Whereas Motorcycle riders, we found, mostly want more range, more power and more speed. It's a 'more' game that all manufacturers are trying to catch up with. We often hear from motorcyclist who want 100 miles range for the route, but really need 150 'just in case'. Like above with the exhaust noise, we get it! And we're working on rapid charge technology right now, which should make range an obsolete question.
What can we do?
Currently, scooter bikers are enjoying all the fun that 2 wheeled EV's can offer, e.g. Fast, low maintenance machines with torque for days. Incredible acceleration and quiet, futuristic stealth like operation. Cheap to run and no pollution. The list of advantages goes on. As an EV dealer and manufacturer, we can only continue to bang on about them and watch as more and more people enjoy the conversion to electric. Oh and remember our equation, more torque = more fun.
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