New Kawasaki electric bikes

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Relax said:
I would have expected Kawasaki to come out with something at least comparable to a Zero.
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That would have required significant engineering effort. For an automotive comparison, these Kawasaki models are like the old VW e-Golf or Ford Focus electric - an EV powertrain jammed into something originally meant for a combustion engine. They haven't yet figured out that the EV bit has to be built in from day one for the result to be any good.

In the motorcycle world, nobody has put all the pieces together yet and built something decent. Zero probably comes closest, but no DC fast-charging. The latest Energica models seem pretty good, but not available here. I suspect Ducati will get there first, to capitalise on MotoE.
 
TwistedKestrel said:
They're not dead dead yet - they will still take your money. Think carefully about giving it to them though!

sondorsx.com

SONDORS Metacycle - $6,500

A motorbike without barriers, engineered to be an extension of you, the rider. Freedom from noise, vibration, and distraction. Built for a new transportation experience that makes the ordinary journey extraordinary again.
sondorsx.com sondorsx.com

Edit: The MetaCycle as delivered did not have 80 miles of range, it was a smidgen under half that. You could take it on the highway though!
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How far? Between two exits on the highway? So like an M2 test?
 
boyoboy said:
999 $
20km
one step away from a scooter..
4" wide suitcase ! 40lbs
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Cool toy. Completely illegal in Ontario. Can only be used on your private property. Doesn't meet definition of ebike or escooter so therefore it is a motor vehicle. I guess Honda could maybe get it approved as LSM but why bother. With insurance and licensing, operating costs would be too high.
 
GreyGhost said:
Sondors is gone but the metacycle was half the money (4-5K USD), double the range (80 miles) and up to 80 mph. Half the money would make a big difference in the viability. Even if the ninja was 5K, it would still be a tough sell in Canada. Might as well make it expensive as the early adopter fanbois are going to buy it at almost any price.

EDIT:
Apparently the marketing for Sondors was 80 mile range but real world was 30-45 tops. Boo.
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And this is probably why they're out of business, because they couldn't deliver what they were marketing for that price.
 
boyoboy said:
too fast?
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Escooter definition requires no seat. They must have a platform to stand on. That's two strikes. There is a third greyer strike that they must not have a basket nor carry cargo. Is that storage compartment a basket? I don't know. It doesn't really matter as you only need one strike to punt you to LSM.
 
mimico_polak said:
How far? Between two exits on the highway? So like an M2 test?
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I used to have a commute where I would ride down Royal York -> South Kingsway -> Gardiner -> Lakeshore. It seems like the MetaCycle might have JUST managed it both ways, without topping up.

Of course, you could easily change the route to avoid the highway (and let's ignore how rare it would be to ever hit full speed anyway) to suit the E-1, but I would personally appreciate the flexibility in route choice. Both are still city commuter bikes, just one can do brief highway stints. The E-1 sounds like it's not really MEANT to be doing more than 60kph regularly. It's functionally an LSM, but maybe Kawasaki didn't have the stomach to ask for $9.5K for THAT version
 
GreyGhost said:
Cool toy. Completely illegal in Ontario. Can only be used on your private property. Doesn't meet definition of ebike or escooter so therefore it is a motor vehicle. I guess Honda could maybe get it approved as LSM but why bother. With insurance and licensing, operating costs would be too high.
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Just stick some fake pedals o the side and call it good. I'd be all over this if I was still commuting to the office. I always arrive after the parking lot is full and end 2 blocks away. This would go a long way in easing my knee pain from the walk. Then it folds into a 41 lb briefcase that can be charged at your desk.
 
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Relax said:
Just stick some fake pedals o the side and call it good. I'd be all over this if I was still commuting to the office. I always arrive after the parking lot is full and end 2 blocks away. This would go a long way in easing my knee pain from the walk. Then it folds into a 24 lb briefcase that can be charged at your desk.
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41 lbs. I would hope that Honda included the ability to pull it like a suitcase. This thing is a great fit for many situations (especially things like last mile from transit to home or work). Unfortunately the laws here prevent it (but allow 300 lb DUI mobiles).
 
I could make it work for my 40km commute -- not sure whether I'd gork over $10K+ for the privilidge.
 
I don't know man, I would never get used to electric bikes that are SILENT asf, that's retarded. I want to hear the sound of the engine and smell the fumes. I want to hear it roar.

Even if I went electric with a motorcycle it has to give me at least 125 km/h speeds and ranges of 300 km, otherwise it's not worth it.
 
GreyGhost said:
Sondors is gone but the metacycle was half the money (4-5K USD), double the range (80 miles) and up to 80 mph. Half the money would make a big difference in the viability. Even if the ninja was 5K, it would still be a tough sell in Canada. Might as well make it expensive as the early adopter fanbois are going to buy it at almost any price.

EDIT:
Apparently the marketing for Sondors was 80 mile range but real world was 30-45 tops. Boo.
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Why are manufacturers allowed to lie like that? It should be a law that the lowest range should be the one adverstised as "the range". Just like the Walkie Talkies with a range for 35 km I bought at Walmart and real maximum range is only about 10 city blocks.
 
Pegassus said:
......... Just like the Walkie Talkies with a range for 35 km I bought at Walmart and real maximum range is only about 10 city blocks.
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35 km in the prairies. Much less if there is a building in the way.
 
Pegassus said:
Why are manufacturers allowed to lie like that? It should be a law that the lowest range should be the one adverstised as "the range". Just like the Walkie Talkies with a range for 35 km I bought at Walmart and real maximum range is only about 10 city blocks.
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To get you to fork out your money.
EVERYBODY LIES lol
 
Pegassus said:
Why are manufacturers allowed to lie like that? It should be a law that the lowest range should be the one adverstised as "the range". Just like the Walkie Talkies with a range for 35 km I bought at Walmart and real maximum range is only about 10 city blocks.
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The lowest range should be the one advertised as "the range" - doesn't work. By analogy ... the worst fuel economy should be the one advertised as "the fuel economy" - it is the SAME situation. Problem is, the worst fuel economy for all combustion-engine vehicles - ALL of them - is ZERO. Fill up the tank, start the engine, walk away, leave it sit until the tank is empty. That's the worst possible fuel economy. Zero. Problem is ... stating that the worst possible fuel economy (or the shortest possible range) is zero, isn't relevant to real world use.

There are standards for testing fuel consumption of combustion-engine vehicles ... the same standards are available (and are used, by major manufacturers) for testing electrical consumption of electric vehicles.

Major manufacturers, such as Kawasaki, are going to explain the circumstances under which the stated range is achieved. "when following test procedure whatever-it-is" or some such. Minor players (e.g. Sondor) ... possibly not so much. They could be prone to exaggeration.

Just as with combustion-engine fuel consumption ... your results may vary. Your usage probably doesn't match that test procedure. If you ride wide-open everywhere, it's going to be worse. If you ride "normal", or "average", probably it's realistic. If you try to eke out the best possible range in order to beat the stated claims, you probably can.

My Chevy Bolt is the same way. GM claims 400 km range. In "normal" driving, in "average" conditions, that's quite realistic. In the depths of winter, it's somewhat less than that. Drive like a bat out of hell, you can certainly get it to be less than that. In optimum spring and fall conditions, driven sensibly, it can pretty easily do more. Annual average ... It's about right.
 
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