_haha_oh_wow_Forget electric bikes, Kawasaki is building an electric horse for actual production
pomegranatefernMy first reaction: LOL. LMAO, even. My second reaction: … Wait, this could actually be really useful if it’s actually functional and affordable though.
I’m not holding my breath, but like, in theory this could actually be really good?
In theory, it could actually be surprisingly good at uneven terrain, and Kawasaki isn’t really a company known for fucking around, but on the other hand, they seem ridiculous.
Kawasaki isn’t really a company known for fucking around
Hybrid electric motorcycle. No one bought them.
Just because you don’t fuck around doesn’t mean success is guaranteed. Was it a terrible bike or just unpopular?
Just unpopular. Some dude bought one near me. I can’t say I get the reasoning.
I suppose the added cost of a hybrid motorcycle might put some off when motorcycles are already really fuel efficient in comparison to a car, maybe that’s why it wasn’t more popular?
WiddershinsI would imagine an electric bike would be too quiet. Don’t some people put loud pipes on a motorcycle to increase road presence in the name of safety?
Yeah, that’s true too. Even cars with electric usually have some sort of simulated sound to replace the motor noise (again for safety reasons).
That’s for other people’s safety, he’s talking about the safety of the driver themselves.
It is in fact about my safety not theirs. I could dent their wallet they can dent all of me.
A lot of people say that they do, but it’s just an old wives tale/excuse to have loud pipes. There’s no good data to back it up.
As a single data source, I’ve been riding electric bikes for 3-4 years now and have noticed no difference. Drivers did seem to get worse during/after COVID-19 and after the boom of texting and driving.
I drive a car that could be called a microcar. I’ve thought about putting a loud muffler on it to make it louder and more present on the road. I’m not really much of a car guy so it’s been a pipe dream for over a decade.
It’s just that the blind spots on most vans and trucks are the size of a garage I could comfortably park my car in. Factor in people being less attentive and the only blind spot I’m comfortable being in is right in front of everyone. I could tape my horn down and call it a day but I feel that would be too aggressive.
I drive an NA Miata, so I understand completely. People see me less in the Miata than on my motorcycle.
The Miata actually has loud pipes (that I didn’t want) and it does not seem to make a difference. People try to merge into me all the freaking time!
And poor police enforcement.
Motorcycles can’t be ridden distracted.
That’s what they tell you, but it’s just to make noise.
Electric bikes like Zero have actually lower collision rates than ICE bikes, and motorcyclist love to whine about cars, but 1/3 of crashes are all alone, 1/3 are their fault. The anti car bullshit is just tribalism.
There is definitely an element of Tribalism. But in my experience you have to maneuver to avoid cars coming into your space more often on a bike or motorcycle than you do in a car. Not that it is constant, but it’s a one or two times a week vs a couple times a month in a car. You’re just less visible since you’re so much smaller. Not that loud exhaust is a good fix, haha.
Motorcycles are not more fuel efficient than an efficient car. It all falls apart when a car can carry 4 people.
Thing is, the car is usually only carrying one or two people. Also, most cars aren’t efficient, especially in countries where most vehicles are ridiculously huge.
Both. Heavy, needlessly complex, trying to solve a problem no one had, expensive. They had an EV bike that also sold poorly.
This is more about compliance for Japanese grants than sales.
30 years from now, people will buy them for YouTube channels but Kawasaki had to clear these below cost.
So they did have a practical reason for doing it, it just wasn’t to make a great bike.
Sometimes life isn’t about efficiency.