How would you feel about hybrid motorcycles?
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 2,291
From: WI
How would you feel about hybrid motorcycles?
With all of the discussion around the Livewire, I think we're seeing a lot of people that are very skeptical of full electric bikes. Whether is be the range of the batteries, initial buy-in cost, unknown repair costs, reliability, etc, it seems most people have some reservations.
I'm wondering why the motorcycle world hasn't followed the automotive world and explored hybrid bikes? Perhaps they don't serve a real purpose (ie, cars did it for better MPG), but in the supercar world we're seeing the extreme benefits of hybrid power. Those cars, while very complicated, make more power, get better MPG than their gas-only counterparts, and have the benefit of keeping the things we love about fast cars (gas engine noises and characteristics), while making everything else better.
I think people would be open to a 107ci engine with a small, hidden electric motor that spins up to provide an extra 25-30 ft lbs of torque below 2k RPM, charges itself in an unobtrusive way like brake heat (like F1 cars) or the alternator, or exhaust gases, whatever/however they do that stuff, and still allows us to hear/feel our beloved gas engines.
Anyway, this is just me rambling before going into work, what say thee?
I'm wondering why the motorcycle world hasn't followed the automotive world and explored hybrid bikes? Perhaps they don't serve a real purpose (ie, cars did it for better MPG), but in the supercar world we're seeing the extreme benefits of hybrid power. Those cars, while very complicated, make more power, get better MPG than their gas-only counterparts, and have the benefit of keeping the things we love about fast cars (gas engine noises and characteristics), while making everything else better.
I think people would be open to a 107ci engine with a small, hidden electric motor that spins up to provide an extra 25-30 ft lbs of torque below 2k RPM, charges itself in an unobtrusive way like brake heat (like F1 cars) or the alternator, or exhaust gases, whatever/however they do that stuff, and still allows us to hear/feel our beloved gas engines.
Anyway, this is just me rambling before going into work, what say thee?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 251
From: Connecticut
I've wondered that as well. It makes sense and it's likely that some manufacturers considered it. Guess the only benefit would be the gas engine characteristics and maybe that's just not enough. I think that people, or most of them, who reject the idea of e-bikes wouldn't have interest in a hybrid either.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,106
Likes: 51,387
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Present line of bikes are already fat as f**k and getting heavier every year so yeah lets add a couple hundred extra pounds of crap, add oh say 20-25% to the overall size to accommodate all that complicated tech, bump the price tag 10K to cover it all, yeah that's the ticket it'll be a sure thing.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 2,291
From: WI
I've wondered that as well. It makes sense and it's likely that some manufacturers considered it. Guess the only benefit would be the gas engine characteristics and maybe that's just not enough. I think that people, or most of them, who reject the idea of e-bikes wouldn't have interest in a hybrid either.
Present line of bikes are already fat as f**k and getting heavier every year so yeah lets add a couple hundred extra pounds of crap, add oh say 20-25% to the overall size to accommodate all that complicated tech, bump the price tag 10K to cover it all, yeah that's the ticket it'll be a sure thing.
The R&D would obviously be substantial, but it also seems to me like it would be a good bridge between the current motorcycling world, and the future full electric bikes that most seem to harbor resentment towards.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
