So we have a thread for cars, food, cycling, lego, contributing to a virtual band, so why not one for those who ride?
Do you ride? I recently decided to get back on the two wheel scene - having had my first bike when I was like 10 (paid out of my own pocket even) up to leaving all motorcycles behind 20 years ago when I moved to Germany to finally this year deciding why not…
Of course I went in a completely new direction for myself and went full electric. So what do you ride?
I ride motorbikes for more than 40 years now.
After having started with 2 Hondas in the 80s-90s of last century, I moved to Ducati almost 25 years ago: I had the chance to ride some of the most exciting sportsbikes from that italian brand, including 916, 998 S, Desmosedici RR, and now a Panigale 1299 R Final Edition:
Happy to meet other bikers from SAP Community!
Nice! I was dirt bike kid when I was younger but moved on to cruisers after that - and now I am an oddball cruiser electric person lol
Wow Craig, that thing is both weird and awesome! I hope you don't mind, I have many questions 🙂
1. It looks to me like it has a motor in the rear hub with the battery pack placed in that lower black bit, is that correct?
2. How much torque are you putting down?
3. What is the top speed? I would be more than a little concerned with riding at higher speeds with all that air moving through the frame.
I currently ride a new Africa Twin. I started my riding career late in the game, at 30 actually. I have gone though 4 bikes since starting. All naked bikes until this one 🙂
Surprisingly the battery is actually in the bottom of that big open space where an engine normally would be and yes it’s a rear hub mounted motor.
The motor is 2000W that’s regulated to 50KMh with a solid 50km range (for me) someone lighter would get upwards towards the max range of 75km. It’s a 60V 30Ah battery.
If you were to remove the regulated speed control (which is possible) as some EU countries have different limits for this classification of road legal bike - I’ve heard of them going as fast as 75KMh. Since here in Germany it’s only legal at 50KMh I’ve not bothered to fiddle with it and have been content with the speeds I’m getting and the distances.
In terms of torque I had to just grab a screenshot from a Youtube video review I did - must have deleted the image after I uploaded the video. Hopefully not to grainy as you can see though the specs are slighly off. The one I have is basically a Gen 2 model and I’m not sure they updated the manual it came with (which was labeled with the Gen 1 model name)
It’s got a kick right off and quickly hits top speed but it’s no racer 🙂 one of the funniest stories so far I’ve had was being stuck behind a caravan of tractors and farm vehicles and having a guy on a motorcycle ride up next to me and then stick with me asking questions while we wound through the curvy roads stuck going around 20KMh
@Rosemary_Thomas I think I have you beat: I started riding my own when I turned 40 (I rode pillion many years prior to that). One of the best decisions I ever made.
I've had my R1150RT since 2004, and it still purrs like a kitten when I take it out for a spin. This photo is from a ride about a month ago; my husband and I rode from our home in Santa Rosa (north of San Francisco) out to Tomales Bay on the coast to grab some oysters and clam chowder for lunch.
Now that I personally have an electric one there have been several games and movies that the combustion engine ones stand out now as odd lol
I had no idea you were a rider, Craig. I love your bike style, used to ride a Harley but converted to adventure and electric. Can't wait for Zero or BMW to make a truly capable electric adventure bike some time soon...
That first dirt bike was when I was 10 living in Italy, then on from there in the US with cruiser styles until Germany in the 2000s where I just didn't really bother to do it anymore until last year 🙂 Counting the days now to decent weather and I can haul it out of the basement, dust it off and check everything for the first ride. March 1st to get the new license can't come fast enough.
