#electric

Recently, we brought you the story of Michael Czysz, designer/architect to the stars, fervent motorcycle enthusiast, and a visionary in the motorcycle world. It’s a tale of the man, his passion, his unfortunate illness, and how motorcycles make him feel alive again. Judging by the comments left by you, our readers, Michael Czysz has had an impact on many of you as well.

Zero made a splash last year with the introduction of the Zero SR, the hot-rodded version of its flagship S model. This year’s news is a little more subdued, but is still highly relevant all the same. Three big improvements will be seen across the entire Zero line for 2015: Showa suspension will now become standard, as will Bosch switchable ABS and Pirelli tires.

Brammo is in a unique position, being a small company in the ever-advancing electric motorcycle world. It has the ability to adapt quickly to change. Case in point? The 2014 Brammo Empulse R. We’ve ridden the mighty Brammo a few times over the past 18 months, and while the bike you see in these pictures might appear identical to the ones we’ve ridden before, a peek under its skin will reveal several updates.

By Troy Siahaan

The world of electric sportbikes just got turned up a notch with the debut of the production version of the Energica Ego. Built in Italy as an adjunct business for a Formula 1 supplier, the Ego brings European style and sophistication to the e-bike market.

You probably know the name Corbin as “those seat guys.” Fair enough, considering the company is one of the leading manufacturers of aftermarket seats and accessories for all kinds of motorcycles. However, transport yourself back to 1997 and we arrive at the topic for this week’s Church entry: the Corbin Sparrow. With visions of the next form of personal transportation anyone could afford, history tells us Corbin missed the mark. That doesn’t mean the Sparrow isn’t unique, and 17 years ago Contributing Writer D.C. Wilson profiled the three-wheeler. Check out the genesis of the Sparrow and how it performs in Wilson’s piece below. 

The announcement of Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire electric motorcycle sent shockwaves through the moto industry and even made headline news in the general media. Harley’s products, perhaps more than any other vehicle manufacturer, are steeped in tradition, so building an e-bike just seemed so unlikely for the hidebound company.

Harley-Davidson’s electrically-powered LiveWire has sent shockwaves throughout the moto industry – and also through the general public. I don’t recall the last time Harley made a bigger splash in traditional media than the news of this electric motorcycle, which I got to ride yesterday on the streets of New York City.

In a bombshell that would seem to be an April Fools joke, we believe Harley-Davidson will be building a production motorcycle powered by electric power, named “Livewire.” Harley filed a trademark application for the name on Nov. 1, 2012 with the USPTO, then also filed for a trademark in the EU on Nov. 2, 2012 which was approved March 13, 2013. This is potentially game-changing news, and if this indeed turns out to be true, it will give a whole new meaning to “The Motor Company.”

Monumental! That’s what this is. MO’s first electric vs. gas, head-to-head supermoto comparison. A bare-knuckle brawl between the embedded establishment and the harbinger of an electrified future. Yep, this shootout is unique, but it’s also the proverbial tip of the iceberg. With the exponential rate at which electric motorcycle technology is improving, there’s a heap load more of this kind of comparison to come.

A long time ago, in a small town far, far away, the motorcycle dealership at which I worked hired a new service writer. His name was Bart. Days before Bart was to begin he was involved in an accident. Nothing critical, but his start date was pushed back giving him time to recuperate and deal with insurance, law enforcement and transportation matters.

We say it every time we test one of these things, but electric motorcycle technology really is advancing at an astonishing pace. For proof of this, look towards the Isle of Man TT, where the fastest e-bikes are averaging more than 100-mph laps – something impossible just five years ago. In fact, it took gas bikes over 50 years to do a “ton up” lap. E-bikes? Four. How’s that for progress?

For 2014, Zero streamlined its product offerings to focus on its core products: the S, SR, DS, and FX. With the dirt-focused MX electric bike gone from the lineup, the FX has become the de-facto dirtbike currently in the Zero range.

As fans of electric motorcycles, we were excited when late last year Zero announced a new model, the SR. A high performance version of the company’s flagship streetbike, the Zero S, the SR answered the call to those wanting more. More what, you ask? Try more power and significantly more torque. And with the optional $2495 Power Tank, which is essentially an additional 2.8kWh module, S, DS, and SR models have the ability to travel up to 171 miles in urban use.