Zero Motorcycles announced today its partnership with AMPLE World to expand its brand throughout Asia. Following the popularity and sales success of Zero Motorcycles in North America and Europe, the bikes will now be sold in Singapore and greater Asia with the addition of AMPLE as the official distributor for consumer and fleet sales.
Each of the motorcycles run off of a Z-Force technology power pack consisting of high performance, light weight lithium ion cells.
"Zero Motorcycles and AMPLE share a common goal of expanding the electric vehicle movement globally," John Lloyd, VP of World Wide Sales of Zero Motorcycles, said in an announcement. "With AMPLE's marketing and distribution efforts, consumers in Asia will now have the opportunity to test ride and buy the high-performance Zero Motorcycles product line locally."
The Yamaha EC-f is an electric motorcycle concept designed for ease of use.
(Credit: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.)
Just as carmakers develop electric cars, motorcycle manufacturers also see the writing on the wall, showing off a collection of electric bikes at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The Tokyo Motor Show has always played host to a substantial display of motorcycles, and this year is no different--except that the highlights of the show all have a green angle. Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki all brought concepts to the show that could spell the future of riding, and possibly a new way for future commuters to get to work.
Check out photos of electric scooters and motorcycles at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
Honda unveiled the 2010 VFR1200F, the next generation of motorcycle technology, resulting in unsurpassed rider experience.
Just a few of the incredible features and benefits found in the VFR1200F include Honda MotoGP engine technology and architecture; a light and compact 1237cc liquid-cooled 76-degree V-4 that pumps out amazing levels of power; throttle by wire for next-generation throttle response; lightweight and compact Unicam valve train that allows for significantly smaller cylinder heads; optional dual-clutch automatic transmission with manual mode and automatic mode with two D/S modes and paddle-style shifters; Honda slipper clutch in the manual-shift VFR1200F; GP technology layer-concept aero fairing for unrivaled air management and futuristic style; next-generation shaft drive system with offset pivot point and sliding constant-velocity joint for a new level of shaft drive performance and control.
Meet Flossie the headless motorcycle-riding robot. Judging by the name, we would have thought the bot was a she, but Castrol refers to Flossie as a he.
(Credit: Castrol)Flossie is one tough biker dude. He can ride in extreme temperatures. He doesn't get tired or saddle sore, and he is totally unflapped by the bike's searing noise as its engine screams away at speeds up to 16,000rpm. Yep, Flossie could pretty much leave any motorcycle gang in the dust.
Castrol, a maker of motorbike engine oils, is leaning on this headless robot rider to test its products' performance under conditions like increased power or acceleration. Flossie can be fitted onto any bike or scooter and comes equipped with a self-learning mode that lets him know the vehicle's gear change pattern, clutch feel, and throttle response.
Castrol promises Flossie is a safe rider. Still, we wouldn't feel too safe putting him next to our favorite unicycle-riding girlbot. And we're glad Flossie is currently doing all his riding at the company's facilities in Pangbourne, England, and not roaring around on a highway near us. Watch the video below to see Flossie in action.
(Via Engadget)
While flipping through the channels on my TV this week, I saw an advertisement for the show "Jesse James is a Dead Man" on Spike TV. This particular week's episode was about Jesse's preparation to race in the Baja 500, an off road race that is often considered the most dangerous race in modern times. So with this enticement, I've decided to feature my log this week to the notorious Baja races.
For the uninitiated , The Baja 500 is an off road race that takes place in Ensenada, Mexico and encompasses motorcycles, ATVs, and trophy trucks. The race winds through cities, deserts, mountains and cliffs, and the race typically takes about 9 hours to complete. Its dangerous reputation comes not only from its off road atmosphere but also from potential set-ups such as booby traps, sand dunes, water and pits along the way. This race has been responsible for multiple deaths of both drivers and spectators, and is breath taking both in concept and execution.
This video here is a compilation of Baja 500 races past, and it features the variety of vehicles that participate in the race including motorcycles, ATVs and trophy trucks. It's a fun little promo for what Baja 500 is all about, but trust me it isn't all fun jumps and sand dust. This week we will get to see both the good, the bad, and the ugly of what Baja is all about.
Y'know, I dig cars and car racing. But I also appreciate motorcycles and bike racing as well. And I think I'm long overdue to show a little love for motorcycle racing. And to keep with this week's salute to the women of motorsport racing, I have selected a hot vid of Pro Stock Motorcycle superstar Angelle Sampey.
Besides her status as a female in a male dominated sport, Angelle Sampey is a rare breed in the bike racing world. She owns a record of consecutive qualifying races starting with her debut in 1996, leaving her previous career as a nurse in a cloud of dust. In addition, Sampey is one of only two women in NHRA history to have over ten event wins and three championships in her division of Pro Stock Motorcycle.
One of Angelle's biggest career accomplishments is her Pro Stock Motorcycle time-setting elapsed time record run of 6.871 seconds. Sampey accomplished this feat first in 2007 at an NHRA event in New Jersey riding her trademark Suzuki bike. This video here further cements this feat as no mere fluke, seeing Sampey once again clock in under the 7 second mark, and handily defeating her opponent. Her Pro Stock Motorcycle time record was only broken back in March of this year by Matt Smith, and then topped just a little while later by Andrew Hines. Still, Angelle Sampey has made her mark as a woman in sports and a future legend in motorsports.
Richard Gryzch has developed what he believes to be the first completely solar-charged electric motorcycle.
The Solar Flyer--named after the famous Radio Flyer red wagon--is a modified motorcycle covered in solar panels that generate enough electricity to power the vehicle for 50 miles, at a top speed of 90 mph.
Grych has been working on this project for the past 2 years, and he sold his house and other motorcycles to finance his dream.
But the hobbyist from from Apache Junction, Ariz., isn't finished tinkering with his zero-emissions bike--ultimately, he'd like the Solar Flyer to have a 300-mile range.
Source: Gas 2.0
Monday, we told you about a breakthrough in robotics that allows killer machines to be powered by compressed air. Now we've got this amazing video of a motorcycle that uses the same power source. The so-called Air Bike was created by engineering students in India as a prototype for a solution to the country's prevalent smog problem.
Sure, it only goes 11 mph now, but as a proof-of-concept vehicle it's pretty cool. I could imagine a smaller vehicle (bike? moped?) with the same gear that could go much faster as a final product, if it gets that far.
The only problem I see is that compressing air takes energy, and often air compressors are powered by the same gasoline that this cycle is meant to eliminate the need for. If they can find a way to use electric compressors only, then this concept is definitely worth pursuing.
(Via Newlaunches.com)
The B120 Wraith uses carbon fiber forks with integrated LED headlights.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)Crotch rockets with bright farings may dominate the motorcycle world, but Confederate Motors takes a different direction. Opting for an ultraindustrial design, the company uses raw carbon fiber and unpolished aluminum to build its motorcycles. The latest example, on display at the 2009 New York auto show, is the B120 Wraith, a nasty-looking piece of work.
The three and a half gallon fuel tank is also the backbone of the bike, a thick aluminum tube welded to short, horizontal tubes, affording the kind of structural support that only a pipe can give. Carbon fiber front forks have a unique mono-shock on the steering column. Headlights are a row of LEDs integrated into the front of the forks. The wheels are also made from carbon fiber, and the brakes are from Brembo. The V-style engine puts out 125 horsepower and 130 foot-pounds of torque.
The Wraith has a unique industrial design using aluminum and carbon fiber.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)Confederate Motors only plans to build 250 of the B120 Wraith, making it a rare bike to see on the road.
Zero Motorcycles founder Neal Saiki gave us the rundown on the Zero X.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)Zero Motorcycles, manufacturers of the Zero X electric motorcycle, are planning to make history this weekend by hosting the first-ever 24-hour electric motorcycle endurance race, dubbed the 24 Hours of Electricross.
A total of 10 teams from around the globe will line up on the grid early Saturday morning and race in 1-hour shifts for 24 straight hours, potentially setting a world record for longest and largest electric motorcycle endurance race. The Santa Clara Fairgrounds, where the race is being held, typically doesn't allow 24-hour races; there are noise ordinances in place because of the residential areas in close proximity. Thanks to the near-silent operation of the electric bikes, an exception has been made.
(Credit:
Antuan Goodwin/CNET)
We had an opportunity to speak with Zero Motorcycles founder and CTO Neal Saiki, who told us that although Zero invited other electric motorbike manufacturers, the entrants for the inaugural race will exclusively field Zero X bikes.
Saiki gave us a tour of the 2009 Model Zero X motorcycle, the heart of which is the high-output lithium ion cell, which is said to be completely nontoxic and environmentally safe. In fact, Saiki claims that you could literally eat the salt crystals in the battery pack if you wanted. The battery uses a patent-pending process to store enough juice for a 40-mile ride in a package that only weighs 45 pounds. The Zero X bike itself only weighs 151 pounds, about 100 pounds lighter than its gasoline equivalent would be. This is partially because of the all-aluminum frame, but the less-complex electric drivetrain is probably responsible for a few pounds of savings.
The lightweight Zero X saves almost 100 pounds over its gasoline-powered equivalents without sacrificing power.
(Credit: Zero Motorcycles)Saiki gave us a quick demonstration of the Zero X in action. A quick twist of the throttle caused the bike to launch forward, the only sounds being the mechanical noise of the chain drive and the spray of gravel. The Zero X is no toy, at least not in the conventional sense. The bike's top speed of 40 mph is reached in about 4 seconds.
Along with hourly rider swaps, the bikes will be swapping battery packs to get around the 2-hour charging cycle. Akeena Solar will be on-site to help charge the Zero X batteries during the race, minimizing the environmental impact. According to Saiki, a full charge of the Zero X's lithium ion battery pack costs about 40 cents, putting the bike's running cost at or around a penny per mile, depending on maintenance costs (electric motors require less maintenance than their gasoline counterparts).
The 2009 Zero X is currently available from Zero Motorcycles at an MSRP of $7,450.
