SIGforum.com Main Page The Lounge Honda quietly made the most compelling argument against electric motorcycles
Main Page The Lounge Honda quietly made the most compelling argument against electric motorcyclesGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I’m not sure it’s a good argument against an electric motorcycle but it is kinda cool. A very small percentage of people in the U.S. buy a motorcycle for gas mileage it’s more about fun. I have watched probably 10 videos of electric dirt bikes and dual purpose bikes and the overwhelming majority of them says hands down after riding one it’s the obvious way of the future. Most of the seasoned rider who didn’t like the thought of it get off saying it’s the most fun they have ever had on a motorcycle. Most of the comments say it feels as light and nimble as a 250 with more power than a 450. In case you have never ridden a 450 dirt bike they are rocket ships and this dual purpose bike that is perfectly street legal was faster and more nimble by a long shot. Pretty cool most of them have beginner settings all the way up to pro. | |||
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For me it was a neighbor's kid who bought one and tossed me the key to try. At 6'2" and 230 pounds, I look a bit like the elephant on a tricycle, but I thought the thing was an absolute blast. Had no clue it got that kinda mileage though. ----------------------------- Guns are awesome because they shoot solid lead freedom. Every man should have several guns. And several dogs, because a man with a cat is a woman. Kurt Schlichter | |||
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Down the Rabbit Hole |
They are cool bikes. I looked at one when I picked up my Africa Twin in Chattanooga. A GROM with a stunt cage would be a blast. Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast  |
If electric bikes are the way of the future why are no current motorcycle companies making them or taking them seriously 1s1k? The last two that tried were tremendous failures. I don’t think they are the future. Motorcycle manufacturers are more interested in making electric bicycles currently. If it’s about minimal impact on the environment and accessibility a Grom is less expensive and gets 155 mpg. It also won’t have battery degradation issues to worry about. How good are those batteries for the environment anyway? Is the power and range going to be as good in 4-5 years? Resale is another area where the Grom wins. The little Grom is IMO a great argument for why electric bikes are a solution in search of a problem. For cheap, fun, reliable transportation for years no e-bike on the market right now can match the Grom. It’s been a tremendous success for Honda and with this recent version I only see its sales continuing to trend towards 1 million units sold (its 3/4 or the way there now). Electric bikes are a feel good product. Look at this price sheet. The Grom is an accessible and extremely fuel efficient vehicle that is still fun. Zero (one of the larger e-bike manufacturers) has NOTHING even close to it.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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At the local school where I took the motorcycle course several years ago, they had several Groms and I used them for the class and test. It is nice and light. However, I do like the look of the Monkey and the Trail 125 and may consider one of those in the near future. God Bless !!!  "Always legally conceal carry. At the right place and time, one person can make a positive difference." | |||
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The Monkey says it gets 188mpg using the same engine as the Grom.
I like the Trail125 and Monkey as well. Funny thing, the ads for the 125 show multiple colors but you can only order red. Hedley Lamarr: Wait, wait, wait. I'm unarmed. Bart: Alright, we'll settle this like men, with our fists. Hedley Lamarr: Sorry, I just remembered . . . I am armed. | |||
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Maybe the Groms were test riden by motorcycle riders and the Monkeys were riden by jockeys. There’s an idea! First Annual SigForum Monkey Races, entry fee of 25 rounds of 9mm Luger, winner take all. | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast |
Is that Monkey available in the US yet? I only saw the older models in the showroom yesterday. The euro spec version looks promising. Euro 2022 Honda Monkey ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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| Thank you Very little  |
That the statement isn't true.... Livewire Link Yes it's Harley Davidson, they are a major motorcycle company, they make an electric motorcycle. It does work, it is fun to ride no it hasn't sold massive numbers. As will all E-powered vehicles, range and refuel times are the problem, customer demands are more than technology will allow to be packaged in a small unit. This, range and charging, has always been e-motivations Achilles heel. Hondasukiyamaha will follow once they find someone to copy..  | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast |
And it was a spectacular failure that probably played into the departure of their CEO last year. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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Dealer website near me says arriving Sept/Oct/Nov. I didn't call. Hedley Lamarr: Wait, wait, wait. I'm unarmed. Bart: Alright, we'll settle this like men, with our fists. Hedley Lamarr: Sorry, I just remembered . . . I am armed. | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast |
If the LiveWire was an attempt to capture the attention of young riders it was a complete and total failure. Honda on the other hand went back to what makes motos fun. Accessible, fuel efficient, light and more smiles per mile than you would think is even possible. Maybe HD should be the ones copying others success. BMW one day decided to make a sport bike and put the world on notice with the S1000RR. They were rewarded for this with great sales. If a domestic moto manufacturer found a way to replicate what BMW or Honda has done it would be amazing. There are companies trying, Janus is one American company building motorcycles in Indiana that look like they were plucked from decades ago but the engines are from China and for many this is an issue they cannot look past. Unfortunately the performances bar is set so high and our political environment is such that it destroyed such a thing from ever happening. Then when you look at the state of American manufacturing the sum of those obstacles is all but impossible to overcome. America makes amazing muscle cars but our bikes are pathetic compared to Japan and Europe. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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| Thank you Very little |
That isn't relative to the discussion on if a major company has a production electric motorcycle  | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast |
Would you call it a success? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast |
HD makes an E-bike. Ok fine. I’ll give you that. Most HD riders shake their head when it is mentioned. Why is this? To think it’s been good for HD would be to ignore reality. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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| Member |
I would agree with most of that. Right now the big manufacturers have tried big heavy electric bikes which no one wants. They are way too expensive and you can’t get out on the open road and just cruise like most people want to do with the big bikes. I compared the dual purpose bikes that are starting to appear because they are a lightweight fun motorcycle that you can use anywhere other than long trips kind of like the Grom but with the acceleration of a big bike so you can use it on any type of road. As far as fun one of these electric dual sports would be way more fun for me. The Grom would give me a giggle for about a week and then I would be wondering why I bought it because it doesn’t do anything a number of bikes will do other than getting incredible mileage which I could care less about. It also has very limited use for me with the lack of power.This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1s1k, | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast |
The monkey on the other hand bridges the gap. It would be fun to explore trails off road on a monkey and great for around town commuting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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| Thank you Very little |
I don't disagree, but that wasn't the point, glad you finally agree The Livewire is different, and a significant pivot for a company steeped in tradition and heritage design. They should be commended not condemned for making that move, JMO. The livewires high price and sport bike style conflicts with HD history, It's a good start on creating a consumer product in that market (E) and the development may lead to better execution. HD riders are different, HD's trying to change that, The new Adventure bike PanAmerica is a run away success, 100% sold out with order for more most likely sold out through 2022. Back to the topic, Grom is a cool bike, too small for my taste, reminds me of the Trail 50's as a kid. Outside of the boardroom stuff, and the Livewires future, I agree, it remains to be seen if manufacturing companies can create an electric motorcycle that meets mainstream (meant not a city bike) needs. | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast |
I’m not mad that HD is trying. It was risky and bold move given the recent example of Victory making an e-bike (really cool design BTW) but it unfortunately failed and the company mainly for other reasons no longer exists. I wonder if HD had put the resources into a sport bike or small accessible bike would it have suffered the same fate. This is probable. They have painted themselves into a corner in a way and it’s been exceedingly difficult to move away from the bikes they have been making. When HD owned MV Augusta is when they really let a golden opportunity to make an American sport bike slip away. The new 188 mpg Honda Monkey REALLY has my attention. There are so many places I could take that thing that I would never dream of riding my SV1000. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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Honda’s done a great job with their MiniMoto series, Grom, CUB, Monkey, and Ct125. IMO the Grom and Monkey may be ok with the 9 HP motor however the heavier Cub and CT (260#) with their larger wheels would really benefit with a bit more power... say 160-175cc. I had a Monkey but once the novelty wore off it was just a small, harsh riding, underpowered, cute mini-bike. I feel a motorcycle needs to be able to comfortably go an actual 55mph to be safely ridden on boulevards and primary roads (not Interstates of course). The Monkey would run an indicated 65 wide open on level which was maybe an actual 59-60mph. So the little motor had to spend a lot of its time at full throttle especially up hills where of course it might struggle to go 45. The problem was Bubba in the F250 behind wasn’t interested in slowing to 45 so would be right at my rear fender waiting for a spot to pass. After taking stock of my modest stable, which included an XT250, I decided it did everything the Monkey did only better. Fortunately I bought the Monkey used for $2,700, replaced the shocks for $250, then sold it for $2,700, so only lost the cost of the shocks. No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride. | |||
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SIGforum.com Main Page The Lounge Honda quietly made the most compelling argument against electric motorcycles
Main Page The Lounge Honda quietly made the most compelling argument against electric motorcycles© SIGforum 2024