Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle
Actually I think the fake cylinder heads look much nicer than my battery box. I wouldn't mind having something like that on my bike. http://home.comcast.net/~damonhenry/Suzuki09.jpg Naw, you just need a cover on the front box is all. Go to McMaster and buy some 1/8" PVC and have at it with a heat gun! Here's an idea. What if you painted both boxes to match the tank? I think that would really bring the whole thing together. -- The Electric Motorcycle Portal http://www.electricmotorcycles.net/ Electric Motorcycle Listserv http://www.electricmotorcycles.net/listserv
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle
that they'll either: A) Think that it's some kind of electric piston, or B) won't consider it a real bike without cylinder heads, despite _knowing_ it's electric? Of course, then there's the gas tank ... I suspect it's B. That's been my first hand impression with a lot of motorcyclists unfortunately. -- The Electric Motorcycle Portal http://www.electricmotorcycles.net/ Electric Motorcycle Listserv http://www.electricmotorcycles.net/listserv
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle
On the flip side, you didn't build a custom bike -- you fit your components into an existing frame, which (to me) is rather an accomplishment in itself. Making a custom frame around the components is (in some sense) "easier". A lot of the 'customs' aren't. The builder often just buys the parts then fabs them up. Not all do this and I understand that it's not even a necessity but it bugs me. I dunno about you guys but when I convert a bike, I think it's fun to try NOT to modify the frame at all. So far both of my conversion are 'drop in'. You could pull the electric components and put the ICE back in, for what ever reason. Maybe it's just my nerdy nature; chrome and unnecessary decoration are superfluous. I'll agree with that to a medium-large degree. Nearly all my bikes (ICE and EV) are rattle canned. Though, I have to publicly admit that my number 2 bike (Rapier) is getting fancy ass doo-dads just 'cause. I rather think this bike is pretty damn cool, despite being an ICE; It has "Road Warrior" written all over it: http://www.bikeweb.com/node/980 I've seen that one before. I like it. -- The Electric Motorcycle Portal http://www.electricmotorcycles.net/ Electric Motorcycle Listserv http://www.electricmotorcycles.net/listserv
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle
True that battery box isn't pretty, but a bit of fairing would help looks and aerodynamics. The cardboard doesn't help, either. On the flip side, you didn't build a custom bike -- you fit your components into an existing frame, which (to me) is rather an accomplishment in itself. Making a custom frame around the components is (in some sense) "easier". In a larger sense, though, people seem to really shy away from the "rolling science project" look; they really want to hide the nature of the vehicle. Personally, I like that look, provided it's not gratuitous or non-utilitarian. Maybe it's just my nerdy nature; chrome and unnecessary decoration are superfluous. And don't get me started on those little leather tassels on the handlebars. *shudder* Just seems odd that the only vehicles with those are choppers, and ... little pink bicycles for girls. I rather think this bike is pretty damn cool, despite being an ICE; It has "Road Warrior" written all over it: http://www.bikeweb.com/node/980 damon henry wrote: Actually I think the fake cylinder heads look much nicer than my battery box. I wouldn't mind having something like that on my bike. http://home.comcast.net/~damonhenry/Suzuki09.jpg From: Eric Poulsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: ElectricMotorcycles To: ElectricMotorcycles Subject: Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:56:47 -0800 Not at all impressed. Also, this bike, and the CHP electric chopper (http://www.bikernet.com/bikebarn/PageViewer.asp?PageID=583) seem to have a need for a fake motor, or at least cylinder heads. Why is that? The CHP article even calls it an "Electric V-Twin," which is ridiculous, as the V-Twin refers to the piston engine layout. Do they really think people are so stupid that they'll either: A) Think that it's some kind of electric piston, or B) won't consider it a real bike without cylinder heads, despite _knowing_ it's electric? Of course, then there's the gas tank ... Of course, noone ever accused the custom chopper guys of having substance over style. Mike wrote: http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle001.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle002.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle003.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle004.jpg I'm not terribly impressed with the looks of that. Any one else? It looks to me like they tossed some batteries in the frame then wrapped them with a bread box. Ness usually comes up with better looking stuff than that. _ Check out all that glitters with the MSN Entertainment Guide to the Academy Awards® http://movies.msn.com/movies/oscars2007/?icid=ncoscartagline2
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle
Actually I think the fake cylinder heads look much nicer than my battery box. I wouldn't mind having something like that on my bike. http://home.comcast.net/~damonhenry/Suzuki09.jpg From: Eric Poulsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: ElectricMotorcycles To: ElectricMotorcycles Subject: Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:56:47 -0800 Not at all impressed. Also, this bike, and the CHP electric chopper (http://www.bikernet.com/bikebarn/PageViewer.asp?PageID=583) seem to have a need for a fake motor, or at least cylinder heads. Why is that? The CHP article even calls it an "Electric V-Twin," which is ridiculous, as the V-Twin refers to the piston engine layout. Do they really think people are so stupid that they'll either: A) Think that it's some kind of electric piston, or B) won't consider it a real bike without cylinder heads, despite _knowing_ it's electric? Of course, then there's the gas tank ... Of course, noone ever accused the custom chopper guys of having substance over style. Mike wrote: http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle001.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle002.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle003.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle004.jpg I'm not terribly impressed with the looks of that. Any one else? It looks to me like they tossed some batteries in the frame then wrapped them with a bread box. Ness usually comes up with better looking stuff than that. _ Check out all that glitters with the MSN Entertainment Guide to the Academy Awards® http://movies.msn.com/movies/oscars2007/?icid=ncoscartagline2
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle
Well besides a basic ewww.. It says The batteries should allow the bike to run six hours at 80 mph." Statements like that lead people to some real disapointment if not true. ANd if it were where the heck do I get me some! --- Eric Poulsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Not at all impressed. > > Also, this bike, and the CHP electric chopper > (http://www.bikernet.com/bikebarn/PageViewer.asp?PageID=583) > seem to > have a need for a fake motor, or at least cylinder > heads. Why is that? > The CHP article even calls it an "Electric V-Twin," > which is ridiculous, > as the V-Twin refers to the piston engine layout. > Do they really think > people are so stupid that they'll either: A) Think > that it's some kind > of electric piston, or B) won't consider it a real > bike without cylinder > heads, despite _knowing_ it's electric? Of course, > then there's the gas > tank ... > > Of course, noone ever accused the custom chopper > guys of having > substance over style. > > > > Mike wrote: > >> > http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle001.jpg > > >> > >> > http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle002.jpg > > >> > >> > http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle003.jpg > > >> > >> > http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle004.jpg > > >> > > > > I'm not terribly impressed with the looks of that. > Any one else? It > > looks to me like they tossed some batteries in the > frame then wrapped > > them with a bread box. Ness usually comes up with > better looking stuff > > than that. > > > > >
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] Arlen Ness Electric Motorcycle
Not at all impressed. Also, this bike, and the CHP electric chopper (http://www.bikernet.com/bikebarn/PageViewer.asp?PageID=583) seem to have a need for a fake motor, or at least cylinder heads. Why is that? The CHP article even calls it an "Electric V-Twin," which is ridiculous, as the V-Twin refers to the piston engine layout. Do they really think people are so stupid that they'll either: A) Think that it's some kind of electric piston, or B) won't consider it a real bike without cylinder heads, despite _knowing_ it's electric? Of course, then there's the gas tank ... Of course, noone ever accused the custom chopper guys of having substance over style. Mike wrote: http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle001.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle002.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle003.jpg http://www.bikemenu.com/builder/Arlen_Ness/Arlen_Ness_Electric_Motorcycle004.jpg I'm not terribly impressed with the looks of that. Any one else? It looks to me like they tossed some batteries in the frame then wrapped them with a bread box. Ness usually comes up with better looking stuff than that.
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] NooB to Ecycles
High centre of gravity doesn't hurt bike handling, except when stopped. In fact, if all the weight is as close as possible to a line through the rear contact patch and the CG, the roll rate will be maximized, and the higher CG actually helps. The roll is almost entirely generated by the front tire countersteer force, and the longer moment arm it has, the faster the roll rate. (Ref.: "Motorcycle Dynamics", Viatore Cossalter) Of course more mass does hurt handling and loads up the tires more, which is the real problem with adding batteries, not the high CG. Plus a heavy bike with a high CG is easy to drop when stationary. Kevin Caldwell Andrew Wowk wrote: If you have 20 miles one-way than you just might be able to do it. You'll need a lot of batteries, though. Shooting for anything more at highway speeds is not a good idea unless you know how to build a BMS (battery management system) and have enough money to shell out for Nimh, Nicad, or lithium ion batteries. Most EM conversions will probably crap out at less than 15 miles at freeway speeds. Keeping speeds below 50 will really help. A Zivan charger, charging from a 120v outlet could probably completely charge the batteries in 2 hrs or so. With lead-acid you are pretty much stuck with a crappy range, or a slightly-better-than crappy range. In the latter case you have to pile the batteries on, meaning handling suffers, and the weight needs to be placed higher in the frame making the bike a lot harder to corner. A few ideas to play around with to maximize range: 1. Use lead-acid batteries with rectangular cells instead of spiral wound to fit more in a smaller space. B&B are a good example. http://www.bb-battery.com 2. Strategically pick the bike you wish to convert. The more space you have down lower the better. You also want a light frame, and a sports bike with plastic to reduce drag would certainly help. Design your battery supports to put the batteries as low as possible while still maintaining enough ground clearance. You could put batteries underneath the existing frame cradle. 3. Pre-heat the batteries before use. I have yet to see how well this works. An electric blanket might do the job well (running from a 120v outlet, NOT the batteries). 4. Removable range-extender batteries of some type. This way you can chose when your bike will feel and handle like crap to get the extra range. Adding battery capacity results in a fairly linear increase in range, i.e., doubling the capacity will double the range. good luck, Andrew
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] another newbie question
The page does say it may not work with MS IE, but I would think you'd still get something. Works fine with Firefox. Kevin Caldwell Mark Hastings wrote: Ok it must just be something my computer is sitting behind then. I thought I had checked it from this very computer but perhaps something changed at my firewall or proxy. *shrug* Have never seen that error prior so I tried to look it up and those seem to be the main culprits. I have ruled the others out: malware/spyware/virus/adware --- lyle sloan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: works for me on all links --- Mark Hastings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: When I go to that page I receive: 412 Precondition Failed The precondition on the request for the URL /tools/evcalc/ evaluated to false. I can't even get to www.evconvert.com --- lyle sloan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: http://www.evconvert.com/tools/evcalc/ --- john fisher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: sorry if asked before, I couldn't find a FAQ... I see an online calculator at http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/lab/8679/evcalc.html but its a little out-of-date and of uncertain accuracy. Does anybody have another one to compare/test/calibrate? My particular project needs to weigh weight/aero/target-performance vs motor/controller/battery choice, and I have no experience in electric conversions. thanks John Fisher Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] another newbie question
Ok it must just be something my computer is sitting behind then. I thought I had checked it from this very computer but perhaps something changed at my firewall or proxy. *shrug* Have never seen that error prior so I tried to look it up and those seem to be the main culprits. I have ruled the others out: malware/spyware/virus/adware --- lyle sloan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > works for me on all links > > --- Mark Hastings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > When I go to that page I receive: > > 412 Precondition Failed > > The precondition on the request for the URL > > /tools/evcalc/ evaluated to false. > > > > I can't even get to www.evconvert.com > > > > --- lyle sloan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > http://www.evconvert.com/tools/evcalc/ > > > > > > --- john fisher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > sorry if asked before, I couldn't find a > FAQ... > > > > > > > > I see an online calculator at > > > > > > > > > > http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/lab/8679/evcalc.html > > > > but its a little out-of-date and of uncertain > > > > accuracy. > > > > > > > > Does anybody have another one to > > > > compare/test/calibrate? > > > > > > > > My particular project needs to weigh > > > > weight/aero/target-performance vs > > > > motor/controller/battery choice, and I have > no > > > > experience in electric conversions. > > > > > > > > thanks > > > > > > > > John Fisher > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Never miss an email again! > > > Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail > > > arrives. > > > > > > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The fish are biting. > Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search > Marketing. > http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php > >
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] another newbie question
works for me on all links --- Mark Hastings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > When I go to that page I receive: > 412 Precondition Failed > The precondition on the request for the URL > /tools/evcalc/ evaluated to false. > > I can't even get to www.evconvert.com > > --- lyle sloan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > http://www.evconvert.com/tools/evcalc/ > > > > --- john fisher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > sorry if asked before, I couldn't find a FAQ... > > > > > > I see an online calculator at > > > > > > http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/lab/8679/evcalc.html > > > but its a little out-of-date and of uncertain > > > accuracy. > > > > > > Does anybody have another one to > > > compare/test/calibrate? > > > > > > My particular project needs to weigh > > > weight/aero/target-performance vs > > > motor/controller/battery choice, and I have no > > > experience in electric conversions. > > > > > > thanks > > > > > > John Fisher > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Never miss an email again! > > Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail > > arrives. > > > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ > > > > > > > The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] another newbie question
When I go to that page I receive: 412 Precondition Failed The precondition on the request for the URL /tools/evcalc/ evaluated to false. I can't even get to www.evconvert.com --- lyle sloan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > http://www.evconvert.com/tools/evcalc/ > > --- john fisher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > sorry if asked before, I couldn't find a FAQ... > > > > I see an online calculator at > > > http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/lab/8679/evcalc.html > > but its a little out-of-date and of uncertain > > accuracy. > > > > Does anybody have another one to > > compare/test/calibrate? > > > > My particular project needs to weigh > > weight/aero/target-performance vs > > motor/controller/battery choice, and I have no > > experience in electric conversions. > > > > thanks > > > > John Fisher > > > > > > > > > > Never miss an email again! > Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail > arrives. > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ > >
Re: [ElectricMotorcycles] another newbie question
http://www.evconvert.com/tools/evcalc/ --- john fisher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > sorry if asked before, I couldn't find a FAQ... > > I see an online calculator at > http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/lab/8679/evcalc.html > but its a little out-of-date and of uncertain > accuracy. > > Does anybody have another one to > compare/test/calibrate? > > My particular project needs to weigh > weight/aero/target-performance vs > motor/controller/battery choice, and I have no > experience in electric conversions. > > thanks > > John Fisher > > Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/
