2strk vs 4strk and the big bad wolf GE is coming.

500guy
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500guy
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 3:44am
I have a friend that works at GE and he said they just bought a major Electric bike Co and plan to aggressively pursue Motocross.

All this bullshit about 2 stroke vs 4 stroke and suddenly people will have brand new problems, get ready boys the Sport will change like never before.
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jmar
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jmar 8/15/2011 7:55pm
8/15/2011 7:55pm
Bring it on. They are going to have to get a lot better, and there is no doubt in my mind that they will.
`ol Ger
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`ol Ger 8/15/2011 7:56pm
8/15/2011 7:56pm
I ain't NEVER seen stink like that before..
newmann
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newmann 8/15/2011 8:00pm
8/15/2011 8:00pm
Of course they'll have to be double the displacement to be considered "fair". How's that formula gonna go?
500guy
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500guy 8/15/2011 8:02pm
8/15/2011 8:02pm
newmann wrote:
Of course they'll have to be double the displacement to be considered "fair". How's that formula gonna go?
That's a great question, How does GE compare to Honda with money, power and ability to leverage ?

One thing is certain there is enough good riders that don't make a decent living to build a competing series

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Propaganda!
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Propaganda! 8/15/2011 8:07pm
8/15/2011 8:07pm
I think you're right about this one, here's some of the Fully Factory Test Footage:

practicetrack 8/15/2011 8:09pm
8/15/2011 8:09pm
build them right, cheap, and keep them that way. i would not be surprised. GE is part of the reason the world is so messed up. They make and sell the weapons we are to fear the other country has. They have the technology to fix or better any situation they can create, while making everyone and everything else look stupid. To use motocross as a way to do that...well that I don't understand. But yeah, they could do it. They could put their technology to use, sell them for a grand, and still double their money invested in such a small project. They would look like a hero and still laugh all the way to the bank. Ugh. Whatever. Sure would beat the hell out of the segway that was supposed to change our commute to work...does anyone remember that precursor load of shit? When it was a media hype but nobody really knew at all what it would be? They still cost like 5 grand and do nothing? If they were max 1 g...mmmm maybe.
petie11o5
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petie11o5 8/15/2011 8:17pm
8/15/2011 8:17pm
HAHA did you just mention GE and Motocross in the same sentence? GE as in the 6th company on the Fortune 500 list? Now that is some funny shit!
Hman144 8/15/2011 8:58pm
8/15/2011 8:58pm
I call BS. There's no way a corporate leviathan like GE would give a rats patoot about a piddling little niche market, low-margin enterprise like an electric MXer. Not unless one of the board room types wants to adopt it as a pet project for himself. (Think a certain formerly successful bicycle maker or maybe a domestic V-twin street bike outfit.) If that's the case, then let's hope they get it done before the shareholders find out about it.

H
CR250Rider
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CR250Rider 8/15/2011 9:06pm
8/15/2011 9:06pm
link or it didn't happen
ODB
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ODB 8/16/2011 4:03am
8/16/2011 4:03am
they are buying the technology to make new stealth recon vehicles .............where the real money is..............WAR
mxtech1
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mxtech1 8/16/2011 5:22am
8/16/2011 5:22am
ODB wrote:
they are buying the technology to make new stealth recon vehicles .............where the real money is..............WAR
X2!

Think of the stealth they will be able to claim when they can put some marines on nearly silent motorycles that can easily navigate rough, offroad terrain. That R&D can be adapted to any other type of vehicle. If, and this is a huge if here, something like this actually materailizes, I think motocross/sport racing will simply be a marketing scheme to cover tracks.
希望
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希望 8/16/2011 7:11am
8/16/2011 7:11am
500guy wrote:
I have a friend that works at GE and he said they just bought a major Electric bike Co and plan to aggressively pursue Motocross. All...
I have a friend that works at GE and he said they just bought a major Electric bike Co and plan to aggressively pursue Motocross.

All this bullshit about 2 stroke vs 4 stroke and suddenly people will have brand new problems, get ready boys the Sport will change like never before.
I like it. With technology increasing at such a rapid pace, we might not even recognize this sport in 10 years.
Hman144 8/16/2011 7:28am
8/16/2011 7:28am
ODB wrote:
they are buying the technology to make new stealth recon vehicles .............where the real money is..............WAR
That perspective might make a little more sense, but I would see the benefit to the sport being more of a trickle-down than an active part of a development program. Like velcro for your computer bag resulting from the Apollo program.

I don't see Lockheed making stunt kites or General Dynamics working on hunting rifles.

H
jeffro503
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jeffro503 8/16/2011 7:57am
8/16/2011 7:57am
newmann wrote:
Of course they'll have to be double the displacement to be considered "fair". How's that formula gonna go?
Actually Newmann......it's just the opposite. Some of you guys know that I fly giant scale aerobatic RC aircraft. My smaller 90" wingspan stuff uses a 58cc ( BME 58) and my larger birds of 102" - 105" wingspan uses 100cc - 120cc sized opposed twins.

My 116cc BME weighs only 4.4lbs! It's extremely light......but the electric stuff over the past few years has caught up and passed the gas motors in the power dept. Only problem right now is "battery weights "

I just started a couple days ago , but I am converting my 89" AJ Slick from my BME 58cc to an electric setup instead. I'll be using an American made brushless motor called a Neu 1521 1.5Y motor with a 160amp ESC. The setup only weighs a few oz. more than my gas setup......it's the battery weight that kills the performance. As you want to keep your planes as light as possible for extreme aerobatics.

For comparison on power , my BME 58 will spin a 23" prop at about 7400rpm. My new electric motor will spin about the same RPM , but with a 25" prop. It might not seem like much , but I will gain about 30% more thrust with this setup.....and the power is "Instant "!

Electric motors are the easy part of converting a motorcycle.....as you could get all the power you need. But the battery technology that is available to the public right now wouldn't be worth all the extra weight. Sure , you could et a setup in which could do a 10 minute moto......but a 30 minute moto + 2 laps.......it's gonna be a while before we can even get strong enough , long lasting batteries to be able to do that.

There are certain car manufactures that have looked into a new battery technology this the battery is the same size and almost the same weight as a piece of paper. They are looking to incorporate that into the paint and have it use solar power of some type to re-charge. Only thing is.....how does it work at night.

battery technology has come a long ways , and is about 10 years ahead of what the general population can get their hands on......but it's coming.
Highsider
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Highsider 8/16/2011 8:01am
8/16/2011 8:01am
I am going to start a petition for the Big Four to produce 550cc 4-stroke mx bikes and drop the weeny 450 bikes!Cool
miedosoracing1 8/16/2011 8:30am
8/16/2011 8:30am
I'm all for a good electric bike. Quiet, no polution after made, and no fuel costs. Just solar power baby. Back yard tracks all over.
Highsider
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Highsider 8/16/2011 8:51am
8/16/2011 8:51am
miedosoracing1 wrote:
I'm all for a good electric bike. Quiet, no polution after made, and no fuel costs. Just solar power baby. Back yard tracks all over.
Dust will still be an issue....always something, eh?!
miedosoracing1 8/16/2011 8:55am
8/16/2011 8:55am Edited Date/Time 8/16/2011 8:57am
miedosoracing1 wrote:
I'm all for a good electric bike. Quiet, no polution after made, and no fuel costs. Just solar power baby. Back yard tracks all over.
Highsider wrote:
Dust will still be an issue....always something, eh?!
Naw, if it's a back yard track, you can water it, if you get complaints. That's what's so cool about that. It's something you have control over. If you lose the track because you won't water it, to keep dust down, that's on you. But I know a lot of yards, will only really fit one or two bikes on it or something. It won't be like a 50 bike track or anything. Just a guy and his friend maybe. Doing some practice, instead of having to load up and go somewhere. Have sprinklers to be turned on at a certain time every day, just like they are now, but at 5 pm or so, and wahlah. See how easy that was. Common sense. That's what this world lacks.

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The Rock
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The Rock 8/16/2011 9:00am
8/16/2011 9:00am Edited Date/Time 8/16/2011 9:26am
ODB wrote:
they are buying the technology to make new stealth recon vehicles .............where the real money is..............WAR
Hman144 wrote:
That perspective might make a little more sense, but I would see the benefit to the sport being more of a trickle-down than an active part...
That perspective might make a little more sense, but I would see the benefit to the sport being more of a trickle-down than an active part of a development program. Like velcro for your computer bag resulting from the Apollo program.

I don't see Lockheed making stunt kites or General Dynamics working on hunting rifles.

H
Apollo actually had nothing to do with velcro

In the book The Day After Roswell it is suggested various technologies were lifted from the crash and given to the defense industry. It is interesting timing the crash happened in 47 and the following year a Swiss patent is filed for velcro.

If you thought rebuilding four strokes was expensive just wait until you start replacing batteries on your electric bike.
The Rock
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The Rock 8/16/2011 9:55am
8/16/2011 9:55am
希望 wrote:
I like it. With technology increasing at such a rapid pace, we might not even recognize this sport in 10 years.
We'll always have those absolutely essential Acerbis markers to remind us from where we came....the sport started with Whitlock, right?
Ryno784
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Ryno784 8/16/2011 10:01am
8/16/2011 10:01am
petie11o5 wrote:
HAHA did you just mention GE and Motocross in the same sentence? GE as in the 6th company on the Fortune 500 list? Now that is...
HAHA did you just mention GE and Motocross in the same sentence? GE as in the 6th company on the Fortune 500 list? Now that is some funny shit!
Actually GE owns most of the motorcycles and ATVs that you see in every dealership across the country! Just FYI. They floor the powersports business....they're already very much involved in this industry.
TX24
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TX24 8/16/2011 12:14pm
8/16/2011 12:14pm
GE is more then twice as big as Honda Motor Co.

In RC cars more expensive batteries and chargers make a big difference.
TWicks
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TWicks 8/16/2011 12:16pm
8/16/2011 12:16pm
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I CAN'T WAIT FOR ELECTRIC BIKES!!

I see spots I could ride almost daily if I had a silent bike.
badfish
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badfish 8/16/2011 12:43pm
8/16/2011 12:43pm
Screw all of you! I'm breaking open my kids piggy bank and building the first ever STEAM POWERED MX bike!
lapper
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lapper 8/16/2011 12:47pm
8/16/2011 12:47pm Edited Date/Time 8/16/2011 1:02pm
From a business perspective, an MX bike is the perfect test and development market for electric propulsion systems.

1. Safety testing and DOT certifications for public highway use costs million$$$. Slap on an "off highway competition use only', sticker and it all becomes N/A
2. Just like that gas MX bike in your garage, no warranty. We can't possibly offer a warranty on a product that's subjected to the abuse of off highway competition!
3. Product liability? Your honor, we're sorry the battery caught fire, causing severe burns to the plaintiff's crotch, but he clearly knew and accepted the risks associated with using our product in competition. See the big sticker that says ....
4. Current battery technology has a limited storage capacity. No one is going to buy an electric trail bike that's only good for 30 minutes. However, that's about the same capacity as gas tanks on today's MX bikes (just ask RD!)
5. Racers accept failures and breakage. No other consumer market is going think having to rebuild a brand new product several times a year is normal.
6. MX racers will abuse a product in ways no amount of testing could duplicate. They'll break it, come up with an improvement to fix that problem, and then go find the next weakest link. Why send million$$$ on testing when the consumer will do it for you?
7. Racers have got to have the latest greatest, and they'll pay for it. Did you see the 2013 General Electric DC500? They've up'ed the run time to 31 minutes this year! Plus it's got BNG! I've got to have one.

A smart Company would see MX racers as the perfect Guinea Pigs to test their product. Stupid companies don't make it to #6 on the Fortune 500.
jtiger12
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jtiger12 8/16/2011 1:51pm
8/16/2011 1:51pm
bgi difference between electric BIKES and electric MOTORCYCLES. I agree with the other posters, i do not see anyway GE would go after a niche market like off road motorcycles, scooters, etc.

maybe on road scooters, and pedestrian bicycles. Maybe.
The Rock
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The Rock 8/16/2011 3:17pm
8/16/2011 3:17pm
TX24 wrote:
GE is more then twice as big as Honda Motor Co.

In RC cars more expensive batteries and chargers make a big difference.
We've already seen the impact more expensive four strokes have had on the sport. Unless they're going to be lower in cost to purchase and maintain I don't see the fit for electric bikes in racing particularly outdoors given the absence of sound testing at the local and professional level.

Off road yes and for the Joe Blows who want to ride on their own property yes but I;m not holding my breath for electric MX bikes for any MX racing applications.
Crossup
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Crossup 8/16/2011 4:26pm
8/16/2011 4:26pm Edited Date/Time 8/16/2011 4:39pm
500guy wrote:
I have a friend that works at GE and he said they just bought a major Electric bike Co and plan to aggressively pursue Motocross. All...
I have a friend that works at GE and he said they just bought a major Electric bike Co and plan to aggressively pursue Motocross.

All this bullshit about 2 stroke vs 4 stroke and suddenly people will have brand new problems, get ready boys the Sport will change like never before.
I thought that this one was pretty cool, because they were just working on the engine for a stock chassis. Many of the E Bikes out have light weight hokey frames and suspension that won't hold up in real moto conditions. This one will.

EVO Drive
MX Sports Medicine 8/16/2011 5:12pm
8/16/2011 5:12pm
TX24 wrote:
GE is more then twice as big as Honda Motor Co.

In RC cars more expensive batteries and chargers make a big difference.
The Rock wrote:
We've already seen the impact more expensive four strokes have had on the sport. Unless they're going to be lower in cost to purchase and maintain...
We've already seen the impact more expensive four strokes have had on the sport. Unless they're going to be lower in cost to purchase and maintain I don't see the fit for electric bikes in racing particularly outdoors given the absence of sound testing at the local and professional level.

Off road yes and for the Joe Blows who want to ride on their own property yes but I;m not holding my breath for electric MX bikes for any MX racing applications.
As technology progresses AND as more batteries are used in vehicles, I see the prices dropping dramatically. A "home" computer years ago was the size of a room and cost millions.
So, I must disagree Rock. I see a great future of Elec MX.
bwh998
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bwh998 8/16/2011 5:13pm
8/16/2011 5:13pm
GE only puts any serious R&D into their weapons systems, the rest of their products are garbage. The electric bike/car takeover has been "right around the corner" for the last 20 years. This is the same kind of shit people were spouting when LiPo's came out, and then again with the LiFePO4's. And when brushless motors first came on the scene, same shit again.

I'll be back to check on this thread in 20 years.

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