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... electric bikes?? I heard that on some of the new electric bikes in development, some top riders were able to achieve faster lap times than on their race bikes.. lighter, more torque, smoother power. What would it take for AMA to allow electic bikes to compete with the current combustion engines?
The AMA needs to determine a HP number for each class and convert it to watts.
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An electric motor bike could be a lot of fun but being stripped of a mechanical transmission and clutch sure does kill part of the soul and challenge of our sport.
A clutch could be useful too, but I doubt those will stay.
While it would take away some of the atmosphere of the races, I feel there are more positives than negatives although I also believe it will be a while before the transition happens
"I'll quit the sport before I ride an electric bike", Hahaha, don't let the doorknob hit you in the ass on the way out!
If you grew up in the four stroke era, you couldn't fix your own bike. Or even your own car, because everything's electronic. So you played video games and paid someone to fix your stuff. Because of this, this generation missed out on a huge part of what at one time made up this great sport. Fathers and sons working on bikes together. Kids being able to cobble together a bike to bomb around on with their friends. All together, it makes up a much less tangible connection to the sport.
Slipdog, usually agree with your posts. But not this time. I'll gladly let the door hit me in the ass as I ride away on a real motorcycle.
Us lazy incompetent whippersnappers would prefer if you left our "once great sport" sooner than later...
Pit Row
- 27 years old
A clutch would be pretty useless, but you could use it to rev the motor and dump the clutch. Could also be used a sort of slipper clutch assuming they don't just install them to begin with
I certainly agree with Hellion, there is something about the sound and feel of a combustion engine (both 2 and 4 stroke) it's a huge part of riding experience.
When will the AMA recognize them? Likely never unless The "Island of Japan" manufacturers want it. Mugen's won the last three Isle of Man TT Zero races so maybe the Big four will get involved. I find it really curious that Honda doesn't already have electric bikes since their corporate doctrine is that they are a "green company". That's how they sold the change to only manufacture four stroke engines after all.
It'll be expensive but I don't see too much evidence that the "sport" takes too much consideration into the financial burden of small teams and privateer efforts. As long as factory backed efforts are "floating the boat" then I think they'll implement whatever rules "they" want.
But maybe Alta, Victory, Zero and KTM and other current producers can create their own series (does Elon Musk ride motorcycles?). The endurocross series seemed to advance without the AMA for a few years.
I'd think electric MX bikes at a reasonable price could really "capture" a lot of new riders since they make possible "low noise" tracks located in urban areas.
But not well reasoned counter arguments.
Don't jump to the conclusion that I am expressing an opinion on the 'green' initiatives one way or the other, just clarifying that point.
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