Why is everyone so “against” ebikes?

Phildo wrote:

Riding an ebike would be like driving a Prius hybrid around a racetrack.

Lovely and quiet, but the most challenging part is trying to stay awake.

theycallmeebryan wrote:

I've owned my Alta MXR since August 2018. I also own a '15 KX450 and a 2004 KX125. Here's my take: 1. The general motocross community...

I've owned my Alta MXR since August 2018. I also own a '15 KX450 and a 2004 KX125. Here's my take:

1. The general motocross community thinks nothing is better than what they have. People are so used to the normal ICE and everything that surrounds it. The fact of the matter is the general motocross community doesn't ride anything other than the bike they currently own, and thus their opinions are not based on actual testing of various brands, bike types, etc. "My suspension is fantastic" - Joe Motocross who owns a 15 year old 2 stroke and rolls jumps on the vet track, for example.

2. Smell, sound, blah blah blah. You may say that now, but you get over it quickly. In fact, I've realized that quiet bikes allow you to concentrate more on your riding. Noise, especially super loud noise, clogs your mind. I wear ear plugs when i ride my gas bikes and it allows me to focus more and keeps my mind clear.

3. "But, i need my clutch and gears!". This is only necessary because your gas bike has an engine that produces a power curve, and you need to rev the engine and switch gears to be in the sweet spot. Goes back to my first point... people have been so used to using a clutch and shifting gears that anything else is weird. The fact is, AC electric motors (like in the Alta) produce max torque right at 0rpm, and the torque curve is so flat that no shifting or clutching is required.... you're essentially always in the right gear and in the right part of (ICE equivalent) power band. Just like a 4 stroke can bail you out of mistakes you make compared to a 2 stroke, the electric power plant does that even moreso than a 4 stroke. Oh, and you never have to worry about stalling it, either!

4. Everyone always assumes electric is slow and gutless. They think of golf karts and the like. The Alta MXR specifically is nothing like a golf kart. It has so much torque that i can wheelie on command at the extra twist of my right hand, yet its so controllable and manageable at the same time. My right hand is connected to the rear tire.

Now on to my personal anecdotes:

First off, every person who was skeptical before i let them ride my Alta came off the with a smile on their face and were just plain shocked at how well it performs. People just need to experience it first hand. 2 people I've let ride my bike went off and purchased an MXR of their own, both were skeptical before riding it.

Electric power is so awesome on a motocross track, dare i say PERFECT for motocross. And it's safer in the sense that you'll always be in the right "gear" and have the power to do what you want. You'll make less mistakes, and any mistakes you do make can easily be corrected.

Due to nearly 0 inertia from the powerplant, electric bikes are very nimble and don't do anything funky. On my gas bikes i'll get weird kicks and just a sense of instability at times. Now I've been striving to make my gas bikes as stable as my Alta.

The lack of noise... i'm able to ride in areas i would never think about riding in with one of my gas bike, and NOONE cares that i do it. Its really the noise that people care most about. "Out of sound, out of mind" kinda thing.

Since i don't have to think about clutching, shifting, don't have a loud engine to clog my mind, and have smooth strong power on tap, i'm able to focus on the fundamentals of riding.

In my entire riding experience of over 25 years, i've never made such large strides in my speed and skill level in a short amount of time as i have when riding my Alta. It single-handedly has improved my riding skill and, everything else aside, that in and of itself is worth it.

STLSharky wrote:

wrong in soo many ways, if it aint sound it's dust. Bottom line people dont like bikes or you having fun on bikes. Sound in stadium...

wrong in soo many ways, if it aint sound it's dust. Bottom line people dont like bikes or you having fun on bikes.

Sound in stadium sounds great!

Smell walked into Indy last week, sweet smell of VP...

etc........

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Dust has always been something I bring it. People try to blow it off and say you can control dust, but that would mean they'd have...

Dust has always been something I bring it. People try to blow it off and say you can control dust, but that would mean they'd have to water the place constantly to make sure it doesn't become an issue, especially during summer months. Places like California that won't go over well and people will still find something to bitch about. They call us ground pounders and tell us that we destroy hill sides and threaten flowers, bushes and trees when we tear up the soil.

STLSharky wrote:

wrong in soo many ways, if it aint sound it's dust. Bottom line people dont like bikes or you having fun on bikes. Sound in stadium...

wrong in soo many ways, if it aint sound it's dust. Bottom line people dont like bikes or you having fun on bikes.

Sound in stadium sounds great!

Smell walked into Indy last week, sweet smell of VP...

etc........

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Dust has always been something I bring it. People try to blow it off and say you can control dust, but that would mean they'd have...

Dust has always been something I bring it. People try to blow it off and say you can control dust, but that would mean they'd have to water the place constantly to make sure it doesn't become an issue, especially during summer months. Places like California that won't go over well and people will still find something to bitch about. They call us ground pounders and tell us that we destroy hill sides and threaten flowers, bushes and trees when we tear up the soil.

BAMX wrote:

Anyone who mountain bikes has seen the stink eye from someone who looks like they fell out of the REI catalog. Just like bike guys hate...

Anyone who mountain bikes has seen the stink eye from someone who looks like they fell out of the REI catalog. Just like bike guys hate quads, hikers seem to hate everyone on wheels.

theycallmeebryan wrote:

I've owned my Alta MXR since August 2018. I also own a '15 KX450 and a 2004 KX125. Here's my take: 1. The general motocross community...

I've owned my Alta MXR since August 2018. I also own a '15 KX450 and a 2004 KX125. Here's my take:

1. The general motocross community thinks nothing is better than what they have. People are so used to the normal ICE and everything that surrounds it. The fact of the matter is the general motocross community doesn't ride anything other than the bike they currently own, and thus their opinions are not based on actual testing of various brands, bike types, etc. "My suspension is fantastic" - Joe Motocross who owns a 15 year old 2 stroke and rolls jumps on the vet track, for example.

2. Smell, sound, blah blah blah. You may say that now, but you get over it quickly. In fact, I've realized that quiet bikes allow you to concentrate more on your riding. Noise, especially super loud noise, clogs your mind. I wear ear plugs when i ride my gas bikes and it allows me to focus more and keeps my mind clear.

3. "But, i need my clutch and gears!". This is only necessary because your gas bike has an engine that produces a power curve, and you need to rev the engine and switch gears to be in the sweet spot. Goes back to my first point... people have been so used to using a clutch and shifting gears that anything else is weird. The fact is, AC electric motors (like in the Alta) produce max torque right at 0rpm, and the torque curve is so flat that no shifting or clutching is required.... you're essentially always in the right gear and in the right part of (ICE equivalent) power band. Just like a 4 stroke can bail you out of mistakes you make compared to a 2 stroke, the electric power plant does that even moreso than a 4 stroke. Oh, and you never have to worry about stalling it, either!

4. Everyone always assumes electric is slow and gutless. They think of golf karts and the like. The Alta MXR specifically is nothing like a golf kart. It has so much torque that i can wheelie on command at the extra twist of my right hand, yet its so controllable and manageable at the same time. My right hand is connected to the rear tire.

Now on to my personal anecdotes:

First off, every person who was skeptical before i let them ride my Alta came off the with a smile on their face and were just plain shocked at how well it performs. People just need to experience it first hand. 2 people I've let ride my bike went off and purchased an MXR of their own, both were skeptical before riding it.

Electric power is so awesome on a motocross track, dare i say PERFECT for motocross. And it's safer in the sense that you'll always be in the right "gear" and have the power to do what you want. You'll make less mistakes, and any mistakes you do make can easily be corrected.

Due to nearly 0 inertia from the powerplant, electric bikes are very nimble and don't do anything funky. On my gas bikes i'll get weird kicks and just a sense of instability at times. Now I've been striving to make my gas bikes as stable as my Alta.

The lack of noise... i'm able to ride in areas i would never think about riding in with one of my gas bike, and NOONE cares that i do it. Its really the noise that people care most about. "Out of sound, out of mind" kinda thing.

Since i don't have to think about clutching, shifting, don't have a loud engine to clog my mind, and have smooth strong power on tap, i'm able to focus on the fundamentals of riding.

In my entire riding experience of over 25 years, i've never made such large strides in my speed and skill level in a short amount of time as i have when riding my Alta. It single-handedly has improved my riding skill and, everything else aside, that in and of itself is worth it.

observeroffacts wrote:

This sport is full of people who hate change on principal.

Phildo wrote:

Riding an ebike would be like driving a Prius hybrid around a racetrack.

Lovely and quiet, but the most challenging part is trying to stay awake.

theycallmeebryan wrote:

The Alta MXR is definitely not a Prius Hybrid, bud. I out accelerated a guy on a 19 KX450 down the start straight at Glen Helen...

The Alta MXR is definitely not a Prius Hybrid, bud.

I out accelerated a guy on a 19 KX450 down the start straight at Glen Helen on my MXR :

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bryan Haskell (@bwhaskell) on Nov 4, 2018 at 6:42pm PST

crt32 wrote:

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport. -No Clutch...

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport.
-No Clutch
-No Shifting
-No opportunity to have your motor tuned better than the competition (tune as in jetting, flywheel etc).
-plus other things

Everyone acts like E bikes will solve problems related to riding areas. It won't change a thing, people will still get hurt, so lawsuits will remain. Complaints will be filed about dirt, rubber tires, plastic tear offs etc.

Building the electric battery and then disposing of once old causes more environmental damage than a combustion engine but at least you can tell your buddies how green you are and how you're making a difference. But then you'll wake up and see it was never about the climate but about controlling society.

All for innovation and technology, but classify it as a different sport or class within Motocross.

And we didn't even discuss cost for new families wanting to order the sport...

crt32 wrote:

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport. -No Clutch...

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport.
-No Clutch
-No Shifting
-No opportunity to have your motor tuned better than the competition (tune as in jetting, flywheel etc).
-plus other things

Everyone acts like E bikes will solve problems related to riding areas. It won't change a thing, people will still get hurt, so lawsuits will remain. Complaints will be filed about dirt, rubber tires, plastic tear offs etc.

Building the electric battery and then disposing of once old causes more environmental damage than a combustion engine but at least you can tell your buddies how green you are and how you're making a difference. But then you'll wake up and see it was never about the climate but about controlling society.

All for innovation and technology, but classify it as a different sport or class within Motocross.

And we didn't even discuss cost for new families wanting to order the sport...

crt32 wrote:

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport. -No Clutch...

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport.
-No Clutch
-No Shifting
-No opportunity to have your motor tuned better than the competition (tune as in jetting, flywheel etc).
-plus other things

Everyone acts like E bikes will solve problems related to riding areas. It won't change a thing, people will still get hurt, so lawsuits will remain. Complaints will be filed about dirt, rubber tires, plastic tear offs etc.

Building the electric battery and then disposing of once old causes more environmental damage than a combustion engine but at least you can tell your buddies how green you are and how you're making a difference. But then you'll wake up and see it was never about the climate but about controlling society.

All for innovation and technology, but classify it as a different sport or class within Motocross.

And we didn't even discuss cost for new families wanting to order the sport...

nickm wrote:

I think it just opens up completely different tuning opportunities. Think of the gazillion combinations of throttle response and torque outputs that one would be able...

I think it just opens up completely different tuning opportunities. Think of the gazillion combinations of throttle response and torque outputs that one would be able to code into the software. They could probably build a single bike and have software adjustable power outputs to make it the equivalent of a 125/250/450 with a simple toggle.

I'm not saying I'm in love with e-bikes, but noise has killed the sport. quiet bikes will be a game changer...nobody gives a shit about a silent bike on a track/bush/backyard. Try and start a 450 in suburbia and the cops show up only because of the noise. I'd love to see the equivalent of a Honda 50 or CR80 ebike and lets see the mini bikes everywhere again.

Jeff_Crutcher wrote:

Everyone that says they don’t like them that has never ridden one. Nobody that owns one hates it. We’re talking haves and have nots. Those whom...

Everyone that says they don’t like them that has never ridden one. Nobody that owns one hates it.

We’re talking haves and have nots. Those whom don’t have, will shit talk those that do.

Get over the god damn sound. Who cares if watching races is boring when watching races is ALREADY boring.

Go race.

crt32 wrote:

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport. -No Clutch...

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport.
-No Clutch
-No Shifting
-No opportunity to have your motor tuned better than the competition (tune as in jetting, flywheel etc).
-plus other things

Everyone acts like E bikes will solve problems related to riding areas. It won't change a thing, people will still get hurt, so lawsuits will remain. Complaints will be filed about dirt, rubber tires, plastic tear offs etc.

Building the electric battery and then disposing of once old causes more environmental damage than a combustion engine but at least you can tell your buddies how green you are and how you're making a difference. But then you'll wake up and see it was never about the climate but about controlling society.

All for innovation and technology, but classify it as a different sport or class within Motocross.

And we didn't even discuss cost for new families wanting to order the sport...

Andy_Greenney wrote:

There is no tuning of electric RC cars? Slipper clutches don’t exist already? You couldnt program the electrics to ride a power curve like an ICE...

There is no tuning of electric RC cars? Slipper clutches don’t exist already? You couldnt program the electrics to ride a power curve like an ICE?
Name it what you want, but they will be on the same mx tracks getting around faster than ICE bikes...people will buy them.

crt32 wrote:

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport. -No Clutch...

E Bikes are not Motocross. Period. Flame Away. In my opinion it changes the sport entirely, that one could classify it as another sport.
-No Clutch
-No Shifting
-No opportunity to have your motor tuned better than the competition (tune as in jetting, flywheel etc).
-plus other things

Everyone acts like E bikes will solve problems related to riding areas. It won't change a thing, people will still get hurt, so lawsuits will remain. Complaints will be filed about dirt, rubber tires, plastic tear offs etc.

Building the electric battery and then disposing of once old causes more environmental damage than a combustion engine but at least you can tell your buddies how green you are and how you're making a difference. But then you'll wake up and see it was never about the climate but about controlling society.

All for innovation and technology, but classify it as a different sport or class within Motocross.

And we didn't even discuss cost for new families wanting to order the sport...

Andy_Greenney wrote:

There is no tuning of electric RC cars? Slipper clutches don’t exist already? You couldnt program the electrics to ride a power curve like an ICE...

There is no tuning of electric RC cars? Slipper clutches don’t exist already? You couldnt program the electrics to ride a power curve like an ICE?
Name it what you want, but they will be on the same mx tracks getting around faster than ICE bikes...people will buy them.

Squirrelings wrote:

1/8 buggies is the main off road RC class that has both nitro and electric variants. Nobody gives a fuck about electric, while on the other...

1/8 buggies is the main off road RC class that has both nitro and electric variants. Nobody gives a fuck about electric, while on the other hand, the 1/8 nitro buggy world championship is probably the most prestigious of all RC racing world wide. Guess what, the electric cars are faster now and electric power has been around for like 40 years in that industry. Nobody cares. It’s boring and easy.

Andy_Greenney wrote:

So...you agree plenty of tuning ability and more speed possible with the electric. ICE mx bikes won’t be around very long when mx tracks start running...

So...you agree plenty of tuning ability and more speed possible with the electric. ICE mx bikes won’t be around very long when mx tracks start running electric only days

Caseclosed713 wrote:

They need to have speakers on both sides of the motor with a usb port so you can play your favorite dubstep tracks from a thumb...

They need to have speakers on both sides of the motor with a usb port so you can play your favorite dubstep tracks from a thumb drive.

Caseclosed713 wrote:

They need to have speakers on both sides of the motor with a usb port so you can play your favorite dubstep tracks from a thumb...

They need to have speakers on both sides of the motor with a usb port so you can play your favorite dubstep tracks from a thumb drive.

Sluggo77 wrote:

If the lack of sound is such a big deal, why not!! The technology to do so is at hand and not too heavy. The speaker...

If the lack of sound is such a big deal, why not!! The technology to do so is at hand and not too heavy. The speaker can be shaped to look just like an expansion chamber. 4 options on your audio control handle bar switch: Stealth, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, after ride favorite music mix. Everyone is happy.

theycallmeebryan wrote:

The Alta MXR is definitely not a Prius Hybrid, bud. I out accelerated a guy on a 19 KX450 down the start straight at Glen Helen...

The Alta MXR is definitely not a Prius Hybrid, bud.

I out accelerated a guy on a 19 KX450 down the start straight at Glen Helen on my MXR :

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bryan Haskell (@bwhaskell) on Nov 4, 2018 at 6:42pm PST