Yamaha Hybrid Motorcyle..pics

[1967 R50/2]

Wow. Certainly interesting. You can honestly say it looks like nothing else out there.

Looks aside, the possibility of instant torque from an electric motor is great new technology.

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/newsandupdates/yam05tms/

The electirc motor is supposed to be 45kW...although it doesn't say it in the article.

[motoyoyo]

Wow, those would make a great Halloween outfit along with a Fash Gordon riding suit and a spiffy ray gun. Cool, just not on the other 364 days of the year. Luckily for me when all we have now goes away, I'll probably be happy riding a Rascal and sipping through a straw.

[be_are_why]

I run the risk of sounding like a Willie G. clone, but here goes.

the idea of an electric engine in a motorcycle IMO takes away all the visceral qualities thata "Motorcycle" needs. you need a certain level of rumble and buzz. i can only imagine the comparison of using an electric chainsaw vs. an electric hedge trimmer. World apart in sensory feedback. Guess it depends on what kind of "experience" you are looking for. There are a hell of alot more Honda 90 step-throughs on this planet than any other motorized two wheeled vehicle. That is the market for electric bikes.

yes I know it's a hybrid, the begining of the slippery slope. {damn do I sound like an old fart.}

[be_are_why]

oops. I meant two-stroke gasoline powered chainsaw vs, electric hedge trimmer.

[1967 R50/2]

Originally posted by be_are_why
I run the risk of sounding like a Willie G. clone, but here goes.

the idea of an electric engine in a motorcycle IMO takes away all the visceral qualities thata "Motorcycle" needs.

You sound as though a hog might be in your future.

Actually what I love about the R1100S is with ear plugs in, I can't hear it. All I get is wind noise. It's the closest thing to flying without leaving the ground.

Now, when I think of electric automotive motors, I think of the electric motors on the commuter train....silent but pulling a ton. The new Prius is also silent under 12 miles an hour because the engine isn't running.

I say bring it on! Closer to flying yet

[island_dude]

I have always wondered what electric motors would do to motorcycling. So many people are cought up in the sound of the engine. Personally, I prefer something quiet. I never got into that Harley thing of sitting at the stop light reving the engine to make a bunch of noise. The thought of having all of the torque that a electric motor generates is pretty cool.

Personally, I don't care for the look of this bike, but its an interesting concept.

[motoman]

Should bring new meaning to the term 'Electraglide'

[Renton]

You should alll ride a Triumph Rocket. Closest thing to smooth dilithium crystal power type thrust around. Hold on. Nothing pulls harder or smoother.

[bradzdotcom]

one of the big problems with electricaly powered vehicles is being able to slow the motor's response level down to a reasonable point.

for example: if you made an atv with electric power (a motor for every wheel), you also have to incorporate wheel sensors.
why?
cause some...ahem.....fool....walks up to said atv, gets on and nails the throttle.
without wheel sensors, it goes....instantly.
this has been proven to result in all the guys in the shop laughing at you, and gives you a set of gnarly matching divits in both of your shins from hitting the handlebars on your way to roll off the back.

a motorcycle, which can be rear, front or both wheel driven, also incorporates wheel sensors.
same original problem. jump on, twist throttle, watch the "bike" leave without you. rub thighs from being whacked by rear turn signals.

fortunately, the wheel sensors also allow for great traction control.

while riding your bike in two-wheel drive, if the rear starts slipping, it can be programmed to stop the slip, while feeding the front wheel more power.
(or not...the possible combination of levels, knobs and switches is endless...it's super-simple to put it in front wheel drive, plus reverse, to back out of a parking spot).
you can ride in rear wheel only, front only, rear with front assist only as needed...front with rear assist only as needed.....your brain explodes eventually.

in the case of an atv, it can create a vehicle that can climb almost anything, since power is constantly distributed to each wheel's motor on a need-to-have basis.

oh yea....as far as the sound thing. not an issue.
onboard sound systems that mathematically match what you would normally hear at your particular acceleration/cruising speed have already been explored (and bluetoothed).
last i heard, you can even "choose" from the sound of a cruiser, sportbike, gp 2-stroke, etc.....all ported to your helmet.

imagine the future aftermarket: although the exhaust system manufacturers are put out of business, they do sell "chips" to insert into your bike so you can get the remus/staintune/twobrothers etc...sound.
also available, as part of the collector's ten pack, would be the sound of a in-line 4, a few v-4s, V-5, a ducati or two, maybe an rd400... Freddie Spencer's 500 world champ bike.....etc.

oh yea, almost forgot...we sometimes laugh on this board about ordering a new "powerband" for our bikes.

well...........................................gue ss what...

[roger albert]

I've worked on a couple electric vehicle projects and torque control is a problem. The hybirds I worked on, and have read about, did not use a wheel speed sensor, but rather used electronic control to the motors limiting the rate of torque increase. None used wheel sensors, but if they were there for ABS, they could be used for this purpose. But, that would still h ave to feedback into power control circuitry, so it's just normally handled there tobegin with. Not sure what current cars on the market are doing. I'm curious. Thigns have no doubt changed in the 13 years since I was actively involved (hybrid Focus with cash from Ford when I went back to school)

Chip tuning would sure be fun. I could live without the sound if the beast handled, but the energy density of batteries just isn't there. Only realistic for drag bikes, where the motors are briefly run many times their rated power, but where runs are short enough that thermal limits are not exceeded (i.e. for drag racing, the battery needs only high power, not high energy, which along with small motors, helps keep weight realistic.
There are some fast electric drag vehicles out there. Much easier to apply feedback for max acccel. Those systems definitley use wheel speed sensors, as Brad spoke of.

[branners]

Judge Dredd, your scoot is ready!
Interesting that Yamaha broke cover with this type of bike first, probably due to its strong links with Toyota, which has a lot of experience with hybrids. The good news for those who love going fast is that the technology does not mean that Green = Boring. Drive a Honda Accord hybrid, give it some curry and see what I mean.
I would still like to see a diesel-engined bike and yes, I has seen pics of the one in the Netherlands. I have in my mind that a torquey and economical motor would be the thing to have and that the best diesel car engine on earth is the one that goes in the 5-Series from Munchen.

[Steve Carlton]

Which of our BMW Brothers will be putting our money down to be one of the first to step into the future?

[1967 R50/2]

Well, if I have to rescue Dale Arden from the clutches of Ming the Merciless, I may as well ride in to save the day on one of these!

[JeremySmith]

Originally posted by Steve Carlton
Which of our BMW Brothers will be putting our money down to be one of the first to step into the future?

I'd ride it. I'd feel compelled to have my lid sprayed to look like a big alien head. I'd rather have a tomahawk though....