Electric RX3

Meloman · 12-24-2018, 04:01 PM

Found this on the web and thought it would be interesting for those who hadn’t seen it.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocia...ure-motorcycle

mckayprod · 01-25-2019, 12:31 PM

I want to keep up on the development of this bike. It looks like a good alternative for the kind of riding I do, although Zongshen's choices of batteries, etc. will make a huge difference. Thanks for posting.

Huck369 · 01-25-2019, 02:39 PM

Link doesn't work for me......I'd like to check it out too!

calvarez · 01-25-2019, 04:15 PM

Worked fine for me.

sqwert · 01-27-2019, 12:26 PM

Being the stinkiest, nastiest places in the world, nice to see Chinese cities starting to clean themselves up. However, these days electrics simply are not compatible with my lifestyle, so no real interest.

Biker_Andy · 01-27-2019, 10:09 PM

Electric is great for a city bike, not so good for an adventure bike.

mckayprod · 01-28-2019, 06:11 PM

So, a typical "adventure" ride for me might be like the one I did yesterday. From my home in far northeast Solano county, California to the BART train station in El Cerrito, north of Oakland. Took the train to San Francisco & back, rode home. No freeways, just San Pablo Avenue from the delta down and back. Total distance, 140 miles. Why can't an electric bike do that? If a Zongshen could, I'd be interested.

calvarez · 01-28-2019, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckayprod

Why can't an electric bike do that?

Because the power to weight and cost becomes a significant challenge.

sqwert · 01-29-2019, 10:32 AM

Because cheap batteries are heavy and there comes a point where adding more batteries kills performance--it takes more amps to move more weight, so adding more batteries won't go enough further to be worthwhile.

On the other hand, expensive batteries don't weigh nearly as much, but some types tend to spontaneously combust when the chemicals that store the amps are exposed to air. Some types literally explode when hit with a significant jolt of electricity, such as when lightning strikes a power line nearby.

Some batteries do not perform well when weather is hot or cold. Some batteries require extensive computerized charging systems. Some must be refrigerated to be charged. Others must be heated. Charge times can ruin your day.

Most all batteries wear out, so batteries loose range over time. Your 140 mile range goes away a little every day.

Electric vehicles simply do not provide the turn-key readiness of gasoline engines.

Greenheads don't mention the myriad downsides of electric vehicles. Yes, electrics will adequately serve a few people, but not really all that many. Improperly managed charging and maintenance consume a lot more energy overall than is saved. Specialty metals for better battery types are very limited in supply, so, if you use them, and you need to replace them, and many such batteries have been sold in the mean time, it is reasonable to expect demand to significantly increase over supply, and the replacement battery costs skyrocket.

Battery manufacture and remanufacture is extremely polluting.

And that's just the tip of the contaminated iceberg. Electricity powering vehicles has its place, but it really isn't much of one. Some applications electricity is golden, but rare. Research the negatives thoroughly before investing.

Krasi_BG · 01-30-2019, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sqwert

Because cheap batteries are heavy and there comes a point where adding more batteries kills performance--it takes more amps to move more weight, so adding more batteries won't go enough further to be worthwhile.

If we put the ecological aspect aside, because it's controversial to say the least, I always wonder how one expects to have a battery serve as a propulsion source, while the same battery technology can't even provide enough juice for a modern mobile phone to last more than a day or two at best. I know vehicle Li-Ion batteries have much more sophisticated management and are much bigger (and heavier as you point out), but still they can't really "run away from their roots/handicaps", can they?

2LZ · 01-29-2019, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckayprod

So, a typical "adventure" ride for me might be like the one I did yesterday. From my home in far northeast Solano county, California to the BART train station in El Cerrito, north of Oakland. Took the train to San Francisco & back, rode home. No freeways, just San Pablo Avenue from the delta down and back. Total distance, 140 miles. Why can't an electric bike do that? If a Zongshen could, I'd be interested.

Yer a brave man riding a bike there! Our old office was in El Cerrito and I worked all around the Bay Area in my old job. Maniacal traffic there. I guess I'm geared more for Volcano. ;-)

calvarez · 01-29-2019, 10:35 AM

Five years from now, ICE will start to be replaced more easily with electric. Ten years from now we'll wonder if there's any future for gasoline at all. But it's just slightly early yet.

Krasi_BG · 02-01-2019, 04:56 AM

Ah, the 12VDC-220VAC inverter - that irreplaceable lifeline for my "mobile office"

And I bought mine as joke from Aliexpress a few years ago for 6-7 bucks or something like that, but it's still working like a charm.

The only time I actually use a smartphone is when I need its wi-fi tethering service. It's a bit of an annoyance to take out the simcard from the old, beaten up, lumpy phone with buttons, and put it into the slick and delicate, crystal (because of the LCD) one, but it's worth the hassle. I can't count the number of times I had to "reassemble" my phone after yet another flight from my pocket, or hand, or tabletop, or somewhere else. Plus, I can operate with it with gloves and dirty fingers.

My old-fart view on all this cordless craze is that these tools are something like the Swiss Army knife - yes, you can do some emergency patch work with them, but if you really need to do something properly, you have to take out your set of wrenches and screwdrivers, i.e. something with a cord or engine in it.

I wish it wasn't like that, but that's my experience so far. Probably there's something wrong with me though...

2LZ · 02-01-2019, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krasi_BG

Ah, the 12VDC-220VAC inverter - that irreplaceable lifeline for my "mobile office"

...

Or mobile bar. I love mine from HFT. Cheap and runs a blender while camping!

calvarez · 02-01-2019, 10:29 AM

Some days I feel really old. I work in tech and run two tech businesses. I work with a lot of much younger people. Then I read stuff like the above and I feel much better about my mental age and attitude. "Wireless everything" is never the right answer, and yet, it is very often the right answer. A week ago I was talking with a client's exec team about moving an office and setting up a pretty high end meeting/discussion/recording room. One of them commented about how just a few years ago we had a mess of connectors and cables to accommodate all of the junk someone might show up with to plug in. Now they have a single $30 wireless device that works with anything anyone shows up with.

There's something interesting about breaking out my ancient hand chisels and other old tools from my dad. But if real work needs to get done, I like my tables saw, drill press, and Li-ion powered tools that never let me down.

12-24-2018, 04:01 PM	#1
Meloman Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Applegate, Oregon Posts: 101	Electric RX3 Found this on the web and thought it would be interesting for those who hadn’t seen it. https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocia...ure-motorcycle
	4

01-25-2019, 02:39 PM	#3
Huck369 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Somerset, KY Posts: 686	Link doesn't work for me......I'd like to check it out too! __________________ Huck 2013 Honda NC700X 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone 2016 AJP PR4 2022 Templar X 250 2021 Sondors Metacycle AMA Life Member
	0

01-27-2019, 10:09 PM	#6
Biker_Andy Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 347	Electric is great for a city bike, not so good for an adventure bike. __________________ Electrician & Electronics Tech 2014 Honda CB500XA 2016 CSC TT250 1976 Honda CJ360T 2022 Honda Navi
	3

01-25-2019, 12:31 PM	#2
mckayprod Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Dixon, CA Posts: 75	I want to keep up on the development of this bike. It looks like a good alternative for the kind of riding I do, although Zongshen's choices of batteries, etc. will make a huge difference. Thanks for posting.
	0

01-25-2019, 04:15 PM	#4
calvarez Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 334	Worked fine for me.
	0

01-27-2019, 12:26 PM	#5
sqwert Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 382	Being the stinkiest, nastiest places in the world, nice to see Chinese cities starting to clean themselves up. However, these days electrics simply are not compatible with my lifestyle, so no real interest.
	0

01-28-2019, 06:11 PM	#7
mckayprod Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Dixon, CA Posts: 75	So, a typical "adventure" ride for me might be like the one I did yesterday. From my home in far northeast Solano county, California to the BART train station in El Cerrito, north of Oakland. Took the train to San Francisco & back, rode home. No freeways, just San Pablo Avenue from the delta down and back. Total distance, 140 miles. Why can't an electric bike do that? If a Zongshen could, I'd be interested.
	0

01-29-2019, 10:32 AM	#9
sqwert Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 382	Because cheap batteries are heavy and there comes a point where adding more batteries kills performance--it takes more amps to move more weight, so adding more batteries won't go enough further to be worthwhile. On the other hand, expensive batteries don't weigh nearly as much, but some types tend to spontaneously combust when the chemicals that store the amps are exposed to air. Some types literally explode when hit with a significant jolt of electricity, such as when lightning strikes a power line nearby. Some batteries do not perform well when weather is hot or cold. Some batteries require extensive computerized charging systems. Some must be refrigerated to be charged. Others must be heated. Charge times can ruin your day. Most all batteries wear out, so batteries loose range over time. Your 140 mile range goes away a little every day. Electric vehicles simply do not provide the turn-key readiness of gasoline engines. Greenheads don't mention the myriad downsides of electric vehicles. Yes, electrics will adequately serve a few people, but not really all that many. Improperly managed charging and maintenance consume a lot more energy overall than is saved. Specialty metals for better battery types are very limited in supply, so, if you use them, and you need to replace them, and many such batteries have been sold in the mean time, it is reasonable to expect demand to significantly increase over supply, and the replacement battery costs skyrocket. Battery manufacture and remanufacture is extremely polluting. And that's just the tip of the contaminated iceberg. Electricity powering vehicles has its place, but it really isn't much of one. Some applications electricity is golden, but rare. Research the negatives thoroughly before investing.
	1

01-29-2019, 10:35 AM	#12
calvarez Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 334	Five years from now, ICE will start to be replaced more easily with electric. Ten years from now we'll wonder if there's any future for gasoline at all. But it's just slightly early yet.
	0

02-01-2019, 04:56 AM	#13
Krasi_BG Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sofia, Bulgaria Posts: 436	Ah, the 12VDC-220VAC inverter - that irreplaceable lifeline for my "mobile office" And I bought mine as joke from Aliexpress a few years ago for 6-7 bucks or something like that, but it's still working like a charm. The only time I actually use a smartphone is when I need its wi-fi tethering service. It's a bit of an annoyance to take out the simcard from the old, beaten up, lumpy phone with buttons, and put it into the slick and delicate, crystal (because of the LCD) one, but it's worth the hassle. I can't count the number of times I had to "reassemble" my phone after yet another flight from my pocket, or hand, or tabletop, or somewhere else. Plus, I can operate with it with gloves and dirty fingers. My old-fart view on all this cordless craze is that these tools are something like the Swiss Army knife - yes, you can do some emergency patch work with them, but if you really need to do something properly, you have to take out your set of wrenches and screwdrivers, i.e. something with a cord or engine in it. I wish it wasn't like that, but that's my experience so far. Probably there's something wrong with me though...
	0

02-01-2019, 10:29 AM	#15
calvarez Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 334	Some days I feel really old. I work in tech and run two tech businesses. I work with a lot of much younger people. Then I read stuff like the above and I feel much better about my mental age and attitude. "Wireless everything" is never the right answer, and yet, it is very often the right answer. A week ago I was talking with a client's exec team about moving an office and setting up a pretty high end meeting/discussion/recording room. One of them commented about how just a few years ago we had a mess of connectors and cables to accommodate all of the junk someone might show up with to plug in. Now they have a single $30 wireless device that works with anything anyone shows up with. There's something interesting about breaking out my ancient hand chisels and other old tools from my dad. But if real work needs to get done, I like my tables saw, drill press, and Li-ion powered tools that never let me down.
	0