[martin_fierro]

Wuh-wuh.

[martin_fierro]

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[wastedyears]

I need something with a little cargo space.

[Gone_Postal]

Oh God!!! would that be the liberal bikers answer to the smart car...
Just let me ride my cruiser and enjoy what little is left of this country

[gorush]

If you like a shiny bike, stay away from erupting volcanoes.

[mamelukesabre]

“Vectrix said it’s targeting younger, urban commuters with its electric scooters. The VX-2 will have a base price just over $5,000 and will travel 40 to 50 miles on a charge, with a top speed of 30 mph. The VX-1E will cost about $3,500 more but can reach 62 mph with a range of 55 miles.”
~~~~~~~~~~~

Not quite good enough. When they can double the range for half the cost, then they got something. I could see lots of people paying $4250 for a plug-in scooter with a 110 mile range at a top speed of 62MPH. But $8500 for a 55 mile range? Nope.

And unfortunately, it’s probably even worse than it sounds. I’d bet if you tried to run it at it’s maximum 62MPH, you’d get nowhere near the advertized 55 mile range. That range is probably attainable only at very low speeds.

[Venturer]

Smaller bikes get great gas mileage, unfortunately because they have to be run hard to get to highway speeds they dont last long. They are uncomfortable over 30 miles or so, and the maintenance makes up for whatever savings you got.

[Salamander]

“This actually is a biker thread” ping.

[LiberConservative]

This one's purdy.

[neb52]

When they say Urban setting, I assume they are talking about downtown tall building type areas? The problem with all electric is where are you going to recharge? I don't think building owners are going to be that hot on the idea of you just plugging into any outdoor outlet, assuming you can find one, nor taking the scooter inside to your apartment or condo. If you have an apartment or condo with direct outside access OK than. The other issue is with it being so small and light, who is going to feel comfortable leaving it outside in the parking lot. Way to easy for somebody to just pick it up and walk off.

I am planning on moving to downtown area next fall, to be within walking distance of work. So the VX-1 would be nice. But with a paid for small SUV I think walking on the good days and driving the short distance the bad days would be more ideal.

[Young Werther]

A 60 CC Cup?

Vroom...Vroom!

[billorites]

Get yer motor runnin'
Head out on the highway...

[kik5150]

You don't have to be a dork to ride an economical bike. This Hardknock gets up to 100 mpg

[Poser]

I test rode a Vectrix last summer. It won't go far between charges, but it goes OK. If you twist the throttle backwards, it goes backwards, and/or slows the bike down while charging the battery.

I thought it was roughly equivalent to a 200-250cc scooter. It costs more than a Burghman 650. Here's mine:

[thefactor]

i went to the show today at the javits center. i could not believe what the show has become. i have gone every year for the last 5 years.

the show was smaller and much more subdued. no crazy music, almost no half naked chicks, smaller displays, less crazy paint jobs.

and every single kawasaki had a sticker on the gas tank showing its MPG rating. ugh...

[longtermmemmory]

and yet states still conceal the fact motorcycles are FEDERALLY ALLOWED to use the commuter lanes with just ONE person on the bike.

[savedbygrace]

Smaller models take the stage at motorcycle show

I half expected this to be a story about 'little people'.

[AmericanVictory]

Kind of takes you back. In the early 1960’s I had what I recall was a Harley that was about 105 cc or something very small like that.

[Doe Eyes]

For a lot of people (maybe not Americans) a $1000 100cc motorbike that gets 95 MPG is the answer.

And is you have ever been to Asia, you'll know they can easily (though not necessarily safely) carry five passengers.

[Rammer]

""The benefits of these in an urban environment are vast," said Victor Pritzker, Vectrix's director of North American sales. "The first is zero hydrocarbons. It makes you a good citizen."

How is this possible if your power comes from a coal-fired plant? (I don't think it is)