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Ripping in the city, causing no disruption.
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Electric Motorcycles are coming!
Last year during the Red Bull Straight Rhythm, Alta Motors unveiled
their Redshift motocross bike proving to critics the electric bike is no
longer a novelty. Recently, I had the opportunity to test ride the
Redshift bike and tour Alta Motors. I was blown away by the power of
the bike and thought if someone replaced my gas powered bike (KTM350SX)
with the Redshift I would not miss a beat. The Redshift is comparable
to any modern gas powered 250cc four stroke motorcycle, minus the noise
pollution and emission of exhaust, but this article is not about the
breakdown or the technical aspects of the bike.
There are quite a few articles out there that already do an exceptional
job of reviewing the Redshift, you can find the information at
www.altamotors.com. Having a competitive Electric Motorcycle that
offers comparable or superior performance to a gas powered machine can
open new opportunities to the Motocross world and ultimately expand the
industry, key word expand not replace. Electric motorcycles are the
future, opening doors to new riding areas and attracting a fresh
generation of enthusiasts.
As city populations grow, riding areas and racing facilities continue to
decline. Racing facilities are coming under fire for noise pollution,
and in some cases are pressured to close or relocate to a further
distance. This problem began with 2 Stroke motors but 4 Stroke motors
have significantly amplified the issue. Electric bikes are not
completely silent, but they are quiet enough to ride in highly populated
areas without disturbing neighbors. Anyone with land can have their
own track, it doesn't matter if it's next to a library, the bikes does
not cause noise disruptions. With quiet motors and no exhaust, indoor
riding facilities become a possibility. Earplugs and giant industrial
sized fans will no longer be required to make an indoor facility
bearable.
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Having fun while not bothering anyone.
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This is not to say electric bikes will not encounter their own
challenges, run time was my main concern. With that said, I hammered
the Redshift (as fast as a 42 year old B rider can) on a motocross track
for a solid 45 minutes and 18.9 miles before the battery was done. It
takes 2.5 hours to recharge, so if I had plugged the motorcycle in
during my water break (about 30 min) I could have added approximately a
quarter of charge back to the bike. If I had charged the motorcycle it
would have outlasted my fitness. Alta Motors explained the bike would
decrease power as the battery ran down, but I hardly noticed the
difference. The Redshift is the first generation of Alta Motors and
motorcycle performance, and battery life will only improve from here.
With simple updates to your motorcycle’s software Alta motorcycle
owners are constantly receiving the latest upgraded technology. Rather
than rebuilding your ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) motor, you can
install an update.
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look inside the Redshift motor
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I often ask people at motorcycle dealerships their opinion of electric
and I receive instant resistance that is eerily similar to the past when
motorcycles changed from 2 Stroke to 4 Stroke. I remember the first 4
Stroke motorcycle I owned, it was a 2001 YZ426 and after 4 months I
decided I was done with Motocross. It was hard to start, it flamed out
and handled like a bread truck. As gearheads we sometimes struggle with
accepting change. For example, how much attention does any 2 Stroke
event receive these days? In 2004 after a few years of not riding, I
was convinced to try a Honda CRF450 and to my surprise it started easy,
had trackable power and handled like a motorcycle. I was back riding and
hooked on motocross again! If electric follows a similar development
curve, bikes in the next few years are going to rapidly improve as the
starting point is further developed than 4 Stroke motorcycles were in
2001. Electric motors are simple and leave opportunities for
manufacturers to create a plethora of bikes to suit all rider’s needs
and budgets.
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The guys hard at work in the assembly line.
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Today's kids are not riding motorcycles because they have iPads, Drones,
Xbox and many other electronics to compete for their attention. If
electric motorcycles create more urban riding areas and motorcycles with
less bike maintenance, electric has potential to grab hold of the next
generation. My kids enjoy riding but don’t like the extremely loud
sounds of 4 Stroke motorcycles and the 1-2 hour commute to our nearest
track. They would rather commute 10 minutes to the nearest BMX or skate
park. Imagine if parks could convert into an electric motocross track,
far more kids would try motocross. We need to involve younger kids in
the sport we love or risk losing it. I would love to see motorcross as a
high school sport. Electric motorcycles will not take over all aspects
of motocross, the electric motorcycle’s battery life may not be suited
for sand tracks or long rides for quite some time. There is definitely
room for both electric and gas motors to coexist. Motocross riders,
myself included typically have more than one bike. I would love to ride
an electric track in town during the week and then hit the Sand Dunes
on the weekend with an ICE bike. Both can exist and compliment the
industry and lifestyle.
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I got the guys to smile for a pic, then right back to work.
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I am a gear-head at heart and love the smell of burnt 2 Stroke oil, the
vibration of an ICE motor and the sound of a full gate of motorcycles
wide open waiting for the gate to drop. These sounds and smells will
never be replaced for me because they invoke memories that make up my
entire life. While electric bikes do not offer the sound or smell
stimulations as and ICE bike they will open up new opportunities. Have
you ever wondered what Supercross riders say to each other after a dirty
block pass? With Electric bikes there is a good chance you will hear
the conversation. Will the electric generation of racers use trash
talk? No more need for pit boards, just yell! The same joy I receive
from the smell of 2 Stroke oil or hearing a bike roar will be what the
electric generation receives from a buzzing sound similar to an RC car
along with the sound of tires spinning. Yes, I said the sound of the
tires on the dirt. About 5 minutes into my Redshift ride I stopped and
checked to see if I had a flat. Chad at Alta Motors erupted into
laughter as almost everyone who rides the bike assumes the same. Dirt
Bike tires make a lot of noise, but the motorcycle usually drowns out
the sound. Hearing your tires might lead to advancements in tire
performance, who knows?
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Chad from Alta showing his Endurocross prowess.
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The team at Alta Motors received homologation for FIM North America
competition in the 250 class. This unlocks Canada and propels them
halfway closer to AMA Supercross, where they really want to race. They
have big plans this offseason. Alta Motors is returning to Red Bull
Straight Rhythm and including additional European Supercross events.
While racing with gas bikes proves they are not a novelty, attention
should be focused on an electric only event too. If the Electric bike
is as fast as or faster than an ICE motorcycle the sport could expand to
unthinkable territory. All the major manufacturers have purchased
Alta Redshift motorcycles to study and dissect. They see the future and
it’s ELECTRIC!
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Another shot of Chad.
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Find more:
#energy #honda #ktm #yamaha #kawasaki #suzuki #husqvarna #gopro #drink
#mx #moto #enduro #motorcycle #braap #dirtbikes #fmx #supermoto
#foxracing #redbull #dirt #speed #engine #monster #2stroke #4stroke
