Guzzi electric ⚡️

[vstevens]

Now that The Motor Company sees the writing on the wall and has an electric bike coming to market, do you think Guzzi will, could, should move toward smaller electric commuter and touring bikes? 

[guzzisteve]

I believe Piaggio already has an E bike on the market.

I'm sure they'll let you put Guzzi stickers on it.
https://www.piaggio.com/us_EN/models/wi-bike-range/piaggio-wi-bike-comfort/piaggio-wi-bike-comfort/

[KiwiKev]

Geez I hope not in my lifetime !!


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[Gliderjohn]

The "jugs" could be the batteries. With some seriousness I could see keeping the same shape as the Guzzi engine but instead it is battery storage. Now the sound may be more difficult. How about the Moto Guzzi "Sussurro"?
GliderJohn

[inditx]

Not that I’m ready to give up my internal combustion gas engine however electric motorcycles are inevitable.
In fact a Zero around town is a hoot. Like most electronic offerings though they need to get real with the pricing.
My .02

https://www.zeromotorcycles.com
inditx

[rtbickel]

When they can go 200+ miles at interstate speeds and recharge in 15 minutes, come talk to me and I'll consider buying one.

[huub]

A electric guzzi? why not, i'm actually considering a electric motorcycle as a commuter.
my daily commute is a 50 miles round trip, no problem for current zero's
there are some advantages over my current commuter ( a V65 lario)
first of all free fuel from my solar panels or charge at work, virtually no maintenance, just tires and brakes.
i'm waiting for the used ones to get affordable, the list price is pretty silly.

[dguzzi]

Jugs would be motors, with a double sided bevel gear in the middle, drive taken off that to the shaft drive. I have it all designed in my head!!

[TimmyTheHog]

When they can go 200+ miles at interstate speeds and recharge in 15 minutes, come talk to me and I'll consider buying one.

I am the same way...

otherwise if electrical, I will just stick one of them scooters...which I can grab for a lot cheaper and charge way faster (or exchanged battery on the fly)

[Groover]

Piaggio also released a Vespa. It's happening guys/gals...

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/vespa-elettrica-piaggios-first-all-electric-scooter-is-about-to-hit-the-road/

 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

To even get me even thinking about an e-cycle I'm at 250 to 280 mile range with charging stations as or more plentifuly as fuel stations and being able to recharge in the same amount of time it takes to pump in 5 to 8 gallons of gasoline. Even then its highly unliely that I'd consider one as I just simply prefer ICE's.

For me it would be either/or: either it needs to have at least a 350 mile range, or it would need to recharge very quickly. Then the purchase price will be a sticking point - any electric motorcycle with the above range or quick recharge time will likely never be priced affordably.

[stratoguzzi]

Italian and electric?What could possibly go wrong?

[rdbandkab]

An e-bike with shaftie drive.   What would there be to complain about?!!   

[Shorty]

Italian and electric?What could possibly go wrong?

 

[JeffOlson]

My regular commute is 150 miles each direction. Today, I rode 300 miles for work tomorrow and will ride another 300 miles back. An electric bike or car would leave me stranded in the sagebrush out here...

Thankfully, my new bike can take me about 300 miles on a tank of gas. (My car will take me about 500 miles on a tank of gas, and it is not even a Prius.)

No, current electric bikes and cars still leave me skeptical they will ever work for me.

[jas67]

My regular commute is 150 miles each direction. Today, I rode 300 miles for work tomorrow and will ride another 300 miles back. An electric bike or car would leave me stranded in the sagebrush out here...

Thankfully, my new bike can take me about 300 miles on a tank of gas. (My car will take me about 500 miles on a tank of gas, and it is not even a Prius.)

No, current electric bikes and cars still leave me skeptical they will ever work for me.

Congrats on the new R1200RT.   What size fuel tank does it have?
I've got a 2016 R1200RS, and average about 46 MPG, so, the 5 gallon tank is good for 230 miles.    I always try to fill by 200 miles.
I too have a car with 500 miles to the tank range that is not a Prius.    2015 TDI Golf Sportwagon.      13 gallon fuel tank.   I've been averaging 40 MPG tank to tank for mixed driving, and strictly highway will get 46 MPG.

Back to the topic, I don't see Piaggio building a Moto Guzzi branded electric bike.   That strays too far from the brand's retro/classic/cruiser mission.    They're already planning an electric powered Vespa, and will likely sell a Piaggio branded electric scooter as well.   These will sell very well in Europe, and maybe sell to a few eco-minded individuals in the US if they even bring them here.

As for an electric motorcycle, I could see an sporty naked Aprilia branded e-motorcycle, like an e-powered Shiver.  That would likely compare well with some of the offerings from Zero.

[huub]

My regular commute is 150 miles each direction. Today, I rode 300 miles for work tomorrow and will ride another 300 miles back. An electric bike or car would leave me stranded in the sagebrush out here...

Thankfully, my new bike can take me about 300 miles on a tank of gas. (My car will take me about 500 miles on a tank of gas, and it is not even a Prius.)

No, current electric bikes and cars still leave me skeptical they will ever work for me.

not sure why somebody would buy a electric bike or a 150 mile commute, ( I used to do that each day, fortunately not any more)
i've got other bikes for long distances. just as i am not taking the ducati 900SS or the le mans off road.
other bbikes are better suited.
basically a electric motorcycle in its current state is a short distance commuter or city bike. 
i'm sure they will find their own niche.

[jas67]

I think an small electric scooter  would be the ideal commuter bike for people who live close to work, esp. if they're taking all surface streets with speeds not exceeding 50-55 MPH.

With an electric, you wouldn't have any of the issues with only running a petrol-powered bike short distances and then shutting it off, and all the condensation, etc that comes with that.

Plus, so long as it has enough range for the round trip, you charge overnight at home, and never need to stop for fuel.

Maintenance costs for an electric scooter should be limited to tires and brakes.   Hopefully, the battery should last 10 years.    That is possible with modern Li-ion and LiPo batteries with a good charge algorithm.   So, it should be very economical to operate, and could be parked anywhere.
 

[Paul Brooking]

My (Barely) remembrances of basic electrical motor theory seems to recall that Big DC motors have their maximum torque just off zero revs ??
If that is correct then the potential for the fastest accelerating MG of all times is one (Large) battery away.

Not sure that the MG crowd subscribe to the 1/4 mile worshippers.

[Chuck in Indiana]

My (Barely) remembrances of basic electrical motor theory seems to recall that Big DC motors have their maximum torque just off zero revs ??
If that is correct then the potential for the fastest accelerating MG of all times is one (Large) battery away.

Not sure that the MG crowd subscribe to the 1/4 mile worshippers.

Over 100 ft lbs of torque instantly available is very addicting. Trust me. Electrics will be here sooner than many think.

[Gliderjohn]

From Chuck:

Over 100 ft lbs of torque instantly available is very addicting. Trust me. Electrics will be here sooner than many think.

What happened to the +1 icon?  Anyway I totally agree with Chuck. Give it 10 more years and charging times may still be longer than filling a gas tank but range and power will rival most current IC bikes. I am still thinking of a standardized battery coming on so that you just stop at a "battery station" and swap out like you do for the 20# propane canisters now.
Currently electric powered self launch gliders are produced by several companies. A two seat all electric trainer airplane is now in production and soon for sale with a 45 minute useful flight time. An all electric commercial commuter airliner is currently being developed. Just look where all this was 10 years ago and how far it has come.
GliderJohn

[vstevens]

 Certainly 150 mile commutes are out of the ordinary and until electric bikes/cars improve drastically it just isn't doable unless you commuted in very expensive Teslas. 

I think it's fair to say that most folks live within 20 miles of a city or suburb .. just my suspicion though I could be wrong... and electric commuting is already feasible and available.  Heck, I've seen huge numbers of electric 'Byrd' scooters everywhere lately.  Young folks seem to love renting time on these scooters to commute to work and school.  Ownership not required....

[weevee]

From Chuck:What happened to the +1 icon?  Anyway I totally agree with Chuck. Give it 10 more years and charging times may still be longer than filling a gas tank but range and power will rival most current IC bikes.
GliderJohn

I think 10yrs is being hugely pessimistic.  Battery technology is moving on rapidly.  Here where I live in the north east of England we build the Nissan Leaf, and (rumour has it!) the next incarnation of the car will have almost double the range of the present model.

As to the Italians and their reputation for dodgy electrics..  Energica (of Modena) are at the forefront of e-motorcycle development.  Their Ego and Eva models are already viable alternatives in the minds of some Sunday afternoon sportsbike riders.  I'd have an Ego in a heartbeat - and probably will, when the day comes that I decide to thin the herd.

Here's one they built recently for Nico Rosberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeHmz2unFsY           

[Nic in Western NYS]

My Chevy Volt is pretty quick off the mark, especially in Sport mode.  We've got a kW surplus from our solar farm so are looking for ways to convert.  Actually looking for an electric "Gator" to help hauling the rocks and dirt around our few acres.  A two wheeled Electro Guzzi would be wicked cool. 

[Diploman]

Piaggio has just introduced its new electric Vespa at the recent INTERMOT show.  Price reportedly is just over $7K USD.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/8/17953026/electric-vespa-elettrica-first-piaggio-scooter-price-7000

[JeffOlson]

Congrats on the new R1200RT.   What size fuel tank does it have?
I've got a 2016 R1200RS, and average about 46 MPG, so, the 5 gallon tank is good for 230 miles.    I always try to fill by 200 miles.
I too have a car with 500 miles to the tank range that is not a Prius.    2015 TDI Golf Sportwagon.      13 gallon fuel tank.   I've been averaging 40 MPG tank to tank for mixed driving, and strictly highway will get 46 MPG.”

Thank you! Over 3,900 miles, I have averaged 46.1 MPG. The tank’s usable capacity is 6.6 gallons. I never risk running dry, but theoretically I should be able travel 46.1 x 6.6 = 304.26 miles per tank.

[BrotherJim]

Someone mentioned the H-D LiveWire.  I visited the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee last Sunday after a couple of Bloody Marys at the Fuel Cafe, and was a little disappointed that they did not have a LiveWire on display.  H-D has offered a viewing of the machine to motojournalists somewhere, but curiously, no ride was offered.  A small scale clay model was on display in the museum archives, however.  Small disappointment aside, I would highly recommend a visit to the museum to any motorcycle enthusiast.

[rocker59]

Now that The Motor Company sees the writing on the wall and has an electric bike coming to market, do you think Guzzi will, could, should move toward smaller electric commuter and touring bikes?

I would rather see Piaggio spend the money developing a replacement lineup for the 1100/1200 CARC bikes.  Upgrading the 1400 lineup with bigger fuel tanks and better suspension.  And, maybe spend some money on the paint booth facilities.  I'm pretty weary of black fenders and matte finishes.