Three New Electric Off-Road Bikes From Italy

An Italian company called Tacita is launching electric motorcycles in three versions – motocross, enduro and rally – which it says can all be used off-road.

Tacita, based in Turin, Italy has been in operation since 2009, working on developing all-electric motorcycles that would appeal to the enduro and adventure rider and has designed and developed the RC-Cross, the RE-Enduro and the RR Rally.
All three bikes have recently been shown in Italy this past month and the company now has plans to put all three into full production.

Tacita T-RC Cross

Starting at around $10,900 is the RC-Cross that has a three-phase electric engine, producing 44.2 lb.-ft. of torque with an internal rotor cage. Tacita claims it has a very high power output with more than 90% of the motor’s power transferred to the rear wheel.
There are three mapping options for the engine – Sport (full performance), Eco for low speed trail riding and ‘Reserve Power’, which is automatically activated when the engine has less than 20% charge remaining, effectively reducing the bike’s power.
When you’re on the move, additional power is also generated through a regenerative braking system (using 270mm front and 220mm rear discs).
The single Li-Po Lithium battery carried on the bike is guaranteed for 2000 charges. It will, according to Tacita, take one hour to charge with a 3 kW charger or three hours to charge with a 1 kW charger,
Unlike some other electrically powered motorcycles the Tacita bikes feature a five-speed transmission, which uses a conventional hydraulic clutch.
The RC-Cross has steel single beam frame and has 330mm of ground clearance. Front suspension is via inverted telescopic forks with a fully adjustable Ohlin rear unit.

Tacita T-RR Rally

Essentially the Tacita RC-Cross, RE-Enduro and RR-Rally are the same motorcycle with the major differences being the power of the batteries used and number you carry on the bike. For example a single 10.6 kW battery will give you a range of up to four hours riding time or you can opt for a combination of batteries to travel even further.
The Tacita RR Rally version is essentially the same motorcycle as the RC-Cross and the RR-Rally with the same features and same motor. Where they differentiate is the number and type of batteries you have fitted to your bike. There is a sliding scale of 3.3kw up to 10. 6kw and depending on your combination can cost from the entry-level price of $10,900 for a pair of batteries generating 3.3 kW up to around $22,500 for a four battery pack that generates 10.6 kW.

There are no details yet of sales into the U.S. as the Tacita range has just been launched in Europe. For further information on pricing and specification visit Tacita’s web site at: www.tacita.it

Tacita T-RE Enduro

Tacita T-RE Enduro has Ohlins!

Tacita T-RE Enduro tail

Tacita T-RE Enduro

Tacita T-RR Rally

Tacita T-RC Cross front wheel

Tacita T-RC Cross

Tacita T-RC Cross tail

First published on rideapart.com

Designer turned entrepreneur invents electric motorbike that 'goes like stink’

Ex-Formula One and aerospace engineer Lawrence Marazzi has spent five years building the ultimate electric motorbike.

It’s been called the “Storm Trooper bike” and been likened to the kind of technology that could be found in science fiction series Red Dwarf. Meet the Saietta R.

Saietta R is made by Agility Global, headquartered in the UK and founded in 2008 by Mr Marazzi with the sole purpose of shaking up the motorcycle market.

It leaves other electric bikes behind, going from 0mph to 60mph in under four seconds, and is safer than traditional engines.

“Petrol bikes feature Victorian plumbing.” Mr Marazzi explained. “You’ve got a highly carcinogenic, massively explosive liquid called petrol inches away from a 900 to 1,000-degree exhaust pipe. If you tried to do that experiment in a lab, people would think you were nuts.”

The Saietta looks nothing like existing electric motorcycles. It’s been called the “Storm Trooper bike” and been likened to the kind of technology that could be found in science fiction series Red Dwarf.

“We’re the only electric bike using Formula One composite technology,” said Mr Marazzi. “This also makes it light, weighing just 200kg, strong and allows the Saietta to run 100 miles with a 12-mile reserve on a single charge.” 

Electric motorcycles are a fast-growing segment of the market. In 2010, the world produced 60m motorbikes that ran on fossil fuel and 32m electric and hybrid ones. With annual growth of 20pc, electric-powered models will close the gap by 2015, with both versions producing 70m units each.
Mr Marazzi considered taking on the electric car market initially but it was too mature, even back in 2007, and the costs were prohibitive.
“The capital costs in creating a significant motorcycle business are much smaller than those for cars,” he said. “But the product price can be just as high. Put it this way, if you’re selling a £15,000 Ford Focus, it’s a shed load more work than selling a £15,000 motorcycle.”
Agility’s founder has invested £1.1m in seed capital following an equity round to fund development. It has also won three generations of Technology Strategy Board investment, which was fund-matched by private investors and totalled £300,000. Mr Marazzi also made a significant investment himself.
This has been a labour of love for the designer turned entrepreneur. Agility Global built seven prototypes before settling on the current model. “Coming from an aerospace background, five years is pretty quick,” Mr Marazzi said.
He is hoping to sell 9,500 units by 2018. “We designed the Saietta in a way that would allow us to scale production very quickly,” he said. 

Its core markets are the EU and US. “These territories have incredibly high early adoption rates. There are also strong incentives in place to go electric. Gas motorcycles are taxed at up to 150pc. Electric ones aren’t taxed at all.” 

It seems that the bike will be available in two packages: R and S. The S has a short range of 50 miles and costs £9,975 ($16,090 U.S). The R has a longer range of 100 miles and ships for £13,975 ($22,540) and already available for sale on the site. There will be a choice of body panels, tamer red version a black one, full white and (not confirmed) a highly reflective chrome .

If the Saietta lives up to its name, market penetration should be very swift. “Saietta means thunderbolt in an Italian dialect,” Mr Marazzi explained. “But it actually comes from a turn of phrase that means, 'That goes like stink!’” 

First published  in www.telegraph.co.uk

EICMA hangover and analysis- CMG Part 1

It’s that time of year, when all the manufacturers drop their new models … like this hot-rodded FZ-09 from Yamaha.

The staff from Canada MotoGuide.com prepared a very good overview of the EICMA 2013:

With the big guns all having fired their loads at Milan’s EICMA show this week, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at what was released and what that tells us about the industry.

THE SMALL UNS

Since we’re all huge fans of smaller displacement rides here at CMG, the continued growth and evolution of this segment is good to see. But, it seems we’re already  seeing a shift up in CCs with Honda unveiling their new CBR300 which we assume will come to Canada (though it is yet to be confirmed) and so push out the 250. You can blame the increase in size on Kawasaki, who cunningly refused to hit back at Honda in the 250 fight, instead making their own new category, the 300, with the launch of the Ninja 300 earlier this year.
Obviously Honda seems to think that this is where it’s at with their CBR300 move. But, will big-boring their single-cylinder to 286 cc and changing the bodywork be enough to take on the twin Ninja? MSRP is still to be released, and we suspect that is where you’ll see the Honda attack. If they can keep MSRP difference to about $800 with performance at least close to the Ninja, then we’d have a real fight on our hands.

Here’s Honda’s CBR300, a shot over the bow of the Kawasaki Ninja 300.

We have to wonder if the move to 300 was just the first in the sadly typical cycle of bumping up capacities, until what you thought was small is now mid-range. But with Honda already having the 500s it would seem like there’s a natural barrier, and besides, there are other players entering the fray too …

The KTM RC390 splits the difference between the 250 class and the 500 class.

KTM has maybe made the biggest splash in this market with a trio of new small capacity sport bikes. These include a race-styled RC125, RC200 and RC390 and although we very much doubt all three will appear here, we’re betting that at least the 390 will (and maybe the 390 Duke naked bike as well). After all, it was KTM’s Canadian importer who accidentally posted info of the 390 last week and took all the thunder out of its intended EICMA launch.
This move effectively splits the 300 and 500 class down the middle. It’s also going to add a lot of spice to smaller bikes as KTM is a dominant power in the Moto 3 (250 class) world racing series, so they know how to get a lot of power out of a small bike. Don’t expect it to be priced to compete with the CBR and Ninjas though.

Triumph introduced a few new big models, like this Commander, but they are also working on a 250.

Let’s not forget Triumph. Up ’til now, they seemed to believe bigger was better, reinforced with its presentation of new Thunderbird models at EICMA. But then up popped a slide of their new 250 Daytona. Okay, it was only a sketch, but apparently the motor is in the metal and they seem to think that they have to let everyone know it’s coming at this early stage, so we should see something around this time next year (although it may be a 300 or 39o by then!).

Yamaha’s introduced their SR400 to western markets again.

Oh, and can you add Yamaha’s SR 400 to this fray? We think so, especially since it’s a bike that has effectively been around since the seventies and so likely comparable or slightly lower power than any of the others. The interesting thing about the SR is that it’s a real retro small bike (even going so far as to only have a kick starter with no electric boot to help) and so likely will be in a class of its own. Judging by the responses to it on the CMG comments section, if Yamaha do decide to bring it here and don’t knobble it with an unrealistically high price, Canada’s streets should have a lot of SRs booting about in the near future.

OTHER NEW SURPRISES

If we hadn’t seen the leaks about the new Harley 500 and 750s, then they’d have stolen the show, representing the first all new bikes to come out of Milwaukee since the V-Rod hit the scene back in 2001.The new bikes are actually made in India at Harley’s new plant, only to be shipped and assembled in Milwaukee, to keep some Made in America aspect. Whether this is enough for the faithful remains to be seen, but it can be argued that these bikes are not aimed at the faithful anyway, but instead a sensible move by the Motor Company to start people off on their machines rather than try and convert them once they’ve already begun.

This Hog – or is that a Piglet? – is Harley-Davidson’s first all-new model since the V-Rod.

Styling cues seem about right and Harley-Davidson even released a sound file so you can hear the potato-potato sound that is a defining attribute to the brand. It remains to be seen whether they will replace the 883 Sportster or whether the riding public will embrace the new Indian angle. Who knows, maybe it’s a cunning plan to piggyback on the new Indians that are coming from Polaris, though those are made in the US of course?

The new CBR650F is a return to practical sport bikes.

Honda have continued on its push to grab market share with yet another big release of new models. We’ve already covered the CBR300 but the new CB(R)650Fs deserve a look at.
If you remember the old CBR600F4, then the CBR650 will remind you of the days when 600 sport bikes had a modicum of practicality to them – somewhat comfortable seats, higher bars and rearset footpegs that are actually for the passenger, not the rider. Honda has boosted capacity a little from the old 600 and produced two versions – a sporty CBR  and a semi-naked CB. Honda Canada hasn’t confirmed whether we’ll get either, but the CB would make a good replacement for the ailing CBF600 that is currently being listed on Honda Canada’s site with a hefty $2,500 discount, and the CBR is good competitor for the very similar Yamaha FZ6R and Suzuki GSX650F. 

The MT-07 looks fun, but likely won’t come to Nord America.

But what of the mid-range twin class, currently occupied by Kawasaki’s 650 Versys or  Suzuki’s Gladius? Enter Yamaha’s new MT-07. Yamaha continue to mess with other-than four cylinders with last year’s FZ-09 triple (known in Europe as the MT-07) and now this year’s new MT-07  inline twin (likely to be badged an FZ-07 if it comes here).  Styling is similar to its FZ-09 bigger brother and at a claimed 178Kg wet it’s a good 25 kilos lighter than the competition. Alas, supposedly it’s not coming to North America, sigh.

The new CTX1300 takes the ST1300′s motor and puts it into a cruiser chassis.

Other new bikes include Honda’s CTX1300 cruiser-tourer that uses the aging but solid ST1300 motor in a CTX styled chassis and a bit of F6B thrown in for good measure. We’re not sure if the CTX styling is something that Honda should be adopting, but it’s an easy way to add a new tourer to the line up. Then there’s BMW’s naked S1000RR; the S1000R (losing one R with all the plastic) is BMW’s new streetfighter coming in with a whole lot of power and $3,000 less than its double R’d father (@$14,700). Keeping with sport bikes reinvented, Ducati released a new 1200 Monster onto the world that uses the Panigale’s 1198 cc Testastretta motor, replete with 135 hp (at 8,750 rpm) and 87 ft-lb of torque. Who needs fairings anyway?

Here’s the new Turismo Veloce. It’s got adventure-touring lines.

And finally, small but inventive Italian company MV Agusta seems to be finding their stride and launched a sport-touring Turismo Veloce. It uses the same three-cylinder 798 cc motor that MV Agusta has in the F3 800 and Rivale but comes with taller suspension and hard bags and is directed at bikes like Ducati’s Multistrada. The bike will be coming to Canada but may take a while to get here.

Five Great Bikes That Are Made In India

he 2014 Harley-Davidson Street 750 and 500 appear to be made in India and assembled in America. So what?

The Subcontinent knows how to make a fantastic motorcycle. Here’s five great bikes that are made in India.

2014 KTM RC390

2014 KTM RC390
There is seriously not one other bike coming for 2014 that I am personally more excited about or more likely to buy. With the possible exception of the last bike on this list… The RC390 pairs a very low weight with a high performance motor, a race-bred chassis and purposeful design. And, because it’s made in India, all that is likely going to be available for between $6,000 and $7,000.

KTM 390 Duke

2014 KTM 390 Duke
Prefer an upright naked? It’ll probably make more sense in the city. Very similar to the RC390, the Duke should be a little lower-spec, but likely a little cheaper too. Again, a uniquely appealing bike, especially considering it’s likely $5,000 to $6000 price.

Royal Enfield Continental GT

Royal Enfield Continental GT
You’re not going to find a more faithful recreation of the original cafe racer theme than you will in this new Royal Enfield. The 535cc, single-cylinder will go on-sale in the U.S. next year for an expected price close to $6,000.

Royal Enfield C5 Desert Storm

Royal Enfield Bullet C5 Desert Storm
Dubbed “Desert Storm” for its matte khaki paint, there’s a ton of visual appeal in this classic bike. And we do mean “classic,” Royal Enfield has been knocking these out in India since the 1950s, updating them with electric start, unit engines and good reliability along the way.

KTM 390 Dual Sport

KTM’s Future Dual Sport
“…we’re also developing a so-called dual-purpose or dual-sport version of [the Duke],” stated KTM boss Stefan Pierer in April. “I would say it’s a mix between supermoto and enduro. These will appear next, all made at the Bajaj factory in Chakan [India].” Expect similar specs to the 390 Duke and RC390 — 324 lbs (wet), 44 bhp, solid reliability and low maintenance requirements.

First appeared in rideapart.com 

2013 EICMA: 2014 Zero SR- First electrical high spec Moto

Can this new 2014 Zero SR banish memories of bicycle brakes and no-name tires? Now with serious acceleration, real motorcycle components and a genuinely useful range, this new Zero SR promises to be a good motorcycle, not just an electric one.
Accelerating to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and topping out at 102 mph, this new 67 bhp Zero should be able to keep ahead of both city and highway traffic. As stock ($16,995) Zero claims the 11.4 kWh SR has a 93 mile range in combined city and highway riding. Adding the optional “Power Tank” takes capacity up to 14.2 kWh, which boosts that combined range to 116 miles. Stick to city speeds and the Power Tank-equipped SR can reach 171 miles.

2014 Zero SR electric motorcycle

In other good news, real motorcycle forks, 43mm in diameter, are fitted for the first time. They’re adjustable for compression and rebound damping. The remote reservoir shocks are fully adjustable, but there’s no word on who makes either component.
Looking closely at the tires, we do see an actual brand name on them. Unfortunately, that appears to be “IRC” and the model looks like “Road Winner.” If so, then these are the same non-radial, bias ply items fitted to the $3,999 Suzuki GW250. Still, that’s an actual motorcycle!

2014 Zero SR

Unlike arch-rival Brammo and its $16,995 Marzocchi/Sachs/Brembo-equipped and radial tire-fitted Empulse, the SR does without a gearbox, shedding weight and boosting efficiency.
Using a standard 110v home outlet, recharging the stock SR will take eight hours, while the Power Tank takes that up to 10 hours total. Those numbers can drop as low as 1.5 hours if you can find a CHAdeMO quick charge station.

2014 Zero SR

“You will also notice a much more refined look and feel to the entire Zero product range as we’ve spent a great deal of time sweating the details,” states Zero Marketing VP Scott Harden. “This is evident as soon as you climb on board as our new cockpit layout and instrumentation package offers increased utility, a sleeker look and more aerodynamic integration with the headlight.”

Originally posted in Rideapart.com