Roehr Motorcycles releases the eSuperBike, the fastest electric motorcycle money can buy
By Tim Stevens 
posted July 17th 2010 12:02PM
posted July 17th 2010 12:02PM
There are three models here, like with the Empulse, but unlike Brammo's offerings these three differ in a lot more than range. The eSuperSport is the lowest-spec, with a 48hp motor, 395lb weight, dual 300mm brake discs up front, 41mm inverted forks, and 5.8Kw/h worth of batteries good for 80 miles of range and 100mph top speed. Step it up to the eSuperBike and you get two of the same motors for a combined power of 96hp but a total weight of 500lbs. Also, the rear shock gets boosted to an Ohlins unit (surely to handle that extra girth) and 7.7Kw/h worth of batteries good for 100 miles of range and 135mph top speed. Finally there's the RR model, which moves up to Ohlins suspension on the front as well plus lovely, lightweight wheels.
All are cloaked in the same slippery bodywork that certainly looks distinctive and efficient. With no ICE pumping out heat the vents are minimized and everything looks smooth as can be. That Modena-red paint doesn't hurt, either.
The cost? $16,995 to start, with the eSuperBike costing $27,595 and the RR model going way up to $34,495. Yes, mighty costly, but these bikes are all about performance, with the upper two intended for entry in the fledgling TTXGP racing series. For a turnkey race bike, that's not a bad price. For a street bike? Yeah, very spendy, but these aren't mass-produced machines. Place your order now (with a $2,000 deposit) and one will be custom-built for you with your choice of colors. We'd go for blue... naturally.
But will it run crysis?
P.S. you know what to do.
@tobsmonster2
At least this one has a kickstand. X)
@tobsmonster2 Touché, but will it blend?
@tobsmonster2
Yeah. Downrank you.
my money cant buy :(
and ugliest
@AxJ It looks like a regular bike that overate.
It looks like it has alot of fat around the hips.
I'm thinkin it only looks fat due to no airflow vents as on other bikes. Struck me as ugly at first, kind of growin on me.
Think I'll stick with gas-powered vehicles. I'm addicted to using a M/T in both cars and bikes. Driving any type of electric vehicle is borderline boring to me.
@Konga068 +1
That and the range is pathetic, and it's not like you can quickly fill up the tank and go. Run out juice and you're screwed.
"Hey man, got a spare gigantic battery/wanna hang around for a few hours on the side of the rode to charge up mah bike?"
@Konga068 - ∞
1. being addicted to something doesn't make it better! Crystal addicts are also addicted... still it kills them!
2. BORING?! that thing goes from 0 to wheelie in no time leaving you and your fossil tree burning ride waaaaaay behind!
3. @TheJoker if you run out of gas you're screwed too if there's no gas station around.. an e-bike can at least be charged with your portable solar cell -> if you don't have one - get one!
Damn folks it's not as if you still have a choice! It's f****** 5' past midnight!
Wow - I wouldn't want to be caught in a cross-wind on one of those!
@RincewindWiz
"Mommy, look, theres a man with a flying motorcycle!"
"OH MY GOD, HUNNY CALL THE AMBULANCE!"
double the mileage, something I don't see that far off, and you've got yourself a machine that has about the same range as a lot of conventional motorcycles. Within the next couple of years, we'll have power stations all up and down the I5 corridor across three states... This is looking rad
@sydcinema
This tech is still far behind modern sportsbikes which have about 150 miles range, 180mph top speed, weigh 170kg and cost about £10,000.
As a motorcyclist I can tell you that nobody buys a sportsbike for its practicality so until it matches these numbers above, their uptake will be extremely limited.
@Armchaircritic
I'm with you on this one, the bike looks like it feel out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. I cannot imagine spending all that cash and then being pleased when I opened my garage in the mornings.
@Armchaircritic
True but they run on gasoline.
This runs on electric,the problem with electric bike are battery which makes them quite heavy and expensive.
But whats unclear is the acceleration where electric bikes may have the edge due to high torque available at all RPM.
@Armchaircritic it would seem you missed my point entirely... How many people are driving their motorcycles 180 mph, and range is easily remedied by time... I will reiterate my 2 year timeline. A far cry from "Far behind". I would bet my life savings that within the next decade, electric bikes will be doing to gas what digital cameras did to film... I really like what I'm seeing in the motorcycle realm. Cars may be another story and less practical as electric at the moment, but electric bikes are a serious contender for consumer cash in the near future.
Who cares what it looks like, the technology is what's important. This isn't the only electric motorcycle with similar numbers out there.
@Darkroom
You can get them now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Custom-Built-Motorcycles-Pro-Street-LightCycle-Tron-Lightcycle-Light-Cycle-Bike-Full-Size-Running-/220627957724?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item335e7377dc#v4-33
500 pounds? god help you if you don't set the kickstand just right...
@o0 Apparently you've never seen how much the average motorcycle weighs... A Harley Electra Glide runs 900 pounds gassed up.
@Tony C sportbikes like this bike imitates (at least in style, though not performance) weigh much less than the full-dresser Harley. My bike weighs 416 lbs. and many bikes weigh less. A CBR600RR has a dry weight of ~375 lbs. Granted, dry means different things to different manufacturers... In the motorcycle world, 100 lbs. is massive
@Brianbrain *100 lbs. difference, not total :P
@Brianbrain
you're bragging about dry weights? that theoretical best-case-scenario number published by mfr's? sure. add on 80lbs to that as curb weight and we're looking at pretty comparable numbers.
plus weight isn't the whole story; it's center of mass (though I'm not sure if it's lower or higher on these bikes).
@Psyclotr0n
Dry weights are easy to find. Riding weights aren't. Either way, 900 lbs. is a lot heavier than most motorcycles.
@Brianbrain
what's 900lbs? the Harley? we already knew that Hardley Ablesons are chrome couches, not sure what the relevance of that to this discussion is.
@Psyclotr0n Honda's spec sheets have been listing the curb weight not the dry weight of their bikes for a while now. CBR600RR is listed as 410 lbs ready to ride
Fully gassed up (and the VStrom has a HUGE gas tank), I'm at 480lbs.
And I'm near 200lbs and ride with a 115lbs passenger and have no issues.
So either way, 500lbs is not a big deal, OP is bike-tarded! =p
@Psyclotr0n
I was referring to the comment comparing this bike to the Harley as an example of the "average" motorcycle...
I can't imagine how dangerous this is for the rider. Motorcycle riders are already at a big enough risk riding on a bike, but then you make it electric and nearly silent? You're just asking from trouble from ignorant drivers that don't look out for bike riders to begin with.
@BenU At least it's gigantic... that will help with visibility! Just make sure you get it in neon yellow.
@BenU
Get it in matte black and assassins are sorted.
@BenU
Loud pipes DO NOT save lives. It just pisses people off (self-included). =p
Take the MSF, learn to drive defensively, and make yourself visible. Its recommended in all safety books and has kept me accident free for 15 years of riding (mostly at night).
I used reflexite on mine (and you CAN make it look classy, I didn't heheh): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_SArzZSCrk
@BenU Loud pipes save lives. It's bad enough that drivers can't see you, but now they can't hear you either. I just don't see this catching on anytime soon
@Ducman69 I completely agree with you about riders needing to take measures of their own to stay safe while riding. I'm not a biker (I'm a Jeep guy :D), but I've got a friend who's had his share of close calls while on his bike. He had to lay his bike down once when some idiot in a truck came out of a parking lot in front of him. Granted, this could have happened to anyone, but I believe he said he was coasting when this happened. To some degree, pipes, while annoying, do have the ability to make other drives more aware of you. And just like on any bike, riders of this electric bike will have to try to make themselves more visible. The difference between this bike and a normal gas bike is that this bike is so quiet that it's made that much more difficult for an idiot driver to be aware of you.
@BenU
Most factory bikes are inaudible to the average car that has plenty of sound insulation for a quiet highway ride, and usually a car stereo on.
Listen to a popular factory Ninja 250R or Honda VFR at idle and cruise for example. With the window down, you'd have to be right on em to notice.
If i cant put a Yoshimura pipe on it.. No thank you.... the thing i like about my cbr is how it sounds. i saw some guys on elec bikes, no exhaust note.. ill pass on that.
With electric vehicles speed has never been an issue. I wonder how far it can go when you are pushing it hard. I bet it can't finish a race. It's the distance between the charges that's important.
I want to see diesel bikes, pause for laughs. Don't laugh too heard though, Audi managed to dominate grand prix for 7 years with their desel cars. I think the diesel bike based off a Kawaski for the Marines is really impressive.
@gedster314 diesel motors don't rev as high. the Volkswagen TDI redlines under 5000rpm. have you ever driven a diesel car? they aren't very quick. the TDI performs like an average sedan but thats because its turbocharged. regular diesels are dogs. its one thing to put a big turbocharged diesel motor in a car but it doesn't really make sense to put a small diesel in a bike. unless for some reason you want a slow bike with a low rev limit but that kind of seems like it would defeat the purpose of having a bike. awesome fuel mileage though!
@gedster314 There are a few diesel bikes around, though they aren't consumer models. For example, I think there's an all terrain dirtbike made for NATO that runs on diesel (among other fuels).
Fischer is an American made sport bike (engined sourced elsewhere):
http://www.fischer1.com/
The fact that is has the word "superbike" in the name is slightly pathetic. It kindof seems like a plea for attention.
@AdhesiveWombat
Well, the only definition seperating it from a superbike is that this bike is a production model, and superbikes are not. Also I would say it was a pretty super bike.
@Dani McDanington
Superbikes are all production models, maybe you are thinking of motogp bikes
@ChrisSsk
Oh shit. You're right. Even though they are road legal, wouldn't the modification make them not production anymore?
Can u pull up to a pg&e and charge it?:/
It reminds me a lot of the older 996's, very sexy :)
@Dani McDanington
yeah, i was thinking 999, but 996 sounds even more accurate. good call.
I guess I don't understand the meaning of this article. The bike hasn't been tested in any zero emissions races that matter for anything. On top of it all, it come nowhere close to the MotoCyzsz 09 E1pc (winner of the Isle of Man TT Zero Emissions class)...even Engadget can attest for that. (http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/09/motoczysz-e1pc-claims-to-be-the-worlds-most-advanced-electric-m/)
The only plus is the Roehr is cheaper...but you get what you pay for. I would rather have a better rounded gas motorbike than this.