The world is phasing outfossil fuels and moving towards electric technology. The same can be said formotorcycles. Electric motorcycles for adults aresupposed to be the next generation in the evolution of the bike. They give youall the thrill of a highway ride without the negative effects of a carbon footprint.
That's not to say that thereisn't a downside. Even though motorcycle engineers have had years to developthese eco-friendly bikes, they certainly still have some cons. The realquestion is, "Are they safe?"
Riding a motorcycle isalready exponentially more dangerous than driving a car, so any safety setbackson an electric motorcycle could be a dealbreaker for a prospective owner.
Here, we'll discuss whetherelectric motorcycles are safe and whether you should consider one foryourself.
When we talk about the safetyof street-legal electric motorcycles, first we need toask, "why are motorcycles so loud?"
For people who don't ride,the noise is surely an annoyance. However, most people don't choose to ride amotorcycle just to annoy their neighbors. There is a specific reason whymotorcycles are so loud.
Why are motorcyclesallowed to be so loud? It's simple.It's for safety.
Yes, for people who like toride, the sound is cool and gets the heart beating. But, a lot of riders equiptheir bikes so that they are extra loud for safety. The thinking is that if the bike is extra loud, cars onthe roads or highway will be aware of their presence. If you considerthat motorcycles easily get lost inblind spots, this thinking makessense.
However, there is noirrefutable proof that loud bikes are any safer than quiet bikes. But this isone of the questions that comes up when discussing the safety of electricmotorcycles.
A quiet ride
A street-legalelectric motorcycle is naturally quieter than a gas-powered motorcycle.The reason being is that they don't need a muffler for exhaust. That isn't tosay that they are completely quiet, but they produce less noise than even thequietest of gas-powered bikes.
It's entirely possible thatthe level of noise a bike produces is something of a safety blanket for someriders. The louder the bike, the safer they feel. Even if there isn't any proofthat this is true, riders might feel safer with a loud bike.
The same principle applies toelectric bikes. If you are a rider who feels safer on a loud bike, then you maynot feel as safe on an electric bike. But, even then, there are many safetyfeatures on electric bikes that might change your mind!
A safer build
As technology pushes forward,so does motorcycle engineering. Many manufacturers have taken the opportunityto use electric motorcycle engineering to experiment with building safermotorcycles. The same alert system technology used in cars is now finding itsway to motorcycles. Not only do these systems alert you when there are possibledangers, but they store the data so thatboth the rider and the bike can learn from experiences on the road.
It is possible to have asystem like this on a gas bike, but it is very expensive and not as effectiveas the ones found on electric bikes.
No rumble in thejungle
One last thing to consider isthat electric motorcycles are safer than gas-powered motorcycles because of theelimination of vibration while you ride. This is not a hugely dangerous aspectof riding, but certainly, something to be considered.
So, if you are wondering justhow safe electric motorcycles are, it's clear that they are as safe as you canget - despite them being a little quieter than gas-powered motorcycles. Ridinga motorcycle will always be dangerous, but these new bikes have features thatare designed to protect you wherever you go.
If you have been in anaccident or need legal representation for matters with motorcycles, pleasecontact Steelhorse Law today.
At a baseline, electric motorcycles carry many of the same inherent risks as traditional motorcycles and are widely considered to be about as “dangerous” as gas-powered motorcycles. However, there are a few unique safety issues.
In fact, a research study warns that e-bikes are three times more dangerous than normal bikes, involving high risks of fatal accidents. The same goes for motorcycle accidents that already have a high fatality rate. The danger and risk associated with an electric bike are even higher than the motorcycle.
Electric motorcycles are far superior when it comes to maintenance. Because there are fewer parts in the construction, there are also fewer maintenance requirements. For instance, you never have to worry about oil changes.
Compared to the traditional gas-powered motorcycles, you don't have to be burdened with expenses such as refilling a gas tank or maintaining the gas engine. You also don't have to spend on moving parts such as plugs, timing belts, clutch, air filters, oil etc.
How fast can an electric motorcycle go? The Voxan Wattman is technically the fastest motorcycle, it's not approved for street use. On the other hand, the Lightning LS-218 can charge down the road at a blistering 218 mph or more, all while silently slipping through the tarmac. Motorcycles 61 - 85 mph.
An electric motorcycle typically has a range of at least 40 miles while some can reach 100 miles. But, this depends on the capacity of the battery in your e-motorbike and several more variables.
On the lower end of the spectrum, an electric motorcycle usually costs around $7,000 on average, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. On the other hand, high-performance electric motorbikes can cost as much as $15,000 and may even reach prices as high as $30,000.
Electric two-wheelers have fewer parts that need regular servicing, but they still need some occasional check-ups to run at their best. Basic checks, like brake, tire, and battery inspections, can be done without much cost or professional help.
On February 26, 2024, LiveWire, Harley-Davidson's electric offshoot, issued a safety recall for all 2024 LiveWire S2 Del Mar motorcycles sold in the US due to a software issue. On these machines, the electric powertrain may completely shut down without warning.
According to Electrek's report, NREL's hardline approach towards e-mobility devices stems from safety issues, more specifically, fires. Indeed, e-bike fires have proven to be deadly and difficult to control due to the chemicals and elements found in their batteries, so NREL's concerns aren't a 100% unfounded.
They have many benefits, but the sudden rise of e-bike use in America has come with challenges, including deadly battery fires and rider and pedestrian deaths. Molly Hurford writes about e bikes for the magazine Bicycling and is the co-host of the podcast Consummate Athlete.
One of the most common ebike problems people encounter is a punctured or damaged rear whee l. The rear wheel drives the bike and can be a major inconvenience once it stops working, preventing you from riding your e-bike until the problem is fixed.
There is a higher risk of severe injury and death for riders of e-bikes than for regular bike users. E-bikes were reported as the reason for about 53,000 emergency department visits and caused 104 deaths from 2017-2022. In 2022 alone, e bikes were linked to 24,400 emergency department visits.
Although motorcycle accidents are more than twice as likely as bike accidents to be fatal, both types of accidents have rates of sustained injuries that are extremely high when compared to automobiles (73% injury and .
Yet, one study from the Netherlands found that e-bikes were 3x more likely to be stolen compared to traditional bikes! Most e-bikes are neither easier nor more difficult to steal compared to traditional bikes, but they're typically more valuable (a big plus for thieves).
Riding a Pedal Assist E-Bike Is a Great Form of Cardiovascular Fitness. Cycling in general is a well-known form of cardio fitness. Putting effort into pedalling the bike will undoubtedly get your heart rate up, and this goes for electric bikes too, which still require effort and movement from the rider.
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