[via Technabob]
Absolutely the pansiest-looking thing on two wheels. Dear heavens, it makes the Segway look butch.
Naturally, it has the Obama seal of approval (at your expense, of course):
The Senate has voted to approve tax credits for electric bicycles and motorcycles, like the cool RedShift electric bikes, of up to $2500 (USD). The tax credits are good for 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of $2500. The goal of the tax credits is not only to help reduce some of our dependence on foreign oil, but to also spur the creation of jobs in the electric bicycle and motorcycle industry.
No headlights, no taillights, no turn signals?
Not street legal then, or able to be ridden at night.
I guess they’d take too much power from the battery.
If I read that right, I could get a $2500 tax credit for buying one.
That means they’re free then?
’cause no way that thing is worth more than $2500 total.
It’s configured as a dirt bike, but has street tires.
I don’t recall seeing a lot of electrical outlets in the forest the last time I was there, but it might be useful for OWS types who need a ride between Starbucks.
What a hermaphrodite!
My friend who lost his leg (above the knee) to an IED in Iraq has a Segway. It is painted in camo, has knobby tires, a rifle rack on one side and a bow/arrow rack on the other side. It is so butch you’ll grow hair in weird places just standing near it.
This abomination you discuss, though, is horrible. It looks like a Transformer that turns into robo-Liberace.
Electric bicycles are hellishly expensive. Usually costing more than a small gas-powered scooter, which at 100 plus mpg make a lot more practical sense. The main problem with electric bicycles is the technology is 100% sourced from mainland China along with the attention to quality to which we’ve become accustomed. Not to mention zero customer service or warranty when your $1,000 high-tech lithium-iron-polymer battery stops working. Or, even better, if you fail to watch them “like a hawk” while they recharge LiFePO4 batteries are infamous for burning down garages. Just the kind of cluster that the Obama administration is known for.
Hell yeah it’s green. It powers itself by withering the testicles of its riders.
D@mn, but that’s is one shameful looking thing!
$2500 for one of those things? Talk about an unintended punchline! For that price you could get yourself a good vintage Zundapp or Vespa with a sidecar.
Starts at $14,995.00.
That’s a nice bike. 😕
an electric dirt bike. i wonder how much air one could get under it?
It’s gay…simply just gay.
bicycle
 bi·cy·cle
  noun
1. a vehicle with two wheels in tandem, propelled by pedals connected to the rear wheel by a chain, and having handlebars for steering and a saddle like seat.
An “electric bicycle” is much like “gay marriage”.
MaKayla is not impressed.
I’m an avid motorcyclist (well, actually a militant motorcyclist). The only time I don’t ride is when the ice and snow are thick and even then it takes a dope slap to keep me from giving it a go. The key flaws to these bikes right now are battery range, no public or commercial places to charge them when not at home, price, and lack of industry standard safety features. Sixty highway miles is the NHTSA and EPA baselines for round-trip commuting distances. Not one e-motorcycle can meet that standard today; Not a single one. Only Brammo comes close. None of them have ABS or stability/traction control, which are standard on most bikes these days. They use straight disc brakes. After you’ve ridden with ABS and stability control, riding with straight disc brakes feels like going back to drum brakes. On top of that, they’re incredibly expensive. For the average cost of one of these you can get a top-end BMW that would cost you about $15 in gas every five days to ride 50 miles. Worse, on hot days the batteries drain VERY fast and they get pretty hot as your ride them. They don’t even have fans because that would draw power. They’re just not viable right now as a commuter vehicle, including for those people who live in the city. Think about it: If you live in the city, why would you buy one and pay for parking when you can take a subway, ride a bus, ride bike, or walk?
I thought that motorcycles were already fuel efficient…do we really need this? How much coal needs to be burned to charge it up compared to 50+ MPG for a gas burning motorcycle? I know, don’t bother the left with facts when they are having a feel good moment.
Hell’s Angels and Mongols would no doubt use one of these as punishment for a member who breaks the rules.
How many 9-volts does it take?