From: MXEditor on

http://www.mxnewsfeed.com/article.php?artid=2645

The Austrian brand KTM is presenting two versions of an electrically-
driven sport motorcycle for the first time. Both a sports-oriented
offroad machine and a dynamic on-road bike are on display at the Tokyo
Motorcycle show under the label "KTM Freeride".

Mattighofen/Tokyo, March 26, 2010. One and a half years after it's
commitment to developing an electrically-driven bike, KTM, the sports
motorcycle company headquartered in Mattighofen, Austria is now
determinedly on the way towards the production of a series-ready zero
emission motorcycle. Under the label "Freeride", KTM is simultaneously
presenting two series-ready versions of the electrically-driven
motorcycle that truly express the sporting spirit of the brand, bikes
that transport the company motto "Ready to Race" right into the 21st
century. The KTM zero emission motorcycles are being shown at the
Tokyo Motorcycle Show on 26-28 March, 2010.

The foundation stone for this development is KTM's clear commitment to
offroad motorcycle sport and it's intention to further offensively
expand the strongest pillar of the company business - and with a
unique product for which there is, to date, no real comparison. Thanks
to the positive conditions to the design concept (no noise pollution
and zero emission) this revolutionary development opens up
perspectives for completely new applications. The Freeride creations
carry the promise of an acceptable return for the use of motorcycle
sporting activities, also in urban areas.

Photo: KTM Images

Hubert Trunkenpolz, Head of Sales at KTM Sportmotorcyle AG, comments
on the philosophy and focus of the revolutionary motorcycles at the
press conference at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show: "The KTM Freeride
project is extremely important for the brand KTM. As the world's
leading manufacturer of offroad sports motorcycles, it is part of our
responsibility to do everything possible to ensure the ongoing
vitality of offroad sport. One consequence for us is to realize a new
drive solution via a pure electric motor. This means that we, as an
extremely sports-oriented brand, can stay true to our "Ready to Race"
philosophy..."

Hubert Trunkenpolz adds: We would like to prove our competitive power,
not only with the technology but also with the prices we offer. We can
already say that the first Freeride motorcycle from KTM will be under
€ 10,000 - which is on a similar level with an Enduro motorcycle with
a combustion engine currently being deployed in the world
championship.

Also from a technical standpoint, the first Freeride motorcycle is
revolutionary from a drive perspective, comments Harald Plöckinger,
COO and Board Member of KTM Sportmotorcycle AG: "It is not only that
the performance capability of the 100 kg light machine is comparable
to that of a 125 cc 2-stroke machine with a combustion engine. It is
also factors like abrasion resistance, dirt and water resistance, life
span, handling and above all safety that have been solved in an
impressive way for the maximum 22 KW strong motor. This is thanks to
the battery drive unit, which has been patented worldwide by KTM," he
adds.

"The Freeride project motorcycle also profits from the competence and
experience of all of KTM's past activities in motorcycle racing. This
and the high quality components, which to a large extent have been
developed and produced in Mattighofen, characterize how determinedly
we are introducing the KTM zero emission products that exceed the
demands of the sport's strict regulations," Harald Plöckinger
concludes.

The series production of the new KTM Freeride sports Enduro will
probably begin in the coming year. On the other hand, the Supermoto-
oriented Freeride variant shall, from today's perspective, serve to
illustrate other future applications for KTM's zero emission concept.

Find more information about KTM Freeride at www.ktmfreeride.com
From: fran...123 on

"MXEditor" <editor(a)mxnewsfeed.com> wrote in message
news:f578ec5b-83a2-4a50-ab59-4e3f41b50b70(a)z3g2000yqz.googlegroups.com...

http://www.mxnewsfeed.com/article.php?artid=2645

.. The KTM zero emission motorcycles are being shown at the
Tokyo Motorcycle Show on 26-28 March, 2010.

**************************************************************

All well and good however the use of the term zero emissions probably isn't
very honest. I suppose if you charge it up once off a gasoline or diesel
generator it ceases to be zero emissions. Or a coal fired power plant etc.
Are all of the places to race the thing going to have recharging available
from true zero emission production. Even wind and solar get kind of iffy on
how you score things as you still need production capacity for max draw when
there is no wind and no sun.

Fran

From: MXEditor on
On Mar 26, 10:35 am, "fran...123" <storkensteinrem...(a)cox.net> wrote:
> "MXEditor" <edi...(a)mxnewsfeed.com> wrote in message
>
> news:f578ec5b-83a2-4a50-ab59-4e3f41b50b70(a)z3g2000yqz.googlegroups.com...
>
> http://www.mxnewsfeed.com/article.php?artid=2645
>
> . The KTM zero emission motorcycles are being shown at the
> Tokyo Motorcycle Show on 26-28 March, 2010.
>
> **************************************************************
>
> All well and good however the use of the term zero emissions probably isn't
> very honest.  I suppose if you charge it up once off a gasoline or diesel
> generator it ceases to be zero emissions.  Or a coal fired power plant etc.
> Are all of the places to race the thing going to have recharging available
> from true zero emission production.  Even wind and solar get kind of iffy on
> how you score things as you still need production capacity for max draw when
> there is no wind and no sun.
>
> Fran

Totally the future and probably the savior of our sport moving
forward. This electric stuff is very hot in Europe and they use it
already. Most who have ridden the bikes like them...they can only get
better. I'm dying to ride one!
From: Tiago on
On Mar 26, 12:40 pm, MXEditor <edi...(a)mxnewsfeed.com> wrote:

> Totally the future and probably the savior of our sport moving
> forward. This electric stuff is very hot in Europe and they use it
> already. Most who have ridden the bikes like them...they can only get
> better. I'm dying to ride one!


This is a very cool idea and I agree 100% that the future for
motorcycles is electric. All that's left is to invent a battery that
is the same size and weight as a full gasoline tank, with equivalent
mileage and not too expensive. I don't think this will take long.

In my country 70% of the electricity is generated by using hydro
power. So at least for me, running one of these would be almost zero
emission.

Zero Motorcycles is selling their off road bikes here. Still a little
bit too pricey, but already an option. http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

-- T
From: JayC on
> > Zero Motorcycles is selling their off road bikes here. Still a little
> bit too pricey, but already an option.http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/

My company puts ICs into those Zeros. I don't like them though - they
are more like a motorized mountain bike than an electric dirt bike,
IMHO. This KTM is sweet looking though.

Personally, I can't wait to get an electric bike. I'll be able to
ride ANYWHERE, without ANY worry about getting busted. That's awesome
- with electric bikes, there is no such thing as a closed riding
area! Coolest of all, of course, it the ability for an e-bike to run
underwater. Keep a mini-scuba tank in your camelbak, and if the fuzz
DO show up for some reason, grab the mouthpiece and ride into the
closest lake then keep going until you come up on the other side. Sa-
weet.

JayC