Born To Be Wild

That sounds amazing. I have been looking at those recently. I'm literally buying a motorbike soon however, which, although does use fuel, I'm buying for more or less the same reasons.

I've got to do 300 miles and more on mine so I'm not sure the ebike was enough for me.

It's been a few years since i rode one though...

You go Abbie
I have a Ducati
Best thing I ever did was buy a bike

Enjoy your ebike Mark

300 miles? What for? Regularly, or have you set a perimeter?

I'm not sure ebikes are so directly related to motorbikes, as say motorscooters are. Even a scooter has better acceleration and range than this thing. Meaner motorbikes are closer to cars than anything else

Ebikes excel in areas like being able to avoid a lorry squish by zipping onto a footpath, or taking shortcuts down pedestrian walkways, or across paddocks and stuff

Even to carry a spare battery (heavy things over a long period) on a rack I could almost double the range, but at a cost to speed/efficiency

I'd say this will make a good light commuter vehicle for shopping runs once the fun wears off, but it's about equal to any other method (except legs) to get to the beach or chemist etc quickly

But for now fun's the main thing - a pair of earbuds and packed lunch, and I'm off on a picnic!

My last normal bike was old when I bought it, and repair costs were making me really think about whether it was worth it, so I've been getting around on legs and buses for the last four months (not good for feeling independent, and really bad if you spot a garage sale on your way)

Sounds fun! enjoy your second childhood :)

Nina, my friend had a Ducati, banana yellow. So that became his nickname. He’s still banana to most people but not many know why as he’s now on a Harley.

My preference is another “Kwaka”. Kawasakis are my go to bike every time, although I do love Hondas also. My first was a 125 custom. First ever bike I rode. I’m thinking a Kwaka 750 this time. A lovely inbetweener. I think they were sold as Ninjas in the USA. Could be wrong…

I had a Yammy trike for awhile… funnily enough that was bright yellow also

Mark, I’ll be visiting my family more regularly than I do now. 300 miles each way. I do like that zipping onto a footpath thing you mention…how heavy the battery? How many would I need to get there?

I've been riding something motorized on 2 wheels since before I could drive a car.

This year is the first time ever that I have not even touched my bike(s). Very unusual for me because I lived for it. Can't put my finger on it.

Abbie, Kwakas are great, I started off on a Honda Rebel 250 but knew it was too slow for me, my Ducati is million dollar red, so much fun
The Ninjas are still popular here and we are allowed to use the carpool lane alone, we can also lane split any lane as long as we are not doing high speeds while passing other cars.
Not much rain in California helps when out on the bike, although I did get drenched a few times.

I absolutely LOVE that you guys are doing this for the environment but all I can think about is how many friends I've lost on motorcycles, and only one I can think of was actually at fault. I realize it's not quite the same thing, but still... I worry :/

Susan,
thanks for worrying, I even lost my father, anything can happen to anyone, I can walk out of a building and a brick can fall on my head......

just riding through the various streets, smelling everything, concentrating on the ride, nothing else, lets you arrive refreshed, as if you were meditating - so worth it, feels so good

When I first got on a bike, my first thought was ... FREEDOM

..

Abbie, batteries are a few pounds each, enough the be noticeable. Three hundred miles would be doable with batteries and chargers at different points on your journey, because they take a few hours to charge - but realistically you'd need a lot of dependable friends to charge them for you

The footpath method is when you're cruising down the high street and suddenly become aware that there's a whole bunch of traffic rapidly approaching that you can't outpace, so up onto the safety of the footpath to ensure you don't get squeezed between the truck or bus and the curb

Sturgis Bike Week, South Dakota, USA - the spectacle is going full steam ahead right now.

Aug. 5 - Aug. 14, 2022

Those in the know, know.

Sorry to stray off topic, sorta.

Yeah well, nothing kept me off the back of bikes back in those days either. Still, I worry. I am obviously turning into my mother.

Susan, my Mum would turn white as a sheet when she found out I was going out for a spin.

It's in the "How to Mother" handbook David, page 738 paragraph 2.

I use an e- bike to commute to work most days, unless I have a lot of stuff to carry. It has both peddle assist and a throttle but tops out at 20 miles per hour. If you have the faster variety here it would need to be licensed. The battery I have gives me about a 35 mile range so I charge it every other day.

We have a big "bike", a HD electraglide dressed out. My mother in law was angry with me because I didn't try to talk her son out of riding. We both love it and if something happens and we go out on that bike at least we went doing something we love. I told my MIL that, and she eventually got over it. We have had a few close calls but it was never enough to scare me out of getting back on it.

Ron, in Aus they played with a licensing system back in the 'pedal assist only' days, and scrapped it when they realised how slow they were compared to normal bikes. But they did put a speed limit on all future ebikes (ie won't be available for road use)

Shelli, I've been interested in the Harley Livewire for a while, but I can't afford one, and probably won't be able to for the foreseeable; at least not unless I win one (or the lottery!)

Hi Mark, so good to see you on the forum, glad you're happy on that bike, sounds like fun!

I started on tricycles, remember Dad teaching me to ride a bicycle, my brother how to ride a motorcycle and have immensely enjoyed them all through the years and still do (maybe not the tricycle, ha!).

With freedom comes responsibility, so...

Always wear a helmet. I can attest to one having saved my life 12 years ago, as well as my dad's 45 years ago. (Although sadly a great nephew is in a vegetative state after crashing his motorcycle last month, and he was wearing a helmet. Never know.)

Also, read up on the batteries on e-bikes. Mackinac Island just banned the storage of them inside public buildings due to an e-bike battery starting a house fire.

Hello Lisa! Certainly shall. There are bonuses to it, like getting to cheaper but farther markets and supermarkets and specials with ease. I hardly bothered before because it was hassle enough just to get to the closer ones. It should pay for itself in six months I'm guessing

Mary Lee, the size of just one battery gives me the fears of house fires, but I'm assured they're safe these days. Still I only recharge when I'm at home and awake, and a damp towel in the laundry.

Even I have to admit that even after all these years whenever I hear a Harley my heart beats just a little bit faster. The best part was always riding in the hills at night and when you would go down in the valleys and the air would get cool, god that was awesome.

I am such a hypocrite.