Thanks amberwolf, I posted over there after learning tons lurking, but E:S is my EV home so I'll probably maintain this thread more often.
StudEbiker, LongBeachMotorsports had another one, a white police model with an extra pair of flashing white lights but no markings. White is a rare color which is cool, but they said they wanted $800 more for it, which I don't think is worth it. The owner uses it to go to lunch so it has about 1k on it too.
Ice, I've had it to 60mph and it had lots left. Allegedly they are allegedly releasing a software upgrade that will bump the governed limit to 68mph. I don't know what the upper limit would be, but It would suck the batteries dry too fast to be worth it.
Lots has happened!
Mrs. Oatnet got back from a monthlong trip to Taiwan, and while she was not thrilled about the new addition, she wasn't upset by it either. Here is some old stuff I wrote when I didn't have access to the internet and forgot to post:
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I passed my CA M1 written test with 3 out of 25 wrong, 4 allowed, qualifying me for a learners permit. The alleged tests questions I googled were either not on the test, or virus websites.
Last night I read the CA 2010 motorcycle laws booklet, I actually found it very interesting and informative. Then I read the 1/3 of the (yawn) CA 2010 drivers laws booklet late. I woke up at early anxious about the M1 test, decided to roll out of bed, finish studying in line, and hopefully get it out of the way.
I was hoping for an early start but i got there only 2 minutes before the 8:00 opening, there was a good size line. I read most of the rest of the drivers manual while waiting. Once I got through that line to get a number things happened fast. It took about two hours, I was done before 10:00. I had an appointment when I renewed my license and that took an hour and half with an appointment. Since appointments are a month or two out I am I glad I did it now, not to mention relieved to simply have it done. Now I can legally ride in the street, just not at night, on the freeway, or with a passenger - none of which I want to do right now, maybe someday with a whole lot more experience. License, check!
Next, it was off to AAA to get insurance. I suddenly noticed that the dealer registered the bike as an ’08, not the ’07 I thought it would be. They didn’t barf on the VIN like I expected, but they did barf on the cc’s of the bike. My dealer registration form lists ‘electric’ in the cc’s field, the rep was insistent that it had to list cc’s. When I thought about it later, maybe when I kept on trying to explain by saying “There are no cc’s, its electric!â€Â, he thought I was talking about what was on the form, not what makes the bike go. I emailed them a pic of the form, they called back and said they had a formula for calculating this, so they would insure it as a 244cc scooter. Replacement-value insurance with $1000 deductable, $197, just liability $172. Insurance, check!
I went out for a ride the moment I was street legal. I had a full charge to burn off for my “second full discharge within 24 hours†specified in the Oct/08 software upgrade. I cruised through some curves to my favorite secluded ocean cliff view, then to a DVD store, then did grocery shopping at Whole Foods and tossed it in the underseat storage. I was feeling pretty comfortable so I did my 3.1 mile commute to work, which includes some 6-lane surface streets with lots of aggressive traffic, and was a “big test†for me.
When I pull up to a light on an ebike, I might balance on a pedal, I might tip it to one side, but on a moto that’s a nono, you might lay it down. There have been a few embarrassing intersections, where I have been anticipating the turn after the stop, and have to struggle to lift the bike back up. Somewhere along the way I adjusted to keeping it upright. I think that it is why the Vectrix felt so heavy to me the first time I went out, because now it feels neatly balanced with a low COG.
On my first parking lot ride I was trying to lean into the curves, and use the throttle to pull me out. Stupid now that I think about it. A work buddy rides almost every day, and he set me straight. He told me to lean the bike over, but not my body, so my body could be used as leverage to pull out of a lean. I thought my ebike skills hadn’t carried over, but once he said that I realized they would – I lean my my bikes Waaaaay over on those maxis hookworms, putting the top bar of the frame into the back of my inside knee. The Vectrix doesn’t let me stand up like that, so I just tilt at the waist instead, and just like that everything clicked. I stopped thinking about pushing the handlebar towards the turn, and coordinating lean angles, I just rode like I have been.
Odd note – they tell you to look in the direction you want to turn. I find I have to look _above_ the direction to actually hit the mark.
I also Got my new Helmet today – Gmax GM86S, with the superior optics, great airflow, light and quiet, and BLINKY RED LIGHTS on the back:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcyc ... max/gm68s/Right now the Vect is downstairs charging, and I am running a time-delay video so I can see how hot it gets. I bought a pack of batteries from a guy parting out a Vectrix, so I have spare cells if any heat up and I can’t get Vectrix to honor the warrantee.
Next step, the $250 CHP course that will teach me all about how to ride an oil-burner - changing gears, identifying carburetors, using a foot brake, all anachronisms to the Vectrix. Of course, I fully expect it will also give me an opportunity to learn some tips that will save my life. Throughout my rides, I keep thinking of two things: “Ride like you are invisibleâ€Â, and the high majority of riders who drop their bikes the first year. I want my performance to keep me in the minority.
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The helmet stank of manufacturing chemicals - I opened a visor and stuck a fan in the neckhole and ran it a few days until it went away. So far it has turned out to be quiet and cool and clear as predicted, and I like the blinky lights. I am really thrilled to have the safety of wearing a full-face helmet without feeling goofy like I would on an ebike.
I've had an opportunity for a few rides, draining the pack to the red battery light in 25 miles of stop and go driving around my neighborhood. My low back gets sore from picking my legs up at hundreds of stops, like doing endless mini-crunches. Accelleration and top end are both currently beyond my comfort zone. Riding is becoming more automatic, which is good and bad - the other day went for a ride right after work, and I suddenly realized I had been thinking about work for a while, not focusing on the road surface etc... So I took it right back to the garage.
-JD
I was put off the product by the rejection, and I scoffed at the 12k price tag ($11,995 as I recall), and honestly up until a week or so ago, I haven't thought or heard about them since.
Maybe next year.. Yours still holding up well?
