Brammo Owners Forum
Brammo Empulse Discussion => Brammo Empulse => Topic started by: FreepZ on December 03, 2012, 02:33:40 PM
-
It's been rather quiet over at Brammo HQ over the past few weeks. I was kind of expecting cheers from happy customers saying that they had received a phone call from the dealer telling them to come over for a test ride, but that hasn't happened.
Hopefully, Craig "Santa" Bramscher will be encouraging his worker elves to build us some bikes so we can have a very merry Christmas.
(I wouldn't be too surprised if somebody turns the above sentence into a Christmas image using their mad Photoshop skills.)
I hope that somebody gets a bike this month and tells us all about it.
-
I wish everyone who has ordered an Empulse R a very merry Christmas. :)
-
What Richard said.
I'm ready to close the "Empulse in production???!" chapter and open the "zomg Empulse is awesome" chapter.
I bet everyone at Brammo is ready for this as well.
I hope they kick a large number of bikes out the door early this month so they can take some time off to enjoy time with their families.
-
I hope this won't turn into a lump of coal or a gallon of gas, but I really hope all of you get your Empulses by Christmas. It would make one hell of of Christmas gift, especially to those who can still ride during the winter!
I am really curious to see you guys (safely) pushing it to its limits and posting the results here.
-
I hope Santa brings me some coal.. Zero's gotta eat somehow.
It's been cold (30-40) recently, but this week's highs are in the 60s and 70s. Fantastic riding weather!
-
If delays last through December, Zero will eat their lunch for them with the 2013s. I know what I would do...buy a Zero and cancel my order. I'm sure Brammo is aware of losing sales with delays into the New Year though. You know Zero will not be delayed. The dealers already went to California and test rode the new Zeros and were quite impressed from what I hear...doing wheelies with the new FX. I know where and when to test ride a 2013 Zero, but I have no idea where or when to test ride an Empulse. That right there is already a problem. Where are the dealers? I keep hearing Polaris dealers, but not my Polaris dealer, or Harley dealer. I already asked.
-
I received a call this weekend from a dealer in PA that Brammo just opened up so there is some light at the end of the tunnel. He said that he would have bike(s) in 3 weeks but he wasn't sure if they would be demos or actually available for sale. I've only been on the pre-order list for a couple months so I'm doubtful that I'd be getting one anytime soon. The phone call was a nice surprise though.
-
[Likely] the same dealer from PA contacted me this AM. Awesome news. I'm in Raleigh, NC, so it will be interesting do see what kind of deal we can work out for shipping. I won't be headed up there for a test ride and and likely won't make the trek to pick up a bike either. But if shipping is cost prohibitive, then I might be stuck with a tough decision.
-
If PA is the closest dealer to you, that is not a good sign. Weren't they supposed to have at least one in Maryland?
Also, wasn't 3 weeks the same thing they told someone else on this list about a month and a half ago or something like it?
-
[Likely] the same dealer from PA contacted me this AM. Awesome news. I'm in Raleigh, NC, so it will be interesting do see what kind of deal we can work out for shipping. I won't be headed up there for a test ride and and likely won't make the trek to pick up a bike either. But if shipping is cost prohibitive, then I might be stuck with a tough decision.
Shipping for the Zero was $400 cross-country. That may have been a special rate from the factory; if I had it shipped to Hollywood Electrics for modification before delivery, it would have cost $700.
If the bike ships directly from Brammo, I would expect it to be around $400 too.
-
i think shipping is free if coming directly from Brammo....
of course I don't know if any bikes are shipping directly from Brammo...
Gavin
-
If the bike ships directly from Brammo, I would expect it to be around $400 too.
The dealer checked and told me that shipping directly from the factory was not an option offered by the OEM. Makes sense to me, as I see this as a way of moving liability to the dealer to ensure that the motorcycle is safe and ready for the customer. But with the still limited dealer network, that means that things are going to be difficult for distanced buyers like me.
It means I have to pay double shipping if the dealer decides to stick me with a destination charge to cover their shipping from the factory. There's also the dealer prep fee which might cover the un-crating, assembling (mirrors), reprogramming, adjusting, and topping off of coolant. But if they're going to disassemble it, re-crate it, and ship it to me, what if it's damaged during shipping to me. I'm getting a bike that's not 100%, yet that's what I paid the prep fee for?
I really want to support these early dealers, because they're taking a risk that deserves to be rewarded. Hopefully we'll come to good agreement for both of us. Shipping from Ashland is a great approach because it saves carbon and cuts costs, but it also cuts these regional dealers out of the loop.
I have family in FL, so another option for me is to buy it from the Tampa dealer over the holidays if the timing works out. But then again, who knows when my pre-order number comes up. I don't want to skip line, but it could be a while. If the dealers are slow to get their merchandise and if they're slow in dispersing that merchandise over such a large region, then it could be difficult to honor that wait list.
BTW, I paid MSRP + $475 for prep and shipping when I got my Enertia from Best Buy in Ashland. So that's what I'm looking to pay for the Empulse. I did all of the tax and title work myself. Oops, did I just show my cards to the PA dealer. :)
-
Production is indeed underway, that's definitely confirmed. BUT, I know that I wont receive my Empulse until January (last I heard). I will take delivery at a local dealership here in Denver. I still dont know which dealership that is though...
-
I just stopped in at Scuderia West. Don says that the first customer delivery will be this Friday.
And, they just got a brand-new test model this morning with a new updated firmware. He says it's really smooth overall and that the clunk when you first roll on the throttle is now gone. While we were talking he was able to sit on the bike in the showroom and gently roll on the throttle and it would only creep forward very slightly and very controllably, no visible oraudible clunk at all!
I can't wait to try out the new model and I wonder who is the lucky guy who is getting one this Friday? Anyone on here?
-
Great news...and it's amazing how much can be fixed, adjusted and changed with software updates...
Gavin
-
I gained a little insight into the preorder process today. This shouldn't be treated as first-hand knowledge, but rather my observations as a customer and overall friendly chap. :) I just thought I'd share it in case it eases some of the frustration that we're getting from really just not knowing. I don't think Brammo's dragging their feet or witholding information. It's just a complicated process.
There's certainly a lot going on at once, and Brammo's Head of Dealer Development is right in the middle of it. Firstly, he's working to establish the dealer network, a task that I imagine must be tough for this new market segment. Secondly, he's distributing the preorder customers to the various dealers to give them the first chance to make sales to those nearby customers. Thirdly, he's determining the disbursement of bikes to the various dealers while honoring the preorder list. In order for dealers to secure those bikes, they are soliciting a deposit from their preorder customers. In my case, I'm still trying to work out the terms of my sale before sending in my deposit which seems to lock me to that dealer. So that's another delay that has to be managed.
Of course, as a customer I'm free to shop around to other dealers as well. I've started to do just that, but it's really in everyone's interest for me to stick with my regional dealer in PA. Luckily, the salesman from PA has been flexible so far. Until Brammo's dealer network expands, these existing dealers are going to have a lot of out-of-town customers like me with special shipping and documentation needs. We're all in this together at this point. Until this market segment hits critical mass, customers need to be patient, dealers need to be agile and adapt their sales practices, and Brammo needs to build both their network and more Empulses.
It also seems like the preorder list is very healthy. It might still be too early to know how many of those are converting to customers, but I get the feeling that quite a few are. The Tampa dealer reportedly has 20 preorders and is really interested in getting more bikes for the showroom. Some of that might be salesman hyperbole, but he sounded genuine. I'm sure the CA dealers are way more packed with preorders as well. And at #527 in the list, I might be PA's first customer and that puts me at an estimated late December to early January.
-
20 preorders.. hope a bunch of those turn in sales. There could be a small Empulse biker gang rolling around..
-
20 preorders.. hope a bunch of those turn in sales. There could be a small Empulse biker gang rolling around..
Oooh... has the makings of a new Hollywood B-Movie: Local folks get nervous at the first faint whirring sound as, somewhere in the wild west, a bunch of guys with pocket protectors and tape on their glasses comes whining into town on all-black Empulses, their trigger fingers itching to hack into the local bank's computers...
-
What is the name of the dealer in PA and where is it located? I don't see any dealers in PA on their website and I still haven't heard from a dealer. Guess I need to get on the horn and get me on two wheels again!
-
Martin Motorsports in Boyertown, PA
-
What and where are the other new locations that aren't on the Brammo website?
-
Martin Motorsports in Boyertown, PA
This is the same one that called me.
-
That dealership is about an hour (50 miles) from my house. Score...less than one full charge! No shipping required! Are there any other dealerships in Jersey or Maryland?
-
That dealership is about an hour (50 miles) from my house. Score...less than one full charge! No shipping required! Are there any other dealerships in Jersey or Maryland?
I am also an hour away so I'm thrilled. I was expecting to need to have it shipped in from another state.
-
I just stopped in at Scuderia West. Don says that the first customer delivery will be this Friday.
And, they just got a brand-new test model this morning with a new updated firmware. He says it's really smooth overall and that the clunk when you first roll on the throttle is now gone. While we were talking he was able to sit on the bike in the showroom and gently roll on the throttle and it would only creep forward very slightly and very controllably, no visible oraudible clunk at all!
I can't wait to try out the new model and I wonder who is the lucky guy who is getting one this Friday? Anyone on here?
So photos tomorrow in San Fran...who's gonna go spy on Scuderia?
Gavin
-
Very excited to see who picks up the first Empulse! A celebrity perhaps? Lucky bastard...
-
I just hope that someone posts some photos and documents the moment. So tired of hearing the "v" word.
-
Hmmm, celebs?
Ryan Reynolds?
Mayor of San Francisco?
Jeremy D?
Will be fun to find out.
Gavin
-
Hmmm, celebs?
Ryan Reynolds?
Mayor of San Francisco?
Jeremy D?
Will be fun to find out.
Gavin
LOL! Im a celebrity? Hardly... trust me though, if I was getting my bike today I wouldn't be keeping it a secret. I was told January (maybe).
-
Hey, You've had your face up on Times Square...that = celebrity to me. :)
I have heard..."A Bay Area entrepreneur called ......"
Gavin
-
Posted today on the Brammo facebook page (not on the Scuderia West page, though, for some reason):
Ain McKendrick has a big grin! — at Scuderia West
and a picture of him next to the bike in front of their Brammo-logo-painted garage door...
-
No wonder he was number one... dude looks like a model for GQ ;D
-
(http://photos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/s720x720/228340_10151129111790443_2057981729_n.jpg?dl=1)
First ride
And shiny has a crush :)
G
-
(http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/299991_10151129111410443_510606209_n.jpg?dl=1)
G
-
(http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/306042_10151129111340443_1032724756_n.jpg?dl=1)
G
-
If I can't have the bike, can I at least get that awesome bag?
-
And shiny has a crush :)
G
Not a crush... just freakin jealous:
1) He's not an old fart.
2) He has hair.
3) He was first to get an Empulse.
4) He HAS an Empulse.
5) There is no #5.
-
What's wrong with being an old fart? We get to yell "You kids get off my lawn" a lot and everyone just laughs and lets it go.
Hair is overrated, it just gets mashed up by helmets anyway.
OK, I'll give you 3 and 4...
-
And shiny has a crush :)
G
Not a crush... just freakin jealous:
1) He's not an old fart.
2) He has hair.
3) He was first to get an Empulse.
4) He HAS an Empulse.
5) There is no #5.
Jealous!??? Yeah, now I gotta wait my turn,,, only consolation is I can ride 3-4 days a week all through the "winter" months in Hawaii,,, so,, yeah,, I can wait!!! :o
-
Hey, all I got when I bought my Zero was a key chain - with a flash drive attached that contained the owner's manual. Oh yes. I also got a special tool that is used to adjust the rear view mirrors. ;)
-
Posted today on the Brammo facebook page (not on the Scuderia West page, though, for some reason):
Ain McKendrick has a big grin! — at Scuderia West
and a picture of him next to the bike in front of their Brammo-logo-painted garage door...
Hi Guys,
We will be posting more in the near future but with regards to photos we were asked to let Brammo do their thing first...
Was a ball having the honor of delivering the first one in the world!!
Don Lemelin
-
Congrats...looks like everybody had a good time...
Hope to hear about many more sales from both Brammo and Scuderia West.
Gavin
-
Ain joined the forum. Just waiting for his first post.
He's got to recharge sometime, right?
-
Can't wait to get his impressions of the bike...
At the same time, I don't envy the jealous rage all of us here will be feeling toward him....
:)
Gavin
-
Can't wait to get his impressions of the bike...
At the same time, I don't envy the jealous rage all of us here will be feeling toward him....
I wonder how he managed to get the first one? He must have some connections eh? Also, are they continuing to deliver bikes, or was it just the one bike for now? BTW, whats the news on the local dealership here? I really want to see one in person damnit! ;-)
-
Hey guys,
I was waiting for approval before I could log into the forum...
Answers to some of the speculation:
How the !@#$% did this guy get the first bike? ;)
Like many of us, I was waiting for a company to deliver the first 100MPH/100mi bike. I almost caved on a Vectrix a few years back, but the lack of true highway speeds nixed that for me. When I saw Brammo's original announcement a few years back that they were going to build the Empulse, I went to the web site and saw you could pre-order (and no deposit required), so I quickly hit the button.
Turns out, I was #2 on the list, but the guy in front of me backed out on taking the first bike (from what I've heard), so I kind of lucked into the #1 spot.
First Impressions
The bike is really great! I put about 150 miles on it since last Friday and it doesn't disappoint. About the only complaint I had on cold weekend mornings is that the Avon tires run a little cold and they take a while to warm up.
Suspension is firm. It feels much more like a sport bike - you'll feel the big bumps on the highway, but in the twisty sections the feedback is great. I haven't played with the settings yet, but I'll probably mess with preload and the damping a bit.
With a mix of back roads, running errands, and trying out various public chargers I've had plenty of range and never had to "plan" for a charging stop. Brammo includes a 110v Clipper Creek charger, but I've charged it on the following 240v chargers and it works great: Chevy Voltec, Clipper Creek (public), and Chargepoint (public).
The Empulse has both "Normal" and "Sport" modes that you can switch between, and they recommended leaving it in "Normal" for the first 100 miles. I'm going to play with "Sport" some more, but "Normal" has been great for most riding around.
Range
Doing sustained 80MPH seems to drop you into the 50-60mi range, but doing a mix of riding (highways and back roads) is easily seeing 75-80mi of range. This is not actively trying to "baby" the throttle to max the range either, I'm just riding the way I'd ride any motorcycle.
Side note:
The general public is oblivious to the fact that the bike is electric. I've occasionally had a double-take from people when I pull up to a stop light and someone realizes there's no engine noise. The downside is that when you're trying to pull out of a parking space, people will walk right in front of you at any time since they assume the engine is off. Usually people hear a motorcycle engine and they pause waiting for you to pull away - something to keep and eye on.
I'll try to get some more photos together and some helmet cam video pulled together in the next couple days too.
- Ain
-
Perfect. Thanks.
Will love to see the video and also see what you think of Normal vs Sport.
Gavin
(gah, first bike, good hair and smile AND seems like a nice guy...I hate him more and more)
:)
-
BTW...sorry about having hair AND the Empulse. I'm hoping to keep both for a number of years. :P
- Ain
-
Congratulations on getting your new Empulse R, Ain. You will probably find that the suspension loosens up a little as your bike gets more miles on it. I have found that it typically takes about 1000 miles for motorcycle suspensions to "break-in". By then it will likely be more supple.
-
Welcome to the site, Ain! And congratulations.
BTW, I just saw that Clipper Creek's portable 110v cordset is $695 on their site. It's certainly feasible that Brammo got a better deal and maybe even on more OEM model, but wow that's expensive!
-
Voltec charger.. do you have a Volt as well? Do you have to fight for access to the charger at home, or do you have two? : ) (I guess for overnight charging 110v is fine)
Do you happen to know the gear ratios for the transmission?
-
Welcome to the forum, Ain! And thanks for sharing your riding impressions.
Be prepared for a barrage of questions from your fellow "waiters" who very much intend to be "riders".
Here's a few for starters:
As part of the ordering process, were you asked your weight so the correct springs could be chosen for the shocks? I live and work (from my bike) in San Francisco and am very much interested in shocks that can soak up some of our terrible street nightmares. I had some Wilburs on a R1200R that were solid in the twisties AND just lovely over rapid quick harsh surfaces. I would like to duplicate that experience on the Empulse.
Please clarify, if you can, the reasoning behind keeping the bike in "Normal" mode initially. Is that so YOU can break in to the bike? Ease the batteries into their cycles? Baby the new bearings in the motor? This just doesn't make obvious sense to me.
When I got to test ride the Empulse R, I and others noted the drive train lash when transitioning from throttle to regen. Don said the software update fixed that. What's your experience in that area with your bike? Smooth enough?
The latest Motorcycle.com review video mentioned a "kind of clunky" tranny. Although I've experienced balky gearboxes that loosen up with break in (and synthetic oil), I'd like to hear your impression.
Any experience to give us a good estimate of the range at a constant 65 mph on the freeways?
Did you get any sense about the flow of future bikes into Scuderia West?
Any word on an ETA for the side and top cases? Windshield?
Do you have any idea of the wattage limit of the 12V accessory port?
Wow, a lot of questions! Thanks in advance for any light you can shed. And ENJOY!
- Bill
-
The downside is that when you're trying to pull out of a parking space, people will walk right in front of you at any time since they assume the engine is off. Usually people hear a motorcycle engine and they pause waiting for you to pull away - something to keep and eye on.
You'll just have to get into the habit of yelling "Uddn uddn" as you start up!
-
The bike could have a "sound" for initial take off after start up...
maybe a sample of "It's Electric" blasts out
or mine could be something like "Electric Motorcycle with @#$%^&* crazy man driving coming through!"
Gavin
-
Well, there is that device called a horn. ;)
-
The problem with the horn is that it's a bit rude. It's like yelling "Get Out Of The Way!" Perhaps I'll install a bicycle bell on my Empulse -- it's a lot more cheerful than a horn. Ideally, the horn would have two settings. The regular sound and a much more quiet sound that says "Please excuse me..."
-
Yes, upon startup, the Empulse's presence is pretty much like a bicycle, a BIG bicycle. I've ridden bicycles in city traffic for many years and all my bikes had a bell plus an air horn. "Excuse me" and "Get the F**& Out of the Way, NOW" kind of tones.
Maybe the most practical choice is to just say, "Excuse me: I'd like to exit this parking place." to the pedestrian blocking your way.
But, as a farkel addict, a nice brass bicycle bell certainly attracts me. Now, all I need is an Empulse on which to mount it.
-
Welcome to the site, Ain! And congratulations.
BTW, I just saw that Clipper Creek's portable 110v cordset is $695 on their site. It's certainly feasible that Brammo got a better deal and maybe even on more OEM model, but wow that's expensive!
The one Brammo provided is EXACTLY the $695 one that Clipper Creek provides.
- Ain
-
Voltec charger.. do you have a Volt as well? Do you have to fight for access to the charger at home, or do you have two? : ) (I guess for overnight charging 110v is fine)
Do you happen to know the gear ratios for the transmission?
Yes - I took advantage of the 0 down/0% deals they were doing on the Volt over the summer (not to mention $7500 Fed tax credit, and $1500 CA state rebate). Too hard to pass up...
The Voltec charger that SPX sells is a pretty good deal since it's $495 for a 240v 3.3kW charger, and it will work equally well with the car or the Empulse.
The owners manual doesn't have specs on the transmission, but I think they changed the sprockets from what's on the web site... The site specs list 14/48 for the sprockets, but the rear one on my bike has "38" stamped on it.
The transmission ratios are pretty close, but for most riding in the 30-50MPH range (e.g. back roads), you almost never need to leave 2nd gear. The higher gears are really only useful at highway speeds to keep the engine in the 4000-6000 "sweet spot".
- Ain
-
Voltec charger.. do you have a Volt as well? Do you have to fight for access to the charger at home, or do you have two? : ) (I guess for overnight charging 110v is fine)
Do you happen to know the gear ratios for the transmission?
Yes - I took advantage of the 0 down/0% deals they were doing on the Volt over the summer (not to mention $7500 Fed tax credit, and $1500 CA state rebate). Too hard to pass up...
The Voltec charger that SPX sells is a pretty good deal since it's $495 for a 240v 3.3kW charger, and it will work equally well with the car or the Empulse.
The owners manual doesn't have specs on the transmission, but I think they changed the sprockets from what's on the web site... The site specs list 14/48 for the sprockets, but the rear one on my bike has "38" stamped on it.
The transmission ratios are pretty close, but for most riding in the 30-50MPH range (e.g. back roads), you almost never need to leave 2nd gear. The higher gears are really only useful at highway speeds to keep the engine in the 4000-6000 "sweet spot".
- Ain
Same here with the Volt, 0% financing is such a beautiful thing! Again, congrats on your Empulse purchase Ain!
BTW I will be using ONE 120v plug to charge both the Volt and the Empulse... I dont foresee an issue with that.
-
Hi Bill,
I'll take a stab your list of questions...
As part of the ordering process, were you asked your weight so the correct springs could be chosen for the shocks? I live and work (from my bike) in San Francisco and am very much interested in shocks that can soak up some of our terrible street nightmares. I had some Wilburs on a R1200R that were solid in the twisties AND just lovely over rapid quick harsh surfaces. I would like to duplicate that experience on the Empulse.
Please clarify, if you can, the reasoning behind keeping the bike in "Normal" mode initially. Is that so YOU can break in to the bike? Ease the batteries into their cycles? Baby the new bearings in the motor? This just doesn't make obvious sense to me.
When I got to test ride the Empulse R, I and others noted the drive train lash when transitioning from throttle to regen. Don said the software update fixed that. What's your experience in that area with your bike? Smooth enough?
The latest Motorcycle.com review video mentioned a "kind of clunky" tranny. Although I've experienced balky gearboxes that loosen up with break in (and synthetic oil), I'd like to hear your impression.
Any experience to give us a good estimate of the range at a constant 65 mph on the freeways?
Did you get any sense about the flow of future bikes into Scuderia West?
Any word on an ETA for the side and top cases? Windshield?
Do you have any idea of the wattage limit of the 12V accessory port?
1) I asked the same question on springs since I had always upgraded mine on bikes I used for the track. They didn't have numbers for me when I took delivery, but I'm guessing they're standard for the suspension components since the bike only weighs 470lbs. I'll see if I can get some photos of part numbers on the forks/shock to try and match them.
2) "Sport" seems to effect the abruptness of the throttle - both accelerating harder and kicking in regen more aggressively (see the photo of the owners manual below). I'm guessing the "break in" is more for the transmission/clutch since I did have the clutch slip once on quick acceleration onto the freeway while shifting. It's feeling a lot better after 180 miles.
3) The driveline lash is not an issue at all while the bike is rolling. It feels different, but not "bad". The only real lash that I find a little strange is starting from a dead stop, if you try to accelerate aggressively from a dead stop with the clutch out, there's a little bit of a clunk.
4) I'll have to do a 65MPH test and see where the range seems to settle. I've been a bit heavy handed, so I know that continuous 75-80MPH seems good for 50-60 miles.
5) Talk to Don about the next bikes at Scuderia - he'll be the best source. ;)
6) The Brammo guys let me know they have a whole range of accessories in the works, but I'm assuming they're focusing on getting the bikes out right now. I'll probably start with some more universal stuff like bar-end mirrors.
7) I asked about the 12v port too, and they didn't have the specs when I picked it up. I'll follow up with an e-mail. I'd like to plug in a heated vest for this time of year, and didn't want to blow a fuse.
- Ain
-
Same here with the Volt, 0% financing is such a beautiful thing! Again, congrats on your Empulse purchase Ain!
BTW I will be using ONE 120v plug to charge both the Volt and the Empulse... I dont foresee an issue with that.
If you've got a Volt, definitely look into ordering the 240v Voltec charger from SPX for $495. It's the cheapest one you can find, and will work great for both vehicles. Cutting the charging time in half from 110v is a big win.
I had an electrician pull a 240v line from my panel to the garage and it was only $150. I then mounted and wired the Voltec myself. It's pretty straightforward and took about an hour.
The photo below was charging the Empulse on 110v. I switched it to 240v and was full up in 1.5 hours.
- Ain
-
The problem with the horn is that it's a bit rude. It's like yelling "Get Out Of The Way!" Perhaps I'll install a bicycle bell on my Empulse -- it's a lot more cheerful than a horn. Ideally, the horn would have two settings. The regular sound and a much more quiet sound that says "Please excuse me..."
I always wanted two horns...one to say hi to friends, one to say...well something less polite. The problem might be saying hi to a car cutting you off and saying something less polite to friends...
Gavin
-
The owners manual doesn't have specs on the transmission, but I think they changed the sprockets from what's on the web site... The site specs list 14/48 for the sprockets, but the rear one on my bike has "38" stamped on it.
The transmission ratios are pretty close, but for most riding in the 30-50MPH range (e.g. back roads), you almost never need to leave 2nd gear. The higher gears are really only useful at highway speeds to keep the engine in the 4000-6000 "sweet spot".
Hm.. yes, they might have changed the rear sprocket when they switched to the Parker motor. Do you see any kind of badging on the motor housing indicating a Parker motor?
Put another way - at what steady speeds do you see (say) 3000 RPM indicated on the tach?
Eg:
1st gear 30 mph
2nd gear 40 mph
3rd gear 50 mph
4th gear 60 mph
5th gear 70 mph
6th gear 80 mph
Does the Empulse come stock with a 12V DC plug? This was indicated some time ago but not confirmed 'til now. You can probably find the current limit by locating the fuse for the 12V supply .. subtracta few amps for the headlight and perhaps the dash display.
Edit: I recall Brammo saying that 7000 RPM was the sweet spot for efficiency and power. Since that doesn't give you much room for increasing revs, you might choose to operate (for example) at 6500 RPM instead of 7500 RPM if those are your gearing options.
-
Hm.. yes, they might have changed the rear sprocket when they switched to the Parker motor. Do you see any kind of badging on the motor housing indicating a Parker motor?
I think that the photo of the Parker motor that was posted a week or so ago was actually the motor for the Empulse RR - I think the Empulse R still uses the SMRE motor.
-
Hm.. perhaps the original rear sprocket size was for the Perm 150 motor then. Who knows.. it'd be nice to get an update to the specs list.
-
I always wanted two horns...one to say hi to friends, one to say...well something less polite. The problem might be saying hi to a car cutting you off and saying something less polite to friends...
Gavin
Having recently switched from a pair of bikes with the standard Japanese-style switchgear to an '05 R bike I now have 2 horns.
When I manage to find the horn button when I'm fumbling about for the turn signal cancel button I have 2 horns blaring away on 2 different notes. It sounds pretty authoritative compared to my prior bikes' horns actually, and not wholly appropriate to the situation of coming out of a corner.
But, when I'm in traffic and someone is cutting me off and I want to blast them with "*@$% off you're going to kill me!" my finger mashes on the turn signal button over and over and my bike just sits there saying "I'll just sit here blinking and look pathetic whilst you run me over". 8|
Somehow I wish they were wired up differently all around... :(
-
Should be easy to tell the RR (single gear) motor from the R (6 gears)???
Gavin
-
I always wanted two horns...one to say hi to friends, one to say...well something less polite. The problem might be saying hi to a car cutting you off and saying something less polite to friends...
Gavin
Having recently switched from a pair of bikes with the standard Japanese-style switchgear to an '05 R bike I now have 2 horns.
When I manage to find the horn button when I'm fumbling about for the turn signal cancel button I have 2 horns blaring away on 2 different notes. It sounds pretty authoritative compared to my prior bikes' horns actually, and not wholly appropriate to the situation of coming out of a corner.
But, when I'm in traffic and someone is cutting me off and I want to blast them with "*@$% off you're going to kill me!" my finger mashes on the turn signal button over and over and my bike just sits there saying "I'll just sit here blinking and look pathetic whilst you run me over". 8|
Somehow I wish they were wired up differently all around... :(
HA, yes...the horn should be one button, but touch sensitive so the ANGRIER you are, the louder it is...
so cute girl you like on the side of the road (meep meep), insane person reading, texting and eating McDonald nuggets with dipping sauce while moving into your lane without looking (HONK, MUTHER&^$#$& HONK, HULK SMASH, HONK)
Gavin
-
Hm.. yes, they might have changed the rear sprocket when they switched to the Parker motor. Do you see any kind of badging on the motor housing indicating a Parker motor?
I think that the photo of the Parker motor that was posted a week or so ago was actually the motor for the Empulse RR - I think the Empulse R still uses the SMRE motor.
Brammo posted this on their (*gack) Instagram page with the caption, "Coming to an Empulse near you."
from another post...
Coming to an Empulse near you sounds like the R, not the RR...
Gavin
-
Im fairly certain the new R has a different motor now... but I could be wrong. Trans is most definitely SMRE though.
-
My questions:
- what are the standard maintenance intervals on everything (the page from the manual you posted earlier mentioned a 600 mile first oil change and a 3000 mile standard oil change, anything else? And how much oil does it take - assuming it's just the transmission that needs it? Time will tell, but I'm hoping the smoother electric motor will be kinder and gentler on chains than a piston engine...)
- you mentioned wanting bar end mirrors. On my test ride I couldn't see much past my shoulders, but I may be wider than the average bear. How are the stock mirrors for you in practice?
- have you done a Santa Cruz mountain run? I live just south of SF and I'd be curious if it could make it all the way down 92 + Skyline + Hwy 9 to Santa Cruz on a single charge and then spend a couple of hours in SC at a J1772 outlet before returning along the coast. If I'm fairly smooth on the throttle (I tend to stay at a consistent speed <70 in the twisties rather than gun it from corner to corner) it should probably be able to just make that from the specs, but specs don't always tell the whole truth particularly when mountains and twisties are involved. A trickle charge at Alice's or Boulder Creek may be needed to bridge the distance. And, a 3.5 hour break in SC would turn an extended ride into an all-day affair. I'd assume that SF to Alice's and back would be no problem on one charge since I think Richard230 can make that on his ZF9 from Pacifica without much worry.
-
My longest ride would be from Pacifica, up Sharp Park Road to 35, then down 280 to Canada Road, though Woodside, up 84 to Alice's (which has just had its intersection overlaid with new asphalt on top of the new chip seal), down 84 to San Gregorio and back to Pacifica along Highway 1. However, I would have to keep my speeds at or below the speed limit and pray for no headwind when returning north along the coast. By the time I would arrive home, I would likely be on "emergency" power (the hidden twelfth bar on the "fuel" gauge).
I think I might be able to make it to Santa Cruz, going from Alice's, south along 35 to Highway 9. Then it is pretty much all downhill from there to Santa Cruz. But that would be a one-way trip for me as my bike would take 10 hours to recharge. Plus, I am not sure I could make it back home along Highway 1 due to the fast traffic along that stretch of highway. I would probably have to keep my speed under 50 mph and pretend there is no headwind to make it home from Santa Cruz. ???
-
The problem with the horn is that it's a bit rude. It's like yelling "Get Out Of The Way!" Perhaps I'll install a bicycle bell on my Empulse -- it's a lot more cheerful than a horn. Ideally, the horn would have two settings. The regular sound and a much more quiet sound that says "Please excuse me..."
I always wanted two horns...one to say hi to friends, one to say...well something less polite. The problem might be saying hi to a car cutting you off and saying something less polite to friends...
Gavin
This is what you need. :)
http://screaming-banshee.com/ (http://screaming-banshee.com/)
It's the only system I've seen that integrates an airhorn with the OEM horn instead of replacing it.
-
My questions:
- what are the standard maintenance intervals on everything (the page from the manual you posted earlier mentioned a 600 mile first oil change and a 3000 mile standard oil change, anything else? And how much oil does it take - assuming it's just the transmission that needs it? Time will tell, but I'm hoping the smoother electric motor will be kinder and gentler on chains than a piston engine...)
- you mentioned wanting bar end mirrors. On my test ride I couldn't see much past my shoulders, but I may be wider than the average bear. How are the stock mirrors for you in practice?
- have you done a Santa Cruz mountain run? I live just south of SF and I'd be curious if it could make it all the way down 92 + Skyline + Hwy 9 to Santa Cruz on a single charge and then spend a couple of hours in SC at a J1772 outlet before returning along the coast. If I'm fairly smooth on the throttle (I tend to stay at a consistent speed <70 in the twisties rather than gun it from corner to corner) it should probably be able to just make that from the specs, but specs don't always tell the whole truth particularly when mountains and twisties are involved. A trickle charge at Alice's or Boulder Creek may be needed to bridge the distance. And, a 3.5 hour break in SC would turn an extended ride into an all-day affair. I'd assume that SF to Alice's and back would be no problem on one charge since I think Richard230 can make that on his ZF9 from Pacifica without much worry.
1) You're correct - it's just transmission oil. They have a drain plug, and "sight screw" that you remove. Drain the oil, then fill it until you can see it in the sight screw hole and you're done. I was told it holds about 1qt, and the change interval is every 3000 miles. There's a "permanent coolant", but the guys told me it might not hurt to swap it every couple years.
2) The stock mirrors are decent and I can see past my elbows (unlike many sport bikes...and pretty much all Italian bikes), but given the narrow/compact style of the Empulse, I think the bar end mirrors will give it a sharp look on top of a clear side view. I'll post before/after pics once I get some time to mount them.
3) I haven't tried a Santa Cruz trip, but mapping a run from 280/84 (closest access to Skyline for me) to Santa Cruz is just about 47 miles, so I think it's totally doable...with a charging stop. I did the upper Skyline loop from 280/84, top of skyline, 92 back down 101 (stopped for coffee), ran an errand in San Carlos, then back home (total of 40-ish miles) and I still had 40% battery remaining. No attempt at maxing range either - I was just riding normally. Don at Scuderia was talking about lobbying for a Level 2 charger at Alice's and I think all of us in the Bay Area would find that extremely useful. It could become a magnet for Leaf drivers, so we might need a couple ports, or mark it "EV motorcycles only" on Sundays. :P Putting a couple in Boulder Creek and Half Moon Bay might be nice strategic locations too.
- Ain
-
Yeah, there was a last minuteish change to a Parker motor. More vroom. That was a bit of the talk at Daytona.
-
Yeah, there was a last minuteish change to a Parker motor. More vroom. That was a bit of the talk at Daytona.
That's what I heard too. The SMRE couldn't deliver the performance Brammo wanted, so they changed the motor to Parker, but the transmission (and clutch, according to the manual) is still SMRE. Note that Parker motors scale up. The Empulse R uses size 1, RR uses size 2. I think they go as high as size 6, and then you can stack them to get even more power.
-
This is what you need. :)
http://screaming-banshee.com/ (http://screaming-banshee.com/)
It's the only system I've seen that integrates an airhorn with the OEM horn instead of replacing it.
Dunno how this got to be a horn thread, but... that Banshee looks to be the standard compact Nautilus horn. I've had lots of them and have a love/hate relationship. I love their loudness. I don't love the pause before they start up, although it's very short. But I really hate the fact that they don't tolerate water at all. I even spent big bucks on their nautical version that was supposed to be water resistant and it lasted about half a winter in the rains. I finally gave up after about my fourth horn.
After reading tons of reviews, I went into my local Kragen's auto store and found a twin-tone electric setup that's plenty loud, instant on, and has held up in the rain, even mounted low on the front fork. And they weren't expensive at $20. A quick tap is fairly polite and a prolonged button-press can be heard inside the SUV's on the freeway as they obliviously drift over the braille bumps between lanes while chatting away on their cell phones. Bless their little hearts!
Something like these:
http://www.amazon.com/FIAMM-74100-El-Grande-Horns/dp/B000DLBIGG (http://www.amazon.com/FIAMM-74100-El-Grande-Horns/dp/B000DLBIGG)
And Flar, I hear your pain. The BMW Teutonic switchgear logic almost drove me crazy (short trip!). I've heard their newer bikes have finally overthrown the German infallible wisdom in favor of the heretical Japanese norm. Maybe an engineer finally died.
-
Thanks Ain for addressing my questions.
I would have never guessed there would be that kind of break in period. Clutch slipping while pulling into freeway traffic is a bit scary.
Interesting they want you to inspect the plates and springs every 3K miles. Is that something an owner can easily do?
-
Having two older BMW's I can tell you that you can get used to the turn signal switches. But you never get used to the horn button system! :o That button is just useless. ??? I am happy to hear that Brammo is sticking to conventional handlebar controls. :)
-
Thanks Ain for addressing my questions.
I would have never guessed there would be that kind of break in period. Clutch slipping while pulling into freeway traffic is a bit scary.
Interesting they want you to inspect the plates and springs every 3K miles. Is that something an owner can easily do?
I had the exact same thing occur with an early VIN 2000 Yamaha R1 when it was new. Yamaha's fix was either let it break in for a few hundred miles, or follow a Yamaha TSB which said to remove the clutch plates and soak them in oil for 24 hours.
My guess was that the new clutch plates were a little tight and still hasn't let the oil fully soak into the friction material. Dry clutches in Ducatis can act up a bit when new too, so I'm assuming this is just break-in.
I'm not sure on the inspection steps, but that would be another good request for the owners manual (right now it just covers the oil change in the maintenance section).
- Ain
-
Yeah, there was a last minuteish change to a Parker motor. More vroom. That was a bit of the talk at Daytona.
That's what I heard too. The SMRE couldn't deliver the performance Brammo wanted, so they changed the motor to Parker, but the transmission (and clutch, according to the manual) is still SMRE. Note that Parker motors scale up. The Empulse R uses size 1, RR uses size 2. I think they go as high as size 6, and then you can stack them to get even more power.
To stop any misinformation I may have almost caused, BrammoBrian has posted in the forum somewhere about the switch to the Parker motor. The gist is while the other motor has the same peak power, the Parker had some better torque somewhere in the powerband that they liked, and credited Parker's better cooling as aiding in this. He ended it weird, and now I am wondering if only the R gets the new Parker motor. But I suspect its more like a baby started crying, or he had a meeting to go to and simply ended it wierd.
-
Hi Bill,
I'll take a stab your list of questions...
As part of the ordering process, were you asked your weight so the correct springs could be chosen for the shocks? I live and work (from my bike) in San Francisco and am very much interested in shocks that can soak up some of our terrible street nightmares. I had some Wilburs on a R1200R that were solid in the twisties AND just lovely over rapid quick harsh surfaces. I would like to duplicate that experience on the Empulse.
Please clarify, if you can, the reasoning behind keeping the bike in "Normal" mode initially. Is that so YOU can break in to the bike? Ease the batteries into their cycles? Baby the new bearings in the motor? This just doesn't make obvious sense to me.
When I got to test ride the Empulse R, I and others noted the drive train lash when transitioning from throttle to regen. Don said the software update fixed that. What's your experience in that area with your bike? Smooth enough?
The latest Motorcycle.com review video mentioned a "kind of clunky" tranny. Although I've experienced balky gearboxes that loosen up with break in (and synthetic oil), I'd like to hear your impression.
Any experience to give us a good estimate of the range at a constant 65 mph on the freeways?
Did you get any sense about the flow of future bikes into Scuderia West?
Any word on an ETA for the side and top cases? Windshield?
Do you have any idea of the wattage limit of the 12V accessory port?
1) I asked the same question on springs since I had always upgraded mine on bikes I used for the track. They didn't have numbers for me when I took delivery, but I'm guessing they're standard for the suspension components since the bike only weighs 470lbs. I'll see if I can get some photos of part numbers on the forks/shock to try and match them.
2) "Sport" seems to effect the abruptness of the throttle - both accelerating harder and kicking in regen more aggressively (see the photo of the owners manual below). I'm guessing the "break in" is more for the transmission/clutch since I did have the clutch slip once on quick acceleration onto the freeway while shifting. It's feeling a lot better after 180 miles.
3) The driveline lash is not an issue at all while the bike is rolling. It feels different, but not "bad". The only real lash that I find a little strange is starting from a dead stop, if you try to accelerate aggressively from a dead stop with the clutch out, there's a little bit of a clunk.
4) I'll have to do a 65MPH test and see where the range seems to settle. I've been a bit heavy handed, so I know that continuous 75-80MPH seems good for 50-60 miles.
5) Talk to Don about the next bikes at Scuderia - he'll be the best source. ;)
6) The Brammo guys let me know they have a whole range of accessories in the works, but I'm assuming they're focusing on getting the bikes out right now. I'll probably start with some more universal stuff like bar-end mirrors.
7) I asked about the 12v port too, and they didn't have the specs when I picked it up. I'll follow up with an e-mail. I'd like to plug in a heated vest for this time of year, and didn't want to blow a fuse.
- Ain
Hello Ain. Congrats on being the first to get an Empulse, welcome to the forum, and beware the sneaky bloggers that hang out here and may use your photo for their own gain (properly accredited of course).
I was wondering what you were riding before this bikes, and what kind of range you were getting out of it? I am assuming it was a gas bike.
Thank you,
Richard
-
Hello Ain. Congrats on being the first to get an Empulse, welcome to the forum, and beware the sneaky bloggers that hang out here and may use your photo for their own gain (properly accredited of course).
I was wondering what you were riding before this bikes, and what kind of range you were getting out of it? I am assuming it was a gas bike.
Thank you,
Richard
Hi Richard - I'm still keeping a couple gas bikes (can't quit cold turkey), but I'm use to only a little over 100 miles on sport bikes, and close to 200'ish on my BMW K1300S.
I'm planning to keep the K1300S for a while as it's my multi-day bike if I need to do a road trip or long weekend.
I have a feeling the Empulse R will quickly become my favorite for all the "around town" stuff and commuting to work. ;)
- Ain