Brammo Owners Forum
Brammo Empulse Discussion => Brammo Empulse => Topic started by: CAT in HAWAII on January 02, 2013, 08:58:44 PM
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>:(. Well, went today to Bartel's HD in LA,,
Had my test ride,, & ,, I'm hooked!
The clunk is noticeable , but after a little bit of driving, who notices???
The whine is neat,, will it annoy me later? Not sure,, but for now I don't care,,,
Well, already have shipping scheduled, so to Hawaii
Ill be riding for sure by the end of the month!!! ;D
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Sweet! I'd love to see temps in the 70s right now.. cold riding is no bueno.
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>:(. Well, went today to Bartel's HD in LA,,
Had my test ride,, & ,, I'm hooked!
The clunk is noticeable , but after a little bit of driving, who notices???
The whine is neat,, will it annoy me later? Not sure,, but for now I don't care,,,
Well, already have shipping scheduled, so to Hawaii
Ill be riding for sure by the end of the month!!! ;D
Update: yesterday made four weeks since I signed papers and paid, & my Empulse is on the ship as of yesterday, after having taken a detour from the dealer back to BRAMMO ,,,
So by the end of next week I should be out on the road!
The wait was agonizing, just a out as bad as after having taken the MSF course, and all that fun, and not being able to ride cause I was looking for a bike,,,
Not much selection of used bike's on Oahu, so that took awhile,,,
But it's finally on the way!!! Some nice pics coming next week!!! ;D
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68 degrees in Hawaii right now. *shakes fist at weather*
Gonna be awesome. Going to have some nice backgrounds for photos too : )
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The Weather in WA state cleared up a bit this weekend. I wish i could get out and ride now but Empulse buyers are waiting on some dealer stuff.
>:( As long as I get mine by spring I should be ok.
Good luck with the Hawaii riding!
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68 degrees in Hawaii right now. *shakes fist at weather*
Gonna be awesome. Going to have some nice backgrounds for photos too : )
Cold last night,, went down to 65 !!! :o
Last weekend before getting my bike,, Super Bowl and all I
Really would rather be riding,,,,
Yup! Some nice pics on the way,, I don't have a "video" unit
Of any kind,, I'd like to get one,,
Really, what's "better" (easier) ,, the Contour or the GoPro??
I'd mostly use it for the bike,, and also going snowboarding,,,
I have a Mac, so both should work with that right?
Any REAL WORLD reccomendations?
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yes...get the new gopro hero3 well worth it.
Here is a vid I shot while in Belize. If you look at my other videos you can see where I had it mounted on my GT-R during a HPDE
https://vimeo.com/58158166
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yes...get the new gopro hero3 well worth it.
Here is a vid I shot while in Belize. If you look at my other videos you can see where I had it mounted on my GT-R during a HPDE
https://vimeo.com/58158166
Wow, very nice!
What frame rate do you record in?
Use a Mac or PC for editing? What program?
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on frame rate...just depends. If I am doing high speed stuff and am thinking about slowing it down to do slow mo then 60. But usually I like the "cinema look" of 24fps.
But I use FCP....but perviously only used iMovie. I like some of the extra things that you can do with FCP and with the new version ( FCP X) it's pretty easy for a novice to start in it. Check out my one labeled "urban air". I think I did that one at 60 fps.
also the new one is nice as it has an app on the iphone and a remote to start and stop the cam whenever
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Great! Now I gotta get a hero3 *and* FCP,,
That does come with an education discount right???
Ok,, now I have a plan for this week!!!
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hahahaha!
have you ever used iMovie? If not then Final Cut Pro is probably overkill. iMovie is just $14.99 on the app store. There is a 30day free trial of FCP X though if you want to give it a try.
The nice thing about FCP is there are a lot of "how to" websites and videos on youtube to show you tips and tricks.
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Well, I've used iMovie a few times before,,,
And photoshop is not easy either,,, but does afford one a lot more leeway in options and room to grow,,,
I'll have to check it out more,,, thanks!
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I'm taking a test ride tomorrow. Since I ride a Street Triple r, a gsxr-1000 and recently owned a Ninja 300 and a Ninja 650r, I should be able to make some comparisons in terms of handling and performance.
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Recently owned a Ninja 300? The bike that's been out for about six months? What was wrong with it?
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Yes, I bought it Nov 30th and traded it in Jan 26th with 850 miles on it. Nothing much wrong with it. Many do have a quirk that may be related to the mapping, but Kawa hasn't said. When you depress the clutch especially going downhill, the engine rpms drop rapidly and the engine stops. Some do it a lot. Mine only did it when the engine was still cold. You can circumvent it by giving the throttle a tweak as you squeeze the clutch. It's a typical in-line twin which means it vibrates a bit. Not quite as much as the 650r, but more than I like. I traded it cause I made a killer deal on a new 2011 GSXR-1000 using the 300 as a trade-in. To show you how much I like THAT bike, I just turned 1500 miles in 10 days of owning it.
The Empulse was OK. Not $21,000 worth of bike though. The seat was perfect for me at 5'7" and it handled fine, and acceleration was also ok. Foot pegs were a little high, but those might be adjustable. The noises coming from the gearbox were a distraction. There was this delayed clunk as I accelerated from a stop. I'm not sure what that was, but I didn't like it. I'm thinking I might like the sound of the 2013 Zero better. I owned a 2011 Zero S until the Agni motor burned up with 2000 miles and that bike was fine and certainly sounded better than the Empulse. I traded the Zero in on a new Vespa. Yes, I do a lot of bike trading.
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Yeah, the "clunk" is noticeable, but ,,,
I'm *supposed* to be able to pick up my bike tomorrow, but have t gotten a call from FedEx yet,, which makes me think they so t be ready tomorrow ,, but if not then Monday!!!
You must live in a big city, lots of bikes trading hands, I still should sell my HD Sportster ,, just washed it yesterday, so probably put in on the Hickam lemon lot for a couple of weeks ,, if that don't work, the. A much more thorough cleaning, pics, and then put on Craigslist , and wait for the calls to come in,,,
Oh we'll,, not my cup of tea waiting for meeting people, but oh well,,, :-\
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Yeah, the "clunk" is noticeable, but ,,,
The clunk really bothered me for the first few days. But I've learned how to minimize it to the point of elimination most of the time. Either it's gone completely, or it's no more jarring than shoving my BMW into first from neutral at a light.
The trick is really easy and has become automatic. If I'm stopped on any surface other than a very steep downhill, I put my feet on the pavement and push the bike back a bit, maybe 6 inches to a foot. This takes the slack out of the drive train, so that when I next roll on the throttle, the bike just goes, smoothly. If I can't roll the bike back (steep hill or car too close behind me) I just very slowly nudge the throttle, while waiting for the light to change, which takes the slack out with just a very faint sound.
Every brand and model has a quirk. These give bikes character. This "feature" is now just another reason for me to really like this bike.
And my Empulse from the same dealer came to $20K, less $2900 in fed and CA tax credits, not $21K. Worth it? Every penny! I guess, by nature, I'm a lover, not a trader. (Same wife 29 years too... might be a keeper!)
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The trick is really easy and has become automatic. If I'm stopped on any surface other than a very steep downhill, I put my feet on the pavement and push the bike back a bit, maybe 6 inches to a foot. This takes the slack out of the drive train, so that when I next roll on the throttle, the bike just goes, smoothly. If I can't roll the bike back (steep hill or car too close behind me) I just very slowly nudge the throttle, while waiting for the light to change, which takes the slack out with just a very faint sound.
Thanks for that insight. I was getting a little worried about the "clunk". The transition on my Ninja is pretty smooth (I suppose I've had to learn how to do that), and of course there's no clunk at all on a Zero S. I would rather not have some aspect of the Empulse that was significantly worse than other bikes.
I expect the real reason I don't feel that on my gas bike when starting is that I have to ease the clutch out, so the engine is always pushing against the transmission, softly at first.
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Yeah, the "clunk" is noticeable, but ,,,
I'm *supposed* to be able to pick up my bike tomorrow, but have t gotten a call from FedEx yet,, which makes me think they so t be ready tomorrow ,, but if not then Monday!!!
Yeah,,, :-[
No pics! No video ! ,,, no bike!!!
I never was given a tracking number for my FedEx freight
Shipment, but no worries, the boat didn't land on Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Thursday for that matter,,
It got to port in Honolulu on Friday, and after getting up early from work with
Un-crateing tools and picking up my buddy, it was not to be!
The local lady at the office got my shipment info, and boat was off-loading on Friday, so Monday 8am is the earliest I can pick it up,,
Bummers! It's SUCH a nice sunny day today,,, looks like I gotta do some yard work, since I don't have the excuse of getting to know the new BABY,, oh well!!
Pics, video, and happiness coming on Monday!!!!
PS, ok Gavin,,, so,,, I gotta go to my MSF course TOTAL CONTROL book and figure out
Adjustments since you won't write a little ride adjustment app for me,,, (sigh) ,,,
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Oh I could write you a ride adjustment map...of course there would be a 73% chance your bike would explode...
Which is why I never adjust anything on my rides...I leave that to the professionals...
G
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Oh I could write you a ride adjustment map...of course there would be a 73% chance your bike would explode...
Which is why I never adjust anything on my rides...I leave that to the professionals...
G
Yeah,, not enough market in Hawaii to have specialists for bikes for suspension and such,, but I got a friend of a friend who does mobile motorcycle repair,, gotta give him a call,, may e a couple of weeks after I get the bike,,,
Gotta have a point of reference ,,, so,,, explosions not on the horizon!!! :-\
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I know a guy in Hawaii that might know. Jeremiah Johnson, not sure what Island he's on, pretty sure it's the big island. PM me and I can give you his email address.
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Ok,,, thanks!!! ;D
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I expect the real reason I don't feel that on my gas bike when starting is that I have to ease the clutch out, so the engine is always pushing against the transmission, softly at first.
I think you're right on. Plus there's just more torque hitting the drive train from an electric. No stalling here!
Another aspect of "clunk reduction" is refined throttle control. At 1200 miles, my right hand is starting to tune in to exactly what's needed. In transitioning from deceleration to acceleration while still moving, if my hand twists skillfully, there's very little sensation that's abrupt. Operating a fine machine finely is the ticket!
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Hmmmm, which then raises the suggestion:
Who wants to write the guide on "how best to drive an electric motorcycle with a clutch."
It would be the very first "how to" of its kind....
Gavin
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Jeremiah has been back in Florida for a while.
Pre-load is about sag numbers. This is how much the suspension compresses under the bike's own and your weight. Finding out the sag numbers is the first thing you need. Then you want to run the compression dampening as stiff as you are willing to deal with. More compression is firmer, less is softer. Rebound controls how fast the fork and shock spring back after being compressed. Too much and they will "pack" down. In other words if you go over successive bumps or dips either end will feel like it is slowly lowering itself to the ground. Too little rebound dampening and it will feel like a pogo stick.
Cat, what island are you on? I will drop a line to Jeremiah and see if he can recommend a place.
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On Oahu,, west side,,,
Hot & sunny for my PV to make 'electric ,, to power my Empulse,,
Thanks again,, somebody who knows what they are doing can be a big help,,
I've only been riding about a year,,, but it's been a blast! ;D
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Hmmmm, which then raises the suggestion:
Who wants to write the guide on "how best to drive an electric motorcycle with a clutch."
That might be a rather subjective topic. In any case, that information would fit right into the Wiki (http://www.brammoforum.com/wiki), and if nobody writes anything in a month or two, I'll probably give it a shot.
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The trick is really easy and has become automatic. If I'm stopped on any surface other than a very steep downhill, I put my feet on the pavement and push the bike back a bit, maybe 6 inches to a foot. This takes the slack out of the drive train, so that when I next roll on the throttle, the bike just goes, smoothly.
And if you scoot it back about a foot and then let go with your feet when the light turns green it slingshots you across the intersection! (Sorry, but I just got this image in my brain of the little toy cars with the friction wind-up motors...)
Thanks for the tip Shiny, I've started doing that and it works great. It actually only takes about 2 or 3 inches to get the slack out. When I come to a stop I immediately recoil a couple of inches and no more clunks...
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I'm pretty sure that the brammoforum store will soon have Clunk B Gone in convenient aerosol cans. Keep watching this space.
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68 degrees in Hawaii right now. *shakes fist at weather*
Gonna be awesome. Going to have some nice backgrounds for photos too : )
Yay! Bike is HOME!!! From warehouse to truck to un-crating!!!
Pics later,, I can't seem to up-load,, it's saying pics are too large,, it's only from my iPhone,,,
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68 degrees in Hawaii right now. *shakes fist at weather*
Gonna be awesome. Going to have some nice backgrounds for photos too : )
Yay! Bike is HOME!!! From warehouse to truck to un-crating!!!
Pics later,, I can't seem to up-load,, it's saying pics are too large,, it's only from my iPhone,,,
Lets try this again,,
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68 degrees in Hawaii right now. *shakes fist at weather*
Gonna be awesome. Going to have some nice backgrounds for photos too : )
Yay! Bike is HOME!!! From warehouse to truck to un-crating!!!
Pics later,, I can't seem to up-load,, it's saying pics are too large,, it's only from my iPhone,,,
Ok, I can do two at a time,,,
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Lol - yours made it across an ocean in better shape than a couple that went across the US. ;)
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Congrats!
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Looks great... Now go ride :)
Gavin
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Congratulations!
How did you get it of your truck?
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Congratulations!
How did you get it of your truck?
I had it loaded into my truck cause it was poring rain on the way down, & traffic was really bad,,
So the put the whole crate on my truck (just barely fit) and we drove it to an industrial area about 5 miles from my house . I tried the NAPA distribution center, but they wouldn't unload it for me,,,
I then went to the local grain fees store, and the forklift guy was more than happy to help me out!!!
He was also impressed with the bike,, and *I was impressed with how easy it was to un-crate!!
Just some metal clips and it was disassembled!! Really was super easy!
Just put all the crate pieces into the back of the truck, and had to try to control,, myself,, from not going over 3500 RPM,, really!
Ok, so what's the real deal? No sport mode or above 3500 RPM till 600 miles?
That is for real huh???
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I'm thinking there is no way I'm staying under 3500 for the break in... At least not until someone can scare me into it! ;D
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*I was impressed with how easy it was to un-crate!!
Just some metal clips and it was disassembled!! Really was super easy!
Can you believe that the dealer charged me $365 (+ tax) for that? And they didn't even set the clock to Florida time, or fill up the battery to 100%. >:( When I was told about the setup fee, I offered to uncrate the thing myself, which they flatly refused, giving me a few reasons that didn't change my opinion that the fee is just easy money for them. :(
On the other hand, they did fix up the transport damage and let me take the bike away that day, so I think that they earned a least some of their fee.
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Just put all the crate pieces into the back of the truck, and had to try to control,, myself,, from not going over 3500 RPM,, really!
Ok, so what's the real deal? No sport mode or above 3500 RPM till 600 miles?
That is for real huh???
It should have come with a stapled provisional owner's manual that would lay that all out.
No sport mode for 600 miles
< 3500 RPM for just the first 150 miles
< 5000 RPM for the rest of the first 600 miles
(5000 RPM is the efficiency peak so once you get to that 150 mile mark you can start to view the restrictions as really just training you to pay attention to the most efficient way to run the motor)
early maintenance issues would include:
oil chain every 300 miles
change the transmission oil at 600 miles to get rid of the break-in debris and then on a schedule after that.
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And if you want to see that in table form, check out the wiki page that somebody* put together.
http://www.brammoforum.com/wiki/index.php?title=Empulse_Break_In_Schedule (http://www.brammoforum.com/wiki/index.php?title=Empulse_Break_In_Schedule)
* Clearly, this was done by somebody who had nothing better to do while waiting for an Empulse to be delivered... ;)
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And if you want to see that in table form, check out the wiki page that somebody* put together.
http://www.brammoforum.com/wiki/index.php?title=Empulse_Break_In_Schedule (http://www.brammoforum.com/wiki/index.php?title=Empulse_Break_In_Schedule)
* Clearly, this was done by somebody who had nothing better to do while waiting for an Empulse to be delivered... ;)
No doubt!!! But something like that would be a great asset for meticulous people like me to help keep track of it!!! ;D
early maintenance issues would include:
oil chain every 300 miles
change the transmission oil at 600 miles to get rid of the break-in debris and then on a schedule after that.
I read again that part! Thanks! So did I screw up my bike without knowing it? During the "test ride" at the dealer, I KNOW I went past 3500 RPM,,, or 500 for that matter !
The salesperson never mentioned anything like that,,,
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*I was impressed with how easy it was to un-crate!!
Just some metal clips and it was disassembled!! Really was super easy!
Can you believe that the dealer charged me $365 (+ tax) for that? And they didn't even set the clock to Florida time, or fill up the battery to 100%. >:( When I was told about the setup fee, I offered to uncrate the thing myself, which they flatly refused, giving me a few reasons that didn't change my opinion that the fee is just easy money for them. :(
On the other hand, they did fix up the transport damage and let me take the bike away that day, so I think that they earned a least some of their fee.
Sorry about your charges!!!
If you didn't already re-set your time , here's how:
SETTING THE TIME
The time and date on your Empulse were set at the factory to Pacific Standard Time. If you need to adjust the time on your Empulse:
1. Connect the charging connector to the Empulse and a wall outlet. This will put the Empulse in charging mode.
2. Press and hold the Mode (Black) and Trip (Green) buttons simultaneously for approximately two seconds to enter Setup mode.
3. Press the Mode button (Black) to select either HOURS or MINUTES.
4. Press the Trip (Green) button to increase the selected setting.
5. Once you have finished adjusting the time, press the MODE button to select EXIT and then press the Trip button to confirm.
Note: If no button is pressed for more than 30 seconds, the Empulse will revert back to Charging mode.
6. Disconnect the charging connector from the Empulse.