Brammo Owners Forum

Please see:  Brammo Empulse FAQ - Re:  2014 Brammo Empulse $1000

Regarding the above referenced post I would appreciate knowing if anyone has experienced a clutch that stops engaging for no apparent reason as with my Empulse clutch.  The clutch worked perfectly last time the bike was ridden.  A couple of weeks later I went on another casual ride and immediately there was no clutch engagement.  Bled the clutch two different occasions and still no engagement.  Finally into a ride after the 2nd bleed, the clutch suddenly started working again which would appear not to indicate air in the line.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

See June 11 post - "Collectors Item" for details, - all same except new price listing.  Will not respond to any lower price negotiation requests.  This is the final offering for this bike.

Roland Stone

Been reading some of the “theft” posts in "Off Topic", and so maybe my Empulse won’t be stolen for parts anytime soon, but what about my $5,000 helmet or my Emilio Pucci tail bag or the Rizoma parts collection?  Whereas my Empulse steering lock is probably as effective a deterrent as some of the heavy-duty anti-theft stainless hardware on the market, I still think a burglar alarm like the Scorpio i900 with perimeter sensing and GPS tracking and a 125 decibel audio screamer would give pause to even the most determined thief looking to snatch something off your bike in crowded environment.

BUT, an alarm system of any sophistication requires a continuous albeit low-level (milliamps) power source for whatever reason not provided on the production Empulse, requiring a lot of messy imaginative ways around the problem, and ultimately just not worth the trouble that a continuous hot connection would easily solve.

Brammo’s response to my 12V continuous hot connection is, “there isn’t one”, and you can be damned sure that while they’ve got no propriety reservations suggesting all the latest aftermarket “farkles” to improve on their design limitations, they’re not going to tell you how to make a hot 12V connection, - liability, too busy, afraid you’re going to leave the lights on, what?.   

With all that electricity surging between the legs of Empulse riders, there’s got to be a way (irrespective warranty considerations) coming up with a hot connection, and with all the intelligent discussion I’ve come across in the Owner’s Forum, I can’t believe there’s no one in the owner’s community who could actually make one.  There has got to be a way, and there’s got to be someone clever enough to come up with a solution!  I’ve read several posts where owners have considered the 12V connection dilemma in their need for an electrical vest receptacle and such, so people are dancing close to the issue, but afraid to say the dirty word, - “hot connection”.

With all the electrical, electronic talent in the forum community, isn’t there someone out there who can offer an actual, step-by-step procedure for making a continuous hot 12V connection.  My other Empulse is an EFI Triumph Bonneville, and the Triumph “Rat.net” forum community led me, - walked me through every possible “farkle”, mechanical, electrical, and other technological project imaginable.  Maybe unfortunate I come to this forum with that experience, but it would be gratifying to discover there are some Empulse owners interested and capable of projects beyond installing the latest iteration of Rizoma add-ons.  We own these bikes.  If Brammo can venture into one-off racing projects, surely we should be able considering Tinkertoy projects as mundane as a hot connection without feeling we might offend Brammo sensibilities.  Problem is, I just don’t possess the electrical know-how and I need some "Rat.net" type community help if it’s out there.  If Elon Musk can send rockets into space, why can’t Empulse owners (owner) imagine a non-switchable 12V hot connection, or is that a project better left to Elon?

Reference my 10/24 post about a 12V hot connection for a burglar alarm installation on my Empulse......

Good suggestions and advice from all, but am going with Shinyside’s Xena XX disk lock referral.  My reasons are, - can’t install the Scorpio/FM system on my Empulse without some aux battery set up and whereas the Scorpio i900 will  “alert” you your bike is being disturbed, if the alarm doesn’t worry potential thieves, the lack of any mechanical restraint (Xena) won’t interfere with their travel plans.  Also, the Scorpio is electronic and only as reliable as.  Both systems put out 120 decibels but the Xena disk lock makes the bike a pound+ heavier for the minimum 4 people it would take to hoist the Empulse onto the back of a truck.  Alternatively, with both the handlebar lock and disk lock engaged, no one’s likely to roll the bike very far.  And as Shinyside pointed out, the Xena is significantly less expensive.  The only con with the Xena is, - like a gun, if you leave it at home because you don’t like lugging the weight around, it’s not going to do you any good.  Actually, more likely someone will have a go at my Rizoma 4-D's if they can do it very gently.

Just wondering, Shinnyside, where you pack your Xena when you’re heading out on the bike?

Interesting clip on Bloomberg this morning.......

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/chip-yates-world-s-fastest-electric-plane-to-cross-atlantic-CPPjEyLsQJ~q67aMJ_Y_eQ.html

Saw a Bloomberg video this morning on the Italian "Energica" electric which besides being a little too sleek looking for my taste and its 150 mph top speed capability (where are wings?), the most serious drawback, my opinion, is the lack of a gearbox, and then there's the price(!), - they want $34,000 for the 500+ pound behemoth.  Imagine getting that slightly off vertical, - it would take two old ladies to pull that off you.

Just getting comfortable with my new Empulse R, I'm finding one of its features I really enjoy is the 6-speed gear box/clutch setup, smoother than my Bonneville's and any Beemer I've owned(R60, R80, K100).  Had no idea how good the gearbox was to be, but it is a feature priority that drew me to the Brammo I now wouldn't do without in considering any electric motorbike.

Kudos to Brammo for an incredably imaginative, well thought out, and designed EV, - definitely a step into the future.  Credit to all those who had a hand in its developent.  That's my Bloomberg note for today........

Having read somewhere herein about a guy having done his first trans oil change finding “chunks” on the magnetic drain plug, made me decide doing my first oil change early, - at 97 hours.  It’s only oil and the procedure is a piece of cake.  Considering that the new transmission was probably swirling with bits of shaved off metal bits, thought I’d like to clean house early to get a feel for what size/shape particles were picked up by the magnetic plug in the first few hours of gear grinding and missed shifts.  Happy to report there was only a relatively small amount of “fuzz” covering the magnetic tip, - no chunks with numbers.  Cleaned the plug with alcohol and removed the remaining metal fuzz with masking tape which I find doesn’t transfer the sticky to the plug, reinstalled the drain plug and filled up with one of the recommended oils, Repsol.  It comes in 1 liter bottles with a cute plastic filler straw that pulls out from the cap. Chose the Repsol because the 1 liter bottle eliminates any guessing, - it’s 1 liter out, 1 liter in.  Using quart quantity bottles, you have to add just a squiz more oil from a new bottle which entails monitoring the oil piss hole for proper level.  A comment on the drain plug copper crush gasket/washer, - it's soft.  Had to reuse mine because my order for spares hadn't arrived yet, but don't think I'll be using the original for a third time.  Suggest ordering a half dozen well ahead of your scheduled oil change. 

Got a little weary trying to match the required oil specs (as found in the Owner's Manual) with actual product and was finally able getting actual product information from Brammo Service as follows:

Composition Requirements:
•        Synthetic
•        SAE 10W-30 weight oil.
•        Detergent free.
•        Wet clutch compatible.
•        JASO-MA/MA1/MA2

Here is a list of Brammo Approved oils;

Approved Oil Listing by Brand Name:
•        Amsoil Synthetic SAE10W-30 API-GL1 API-SL JASO-MA2 Motorcycle Oil (Wet Clutch Approved).
•        Lucas Synthetic SAE10W-30 API-SL Motorcycle Oil (Wet Clutch Approved).
•        Castrol Power 1 4T SAE10W-30 API-SJ JASO-MA2 Motorcycle Oil (Wet Clutch Approved).
•        Motorex Top Speed 4T Synthetic SAE10W-30 API-SL JASO-MA Motorcycle Oil (Wet Clutch Approved).
•        Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T SAE10W-30 API-SL JASO-MA2 Motorcycle Oil (Wet Clutch Approved).
•        Repsol Moto Racing HMEOC 4T SAE10W-30 API-SJ JASO-MA Motorcycle Oil (Wet Clutch Approved).