Agility Saietta - competition for Brammo?

[Richard230]

Well, it has similar performance claims to the Empulse models, but the design and prices are a little more extreme. What do you think? Read about it and see the artsy photos here:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/agility-saietta-unveiled-the-decidedly-unconventional-electric/

Personally, I wouldn't be caught dead riding one around town, but it would look really cool in a modern art museum.   

[Brammofan]

Today is the first I've heard of this bike and they say deliveries will begin in April? It's ... interesting looking.  Not impressed with the fit and finish of the bike on display.  Anyone else see the throttle control housing that doesn't quite fit?

Good luck to them.

[protomech]

Definitely an unusual design. Maybe they're targeting april of 2012.

As a point of comparison, S1000RR costs £12000 in the UK, $14750 in the US. I would expect the £9,975 and £13,975 prices to be closer to $12-13k and $17-18k in the US, not the $16k and $22k a direct currency conversion indicates.

675 bhp per ton compares favorably to the lightest of the Empulses, the Empulse 6.0, which is 330 bhp per metric ton. That's somewhat optimistic; the battery packs are likely 5-6 kwh and 10-12 kwh, which means the quoted power (if Saietta S) is a 12-16C discharge or more. Perhaps the quoted power is only for the Saietta R.

They're at the London Motorcycle Show now, so hopefully we'll get some more information soon.

[Richard230]

Other than the weird looks, I have a design problem with this vehicle. It looks to me that the batteries are under the bulbous fairing and that places them very high and over the front wheel. As someone who has ridden motorcycles with large gas tanks, having a lot of weight up high and in front of the rider is not going to provide a feeling of security when riding at slow speeds, or when trying to navigate an S-curve - to say nothing about trying to pick up the vehicle if it should fall over. I wonder why they chose to locate the batteries so high?

The other thing that really caught my eye is the weird front suspension. It appears to have little if any rake or trail. To me that looks scary to ride. Or am I missing something.

Finally, as someone who has also owned a couple of Italian motorcycles, I wouldn't believe a thing Italian motorcycle manufacturers say about claimed performance, or when a vehicle will be on the market.

[Vibetrippin]

I only had a quick look since the price tag is out of my range. I thought I spotted the batteries down at the bottom though. Isn't that them with the yellow sticker across the box? I could be totally out, but it just seems like the logical spot to put your center of gravity when you have the option. As I said though, I wasn't looking very hard. The teardrop fairing turned me off.

[EmpulseRider]

I’m not a fan (AgilityFan) Though I gotta hand it to em... pretty wild looking bike, putting such a controversial design into production takes some balls. Gotta love the typical Engadget comments... very opinionative, outspoken, bunch they are.

[Kelly Olsen]

Very wild indeed. Possibly more of a design statement than a practical bike.

I'll stick with the classic lines of the Enertia Plus. I still think it is a very cool melding of a standard motorcycle with a modern cut and comes together in one great design.

[webman]

I saw this thing on Gizmag a few weeks ago.  Terrible design.  That bulbous, high 'fairing' thing doesn't do anything except block your vision.  The proportions seem to be weirdness just for weirdness' sake.  I could understand if it actually DID SOMETHING USEFUL, but geez!  This sort of thing gives designers a bad name.


eric aka webman
architect, designer, bomb-throwing, crackpot critic

[protomech]

Full circle. First customer Agility Saietta delivered recently.

http://insideevs.com/first-saietta-r-electric-motorcycle-gets-delivered/

No word of the rumored two-speed transmission from last year.

Additionally, the smaller Saietta S is no longer on Agility's website.

[Richard230]

I found it interesting that the new owner of the Saietta also owns an BMW F800ST, which he now plans to sell.  I posted the Saietta article on the F800riders forum (some of whom have an interest in electric motorcycles), with the comment that if I was him, I would keep the ST around just in case.  You know what is like to be an "early adopter" of new technology - especially being the first adopter.  You are also the company's test rider.   

[kingcharles]

It seems that a Saietta is going for a UK Land speed record.

The first UK owner of a Brammo Empulse should be able to beat that!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=654438924610676

[protomech]

If it's Darvill Racing they should have an Empulse sitting in their shop to run it against.

[Brammofan]

I often think I should have an Empulse in my garage, but sometimes there's a big difference between should have and reality.

[flar]

Darvill Racing was announced as a Factory Supported Team for the TTX in the FIM eRoadRacing series.  They are the Racing arm of Darvill Distribution which was also signed on as a distributor for Brammo in the UK.

So, it's not speculation or wishful thinking that "they should have an Empulse" available.  The question is whether bikes have been delivered to either company since DDI is not yet listed on the Brammo dealer list (despite press announcements about their distribution and the fact that they list Brammo on their web site).  The races will be happening in June and July so hopefully they have the race bikes available by now...?

http://darvillracing.co.uk/world-first/
http://darvillracing.co.uk/brammo/
http://www.darvilldistribution.com/
http://www.darvilldistribution.com/realrider-app-will-provided-every-new-brammo-bike-sold-uk/
http://www.electricracenews.com/2014/02/darvill-racing-first-to-race-electric.html