Brammo Empulse on Jay Leno's Garage - March 11

[Brammofan]

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/brammo-empulse-r---coming-march-11/index.shtml

Go and post a comment!

[Gavin]

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/motorcycles-1/brammo/brammo-empulse-r-photo-gallery/index.shtml#item=280514

Photos

Gavin

[Mithion]

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/collections/electric/2012-brammo-empulse-r/index.shtml#item=280507

[Brammofan]

Great review of the bike by Jay and he took it on the highway, a first (?) for a production electric motorcycle.

I also liked how he called the transmission a "torque multiplier."  An apt description.

[BrammoBrian]

I agree.  Pretty good review.  He did have a minor complaint about how long it took him to get to 100 mph, but it was because he shifted quickly up into 6th gear at 70mph on the highway and tried to lug the bike up to 100, rather than selecting say 4th for 70 and accelerating through 5th and 6th up to 100+.  A quick lesson on how best to use the bike could've solved that for him.  I didn't go to this filming, but I've been to others and I can appreciate that it's difficult to "teach" Jay anything he doesn't want to hear.  Very cool, though.

[protomech]

"But electric engines have such torque, it seems why should you make the engine work faster than it needs to"

Out-moded gas thinking. It's somewhat counter-intuitive if you expect similar controls to a gas motorcycle to be used in a similar fashion. If you're operating much above 5000 RPM, then up-shifting gives you more power. If you're operating much below 5000 RPM, then downshifting will give you more efficiency.

"full-power at 0 RPM"

No.

[Gavin]

FreepZ and Proto have a nice little graph Jay could have used before the test...

So for best efficiency, you probably want to stay in the following gears:
1: < 42 mph
2: < 52 mph
3: < 62 mph
4: < 72 mph
5: < 83 mph
6: > 83 mph


So, per Brian's post, yes he should have stayed in 4th till 70 plus miles per hour and then shifted to 5th and saved 6th gear for over 85 to help get to the ton a bit faster...

Gavin

[Gavin]

overall, a very positive review.

I hate how he wears his helmet though...with his salary he could afford a custom helmet to fit his chin...

Gavin

[ttxgpfan]

In his defense he did say wasn't sure if he was being more efficient, he just felt that way, and said he was at the 4500 rpm, close to 5000 rpm target.  He also wasn't that happy with the seat.  But it seems like that wouldn't be too hard a fix.

Yeah, I'd imagine it'd take some time to get to top speed on a GSX-R1000 by rolling on it in 6th gear at 70mph too.  Did Jay add one to his collection?

[Richard230]

Did you notice that Craig mentioned that Brammo would be offering a TTX racer for sale?  He also said that you would be able to remove its lights and go racing.  If it comes with lights, that sounds like it might be street-legal.   

[Gavin]

I heard that too!

I instantly thought..."Dang it...I want, NEED that bike " But I just bought an R so I probably won't be getting one any time soon...

Though I did think, "Hmmm, wonder what the trade in would be going from R to TTX"

Gavin

[ttxgpfan]

I think I am going to file that TTX with lights thing under "Craig facts."  We'll see.  But don't fret Gavin, I am pretty sure they'll off it as an upgrade kit as well, so all you'll have to do is save some money and upgrade when you want.  No different than any ICE sport bike really.  That isn't confirmed though.

[Brammofan]

I think I am going to file that TTX with lights thing under "Craig facts."

I lol'd.

Maybe we need a new sub forum.

[protomech]

we are releasing a limit edition ttx race bike that will be ... quite a bit faster, little bit more performance oriented, and you can pull the lights off and race it

Wonder if that's just forks & brakes or if it's something else.. in any case, no price tag so guessing details are still being hashed out.