Empulse Launch Event!

[Brammofan]

I had a blast making snarky comments with the guys in the google hangout last night and watching the o-so-choppy livestream.

Definitely enjoyed it, too.  You had a good perspective of a non-Brammo-fan.  (Note: he's an endlesssphere forum regular)

[Brammofan]

4. Empulse gets significantly better highway range (+30%).

The websites of the two manufacturers dispute this and show the opposite:
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s/specs.php
Zero S ZF9 - Highway 70mph - range 63 miles

http://www.brammo.com/empulse_specifications/
Empulse R - Highway 70mph - range 56 miles

I'm not convinced both are sincere, but if you take them at their word, Zero S has the better hwy mileage by 7 miles (12.5%).  There is no point comparing the ZF6 to the Empulse R when there's $7,500 price spread.  

I believe Brammo wants the R out in the press for traditional bike mags to do a comparo of ZF9 vs. Empulse R.   They figured out that the two won't look like apples to apples because the price spread and component spec.

Otherwise, I agree with most people's sentiments here that this the dream of Brammo bringing a real bike to market for a realistic price was shattered last night.  I think if they're guilty of anything, it's being too optimistic two years ago.  Too bad.

I believe that Zero's figure is actually 50% highway, 50% street speeds.  Not the same as Brammo's 100% highway speed range figure.

[karlInSanDiego]

4. Empulse gets significantly better highway range (+30%).

The websites of the two manufacturers dispute this and show the opposite:
http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s/specs.php
Zero S ZF9 - Highway 70mph - range 63 miles

http://www.brammo.com/empulse_specifications/


Empulse R - Highway 70mph - range 56 miles

I'm not convinced both are sincere, but if you take them at their word, Zero S has the better hwy mileage by 7 miles (12.5%).  There is no point comparing the ZF6 to the Empulse R when there's $7,500 price spread.  

I believe Brammo wants the R out in the press for traditional bike mags to do a comparo of ZF9 vs. Empulse R.   They figured out that the two won't look like apples to apples because the price spread and component spec.

Otherwise, I agree with most people's sentiments here that this the dream of Brammo bringing a real bike to market for a realistic price was shattered last night.  I think if they're guilty of anything, it's being too optimistic two years ago.  Too bad.

I believe that Zero's figure is actually 50% highway, 50% street speeds.  Not the same as Brammo's 100% highway speed range figure.

Thanks for that important clarification.  Easy to miss the critical details. 
Now back to my ICE riding / driving already in progress.  My new 10 kW solar installation will not put a dent in my gas consumption this year, sadly.

[EmpulseRider]

Wow, 10kW solar system! Thats twice the size of mine... I even sized mine for an EV or 2.

Yes, a little bummed about the price... after sleeping on it, I may have to wait... OR buy a Zero now and get a used (or lower price) Empulse down the road (like Protomech). I feel kinda dirty saying that but it is what it is... . 19k is about 2k-3k-ish too rich for my blood... but I really dont want to go the financing route, at all. We budget with the attitude: cant pay cash = cant afford it. And yes, I have been saving for the last 2 years so this earmarked cash is burning a hole in my pocket.

[Brammofan]

Thanks for that important clarification.  Easy to miss the critical details. 
Now back to my ICE riding / driving already in progress.  My new 10 kW solar installation will not put a dent in my gas consumption this year, sadly.

It IS tough to get to all the little details.  Until all the manufacturers agree on some standardization (and no additional information that might obfuscate the issues) it's going to be an exercise in fine-print-reading.

Enjoy your ICE riding/driving, for sure.  I know the electrics aren't for everybody - and they do definitely come at a premium price.

[Mr.Rodgers]

Is anyone else surprised that the Empulse winner isn't someone who is a forum member?  Or maybe he is, but doesn't ever post?

Well, now that I think about it, its not as big of a group here as I thought.  Still would have liked for the bike to go to someone on here that is truly a Brammo-faithful.

[machone]

Mmm. I joined here for some objective discussion about the merits or otherwise of a) going electric and b) Brammo verses the competition. I really hope that it's not only for the 'Brammo faithful'. I'll only attend church regularly once I have a hundred thousand miles on the clock with no issues.

 

[Mr.Rodgers]

Well, maybe not so much a Brammo faithful, but it would have been nice to see an obvious enthusiast win the bike.  And, this is my little window into the world of electric motorcycles, so maybe I'm not the best judge of this.  Maybe the winner is a member of elmoto or something.  Maybe I have just read enough stories of how the bike has been priced out of their budget and would love to see the bike go to one of these deserving people.

Again, not taking anything away from the winner, just would have been cool to have "known" the person who won.

[Gavin]

I was hoping for either Empulsebuyer or.....ME!


Of course I said long ago if my name was pulled Brammo would instantly throw that pick back in and try again....

Gavin

[Bishop]

So I am one of the few who pre-ordered the 6k, specifically because of the price.  $10k I might be able to justify for a daily commuter, but I was pretty disappointed the hear, after nearly a year of following this amazing journey, that the production model will be twice that.

With state and fed rebates and credits running out, and the price doubling, we are now comparing this bike to the fastest, most powerful, and most technologically advanced motorcycles currently in production (Panigale, S1000RR, F4 RR, and ZZR1400 are all the same price or less).

I'm jealous of all of the early adopters out there that have the wallet for this, and I'm really sad that I'm not one of them.  The bike looks amazing and is technically everything I could ever want.  I will continue to watch and hope that the industry continues to grow and the price of these things comes back down to something more realistic.

Excellent work to all those at Brammo that are pushing this stuff in the right direction and congrats on yesterday's release.

[860]

I swear I about crapped myself when they said it was someone from CO. 1416, is from CO as well i believe.

I really would have been shocked if I won, since I was 416 people too late to be eligible.  When I heard CO, I immediately thought to myself it would be sweet if you were the winner! 

I'll be keeping my eyes wide open every time I see anything with two wheels go by, just to see if I can spot the winner out on any Colorado roads!   

[EmpulseRider]

Yeah, it will be great to see these out on the road in a few months... I would really hate to see this guy turn around and sell the bike. I wish they would have drawn from a pool of (serious) pre-order customers that actually put in some kind of deposit. I know there are a few out there that probably pre-ordered multiple times... one for every person in their family... but oh well.

Really though, my congrats to JC! Looking forward to catching a glimpse of you enjoying your Empulse R! Why not join the forum while youre at it

One other thought, and I hope Brammo is listening, cut us early pre-order customers some kind of break please, we have been waiting 2 very long years... I would like to have my base Empulse this riding season. If that absolutely wont happen, at least let me know so I can plan accordingly. I sold my Gixxer anticipating my Empulse purchase and I am currently without a bike

[EmpulseRider]

I was hoping for either Empulsebuyer or.....ME!


Of course I said long ago if my name was pulled Brammo would instantly throw that pick back in and try again....

Gavin

LOL, I am afraid I would fall into that same category... it would be too suspect I think.

[flar]

If they really want to reward the faithful, it could have been a refund of the purchase price of one of the first N to actually purchase one of the R models.  N would probably be a bit smaller than 1000, maybe one of the first 100?

[Gavin]

Maybe JC will sell the Empulse R to Empulsebuyer for the price of a non r

A win win---EB has cash in hand...not many of us do, and JC makes a quick and easy 17k

Unless JC has been waiting and wanting an Empulse like the people here....If that's the case he should keep it and enjoy...and Congrat....I am happy for you and greatly jealous all at the same time

G