My Street Bike!

Mission One Electric Motorcycle
Today at the TED conference, the nascent Mission Motors is debuting its Mission One electric motorcycle. It was designed by world-renowned designers Yves Béhar and fuseproject, and Mission Motors claim that it is the “world’s fastest production all-electric motorcycle.” Will it do for electric motorcycles what the Tesla Roadster did for electric cars?

Mission One Electric Motorcycle Tech Specs
I’m sure everybody’s curious about the technical specifications, so without further ado:

Aside from the zero tailpipe emissions, one thing that this electric motorcycle has that gasoline models can’t match is a very linear torque curve with lots of torque from basically 0 RPM.

Will the Mission One make motorcycle enthusiasts lust after electric motors in the same way that the Tesla Roadster made many car enthusiasts discover electric cars? Time will tell, but from a “green marketing” perspective, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have highly desirable vehicles that use clean technologies. Most people probably will never drive a Tesla or Mission Motors, but the halo effect might make some people who would never have taken a second look at electric vehicles take notice.

Background on Mission Motors
Mission Motors, the company, was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Forrest North (CEO), Edward West (President), and Mason Cabot (VP of Engineering), but it was called Hum Cycles at the time. Its HQ is in San Francisco, California.

From the press release:

“As a motorcycle enthusiast and engineer I knew I could combine my passion for motorcycles with my passion for innovation and create a motorcycle that truly sets a new standard in the perception of electric vehicles,” said Forrest North, Founder and CEO, Mission Motors. “With the Mission One, we’re writing the next chapter in motorcycle design, delivering a new riding experience without sacrificing performance or design in a zero emissions vehicle.”

To prove the performance of their electric motorcycle, Mission Motors will compete in the TTXGP on June 12, the first “zero-emissions motorcycle race on the Isle of Mann.”

Via Mission Motors

Photos: Mission Motors. Source: Tree Huggers.

Former Yamaha engineer Jean-Michel Thiers has developed an all-new hub-centre steer superbike using an R1 engine to prove that the system offers a real advantage over conventional telescopic forks.

Thiers set up his own company Tier Motorsports to develop and market the single-sided hub-centre concept with planned products ranging from hub-centre-steering conversion kits for motocross bikes to a full-on superbike built around the 180bhp engine from Yamaha’s R1.

He was also the man responsible for the design of Yamaha’s own GTS1000 in the early 1990s, but Thiers’ patent-pending system is unique to his new machine. He said: “What differentiates us from previous attempt at front swing arm is our patent-pending Four-Bar steering mechanism inside the hub of the wheel.

“This alone eliminates feedback of road disturbances, pot-holes etc, into the handlebars leaving you with very light and very precise steering.”