Roehr eSuperbike Revealed
07/16/2010 @ 7:15 am, by Jensen Beeler 18 COMMENTS
Since we broke the news on the pricing and technical specs on Roehr’s electric motorcycles, we’ve been patiently waiting for a glimpse at the machine(s). Built around a Hyosung chassis, all three Roehrs feature AC induction motor technology, with the eSupersport using a single-motor setup, while the eSuperbike and eSuperbike RR feature twin-motors.
The amount of LiFePo4 battery power on-board varies across the models, which will affect range; but since bigger is better, we expect the 7.7 kWh, 135+ MPH, twin-motor Roehr eSuperbikeRR to pique your interest the most. Check after the jump for a full model breakdown, along with more photos.
While a road-legal motorcycle, Roehr really intends for the eSuperbikeRR to appeal to riders and teams that want to race in the TTXGP and e-Power Championship series. All the bikes are built-to-order, and have a 6 week lead time, which means that if you want to race your Roehr at any of the US-based electric motorcycle rounds, you’re shit oughta luck.
Your mileage will vary on the eSuperbike’s aesthetics, just as our mileage on Roehr’s tech sheet varied as well. It would seem over the course of the months, the Roehr eSupersport, eSuperbike eSuperbike RR saw adjustments in their battery energy capacities, with the eSuperbike’s drop from 9.6 kWh to 7.7 kWh, and the eSupersport going from 6 kWh to 5.8 kWh.
That’s roughly a 20% battery decrease for the eSuperbikes, which is going to affect their range both on the street and on the track (Roehr claims a 100 mile range for the eSuperbike, and a 80 mile range for the eSupersport…mileage will vary of course). With power on-board the eSupersport and eSuperbikes varying by only 1.9 kWh, the pricing between the models seems to really come down to whether you want the single or double motor configuration.
Considering that Roehr intends these bikes to live up to its performance bike brand image, we imagine most customers will be looking for the extra power gained by the dual-motor setup. However with a $10,000 price jump from the eSupersport to the eSuperbike, that’s a big premium to pay, but not as big of a premium as the $7,000 jump to the eSuperbikeRR, which just sees more performance-oriented suspension, brakes, and wheels added to the mix.
We loved the idea that Roehr was jumping on the electric bandwagon when we first heard about it, and we were initially impressed with the specs they were quoting. But now that the eSupersport and eSuperbikes are out, we’re not sure these ideas are fully baked.
In a sport dominated by hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers, a company isn’t going to succeed by offering a bike their customers can build themselves, for less money. To capture the market, you have to bring something to the table, and that doesn’t mean bringing a cheap commuter bike with a few batteries and motors wedged into it. You also have to bring your product when it’s relevant. In four weeks, electric motorcycle racing in the US is going to be over.
Is a $35,000 electric motorcycle with 7.7 kWh on-board really going to be relevant this time next year? We think not .
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