Transmission Comments via Wes Siler (Hell for Leather)

teddillard · 23 August 2012

Yup. There goes me stirring up the tranny debate again...

Wes Siler had some interesting things to say about transmissions, when I asked him about the difference between the Zero experience and the Empulse:

me: Is it the transmission?

Wes: Yes. It seriously does build back in a much-needed element of man/machine interaction. Thanks to it, the Empulse feels like a motorcycle. Without it, the Zero feels like a transportation appliance.
Where you just pin the Zero and try not to be too disappointed, on the Empulse you’re chasing a powerband, downshifting as you enter corners to use the engine braking and to get ready to achieve maximum acceleration out, and just generally using both hands and both feet and climbing all over the bike to make it go as fast as possible.

Read the whole q/a here: http://evmc2.wordpress.com/2012/08/2...ith-wes-siler/

**Hugues** · 23 August 2012

i know nothing about motorbiking riding but i'll stil throw my 2 cents LOL

can't you get the same sensation and requirements is describing with other means ?

I mean, how about:
- more power
- a different way for the controller to kick in with regen, maybe with a clutch lever to activate regen at various levels ?
- programming the controller to deliver the power ina different manner depending on the situation ?

I mean, we don't have necessarily to use a transmission for this, there are other ways to explore to achive the same goals, and that's the exciting part of it.

It's like saying i don't like electric bikes only because they make no noise.
But is an ICE the most efficient way to make noise then ? How about speakers if the problem is the noise ?

Let's be more creative.

**markcycle** · 23 August 2012

This bike doesn't seem to need a trany for a great ride experience
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/revi...ew/#more-33318

**Skeezmour** · 23 August 2012

Originally Posted by markcycle

This bike doesn't seem to need a trany for a great ride experience
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/revi...ew/#more-33318

As one of the lucky few to have ridden the Mission R I can attest that it is indeed an amazing ride.

**Richard230** · 23 August 2012

In my case, I just want to get from here to there cheaply, quietly and without visiting a gas station. I don't care about thrills, I just like riding and not visiting gas stations. If you want thrills, get a motorcycle like a BMW SS1000R, a Ducati Pangale, or any of the usual 150 + hp suspects for about the same price as a Brammo Empulse. I like the Empulse because it pushes the EV production street-bike technology up a notch, with no end in sight, and does so with quality chassis components. But I get enough thrills just riding in the Bay Area's traffic and trying to stay alive while doing so.

**1320freek** · 23 August 2012

Originally Posted by Richard230

In my case, I just want to get from here to there cheaply, quietly and without visiting a gas station. I don't care about thrills, I just like riding and not visiting gas stations. If you want thrills, get a motorcycle like a BMW SS1000R, a Ducati Pangale, or any of the usual 150 + hp suspects for about the same price as a Brammo Empulse. I like the Empulse because it pushes the EV production street-bike technology up a notch, with no end in sight, and does so with quality chassis components. But I get enough thrills just riding in the Bay Area's traffic and trying to stay alive while doing so.

I agree with you Richard. I ride my EV because it's cool, no stops for gas, it's green, it's quiet, & it saves money. Not to mention the attention (man......Noah was right about that...he told me to be prepared for the attention!!). But I also have a Hayabusa that I love! That bike gives me a thrill that the EV can't and visa versa. The Empulse bike moves the EV's up a level. But they both (EV and ICE) serve their purpose!
For some, the Empulse will be perfect...for other's they might need 2 bikes.

**Brutus** · 23 August 2012

I was very passionate about transmissions when I joined this form and know the advantage a trans can give to a lower powered platform. After riding the mission bike I must say that given the choice between the Brammo and the mission my money would go to the Mission.

**electriKAT** · 23 August 2012

You have to keep Wes's comments in context. He's used to gas bikes and shifting gears. So that's what he's looking for. I'm not sure it's fair to compare the Zero and Brammo and say the transmission is what makes the difference. I'd love to hear his comments after comparing the production Brammo with the transmission to the race version without it.

**lugnut** · 23 August 2012

Originally Posted by electriKAT

You have to keep Wes's comments in context. He's used to gas bikes and shifting gears. So that's what he's looking for.

I can't help but picture in my mind the first drivers of the automobiles getting behind the wheel (or tiller) with buggy whip in hand. They were used to horse drawn carriages and crackin' the whip. The transmission will prove to be as useless as that buggy whip.