HOT NEWS and pictures fresh from Europe: Toyota and Yamaha will work together to build the first hybrid motorcycle. The machine - dubbed the 'Prius' (are you sure? That's the naff Toyota car, isn't it? - Ed) - will be powered by both a 20bhp internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The water-cooled, 250cc horizontal single is capable of sending power to the rear wheel or the electric generator to keep the batteries topped up. Obviously, the system will be controlled by a sophisticated ECU. New Yamaha hybrid revealed! - Motorcycle news : General news - Visordown
It's about time someone put real hybrid technology on two wheels. There are some Chinese scooters that have both gas and electric power, but they are separate power sources that do not appear to be integrated. I just wish they had put the technology in a scooter instead of a "bike."
It looks enough like a scooter already that I wouldn't buy it. Maybe if things work for this bike the technology will make it into something that doesn't look so pansy.
Yamaha builds great motorcycles, I've owned 3 Yamahas so far. Yamahas are very reliable and I think they have a great sense of style in their bikes. I'm sure they could build a great hybrid bike.
One reason why you might not go to the trouble and expense of a hybrid motorcycle is that small displacement, highway capable MCs already get 70 to 100 mpg. I recently sold a Yamaha WR250R (fuel injected) dual sport that got 70+ mpg while my wife's Super Sherpa got around 82 mpg.
I think it could be meant for markets other than the U.S. though because in other countries people are well aware of the benefits of riding a small displacement bike and basically used to the mileage they get. It seems feasable to make a bike that can get well over 100 MPG in the city. That might even make bikes or scooters more popular in the states, expanding market for companies like Yamaha.
I'd like something of a little larger displacement, stick with the Atkinson cycle an give it a touring layout. Use the HSD for power of overtaking and use a low reving relaxed 500cc engine. I'd buy one, I'd buy it so I could go further between fuel stops and maybe it would get better mileage than my Prius. You never know.
Anyone notice this comment on that page? I almost spit coffee all over my keyboard. the stick edgey biker wrote (see)why is every hybrid bike / car so ugly looking?Ugly...a matter of opinion…many of the granola eating, tree hugging, pocket protector wearing members of our society see them as phallic symbols :jaw:
Motorcycles are *fun* and really good to get around on, too bad they pollute like mad Motorcycles Pollute More Than SUVs | Autopia | Wired.com
I didn't get past where the claim was made that motorcycles don't have Cats, even My Husqvarna TE450 has a cat and it's pretty much a pure dirt bike. Can't be just new bikes either because My 97 Honda CBR-1100XX has a Cat as well. Let's pick on lawnmowers
Another Cat thread. Now Jayman is going to post photos of his cats and we will have to revisit that whole cats vs dogs thing. Tom
I vote for cats. However, I have never figured out where they put the cat in my car to clean up the environment. Sometimes, though, I think I hear it meowing....