Electric Motorcycles

March 6, 2015March 6, 2015mikemjensen Life's Truths, Motorcycles Tags: alternate energy, Biking, electric vehicles, motorcycles Leave a comment

Hey kids,

Are electric motorcycles really the future? I watched a video on a new electric motorcycle that looks like it might be.

The motorcycle, the Lightning LS-218, is a head turner. It owns a land speed record and won the Pikes Peak Hill Climber over all the other gas manufacturers.

There are questions of range on electric vehicles and this bike has not answered them yet. Here in the desert, best case scenario of 150 miles is not a long range. The need to charge and go still needs to be addressed.

Electricity is not free either. Power comes from hydro electric dams (deemed bad for the environment), coal burning electric plants (deemed evil), power lines (unsightly), solar panels (geographically impossible to have enough), wind turbines (death for raptures and unsightly), geothermal (never mentioned anymore), etc. Are emissions out of the tail pipe better than those emitted out of factory stacks out of sight?

But if performances of the electric bikes begins to out shine the gas engines, if their purchase price makes them affordable to the masses, and if the range issues are answered; and I imagine these all will happen, electric powered bikes and cars will happen.

Bring them on. It’s not really the CO2 that I need to have a good ride; it’s life on the road from atop two wheels.

Day 11

Sometimes a Motorcycle is Just a Motorcycle

May 5, 2014May 6, 2014mikemjensen Interesting Stuff (to me anyway), Motorcycles Tags: Biking, gear, goals, motorcycle, riding Leave a comment

I believe everyone should do what they want, how they want, and as many times as they want. Myself included.

I ride a motorcycle; more than I don’t. And I do it because I enjoy it.

So long as it isn’t snowing, I’ll generally ride. But all this just means I ride a bike. That’ all. I do not consider myself a biker per se. I’m a motorcyclist.

I don’t try to look like a biker either. I just dress, wearing whatever is appropriate for the conditions in which I ride.

Now like I said, everyone can do what they wish. Maybe for some the riding of the motorcycle releases some inner rebel, a chance to express oneself, or maybe some kind of needed identity escape. To each their own and more power to them.

However, sometimes I feel like I’m considered not a real biker because I don’t have my wallet chained to my belt loop, sport HD boots, or don a leather jacket. And one day I might have all that. But it annoys me to be judged so. Sometimes.

I ride because I like it. The bike is not an extension of any part of me, it’s not an expression of my soul, nor is It the thing that defines me in its entirety.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and I believe it applies likewise for a motorcycle.