We remember the emotion of Harley-Davidson fans when they announced the switch to electric. A technology promises the best of both worlds by recreating any engine noise on an electric thanks to speakers under the seat and optional in the helmet. We even reproduce vibrations and jolts when changing gear.
This Thursday morning, we are innovating on electric motorcycles with a device that allows them to behave like large cubes with thermal engines. They may even make the same noise.
Today, all the major manufacturers have an electric car in the catalog. But on the motorcycle side, there is no one except Harley-Davidson. Now you remember all the controversy surrounding their electric motorcycle. We were talking about sacrilege, heresy, a motorcycle that loses its soul.
Why ? Because for bikers, you lose a lot of pleasure with the electric. Noise, of course. But also the speed changes, the vibrations, the jerk when you downshift.
They added speakers?
Not only. There is also a bass cushion under the saddle to add vibration. A false clutch and a false speed pedal programmed to react exactly like the real ones. We even push realism to the point of adding a little jolt to the change of gear.
So you can choose a completely silent mode with continuous acceleration, or switch to bestial mode where you shift gears yourself with the engine howling.
The objective? Have the best of both worlds: a clean, zero emission motorcycle. But which keeps all the pleasure of the heat engine.
But is it legal an electric motorcycle that makes so much noise?
Yes, as long as it stays below 80 decibels. And if you don't really want to disturb anyone, you can switch the noise only in the headphones.
It is a technology developed by the equipment supplier 2electron. And they hope to reconcile the purists with the electric.