Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal • Hacker News Board

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#71

Post by usrusr » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 4:25 PM UTC

lgessler wrote: post #31

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always liked the BBC's approach -- English words and well settled loan words are allowed to have regional pronunciation, foreign words go via the pronunciation unit. So news readers pronounce (or try in the case of that Icelandic volcano) locations, names etc as they are intended to be. Names are personal, it's offensive to mispronounce them. Make the effort, even if it involves struggling a little with sounds that…

I'm generally in agreement and want to anticipate an objection—that the sounds of foreign words often fall well outside of any given person's native set of sounds. Take Iran for example. It's rendered often in English as [ɑɪ.ɹæn] (eye-ran). What it "should" be is [i.ɾɑn] (ee-rahn). Fortunately, all the sounds in [i.ɾɑn] are ones that occur in most varieties of English (with the exception of the [ɾ], but that's minor)…

And Deutschland isn't actually pronounced Germany or l'Allemagne. At some point you have let go and allow a language to have its own words for geographic terms outside of where it is spoken. It can be I bit difficult where borders have shifted (revisionists would insist on "true" names even if they don't know them themselves without referencing a historic map while everybody else is making a conscious effort to avoid those) or where a name was forced on a place by invading foreigners that got ousted again, but it's perfectly possible to navigate that problem-space without trying to go native pronouncement everywhere.

In fact, in a case of politically questionable names it could even be seen as a sign of antirevisionist acceptance to introduce a badly butchered (if necessary) transcription and pronouncement of the local name into a language that used to have a name that isn't acceptable anymore.

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#72

Post by kiliantics » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 4:26 PM UTC

IgorPartola wrote: post #49

upofadown wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For the city you might as well just do an e-bike or something a lot like an e-bike. So that leaves things like this for the highway. Motorcycles are not very aerodynamic so they tend to take a lot of battery when run fast. So you are probably better off with a small electric car.

Except you do not really ride bikes because they are efficient or convenient. They are way less convenient than cars almost every time. Exception: lane filtering in CA in traffic. Bikes are just the most fun you can have with your pants on.

most motorcycle fuel economy is much better than it is for most cars

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#73

Post by peatmoss » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 4:26 PM UTC

jdavis703 wrote: post #50

wayneftw wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worked fine for me on Chrome / XFCE / Linux. I think it would be fantastic if electric motorcycles would become popular here in the US. Maybe then I wouldn't have to hear super loud and scary exhaust pipes! Who am I kidding though... the people who do that would find some other way to be annoyingly inconsiderate.

That loudness is a safety feature. It helps keep drivers alert for the presence of a motorcycle. I don’t ride, but I see our streets are becoming more and more dangerous as people ditch sedans for SUVs and trucks; extra sound proofing is added to cars; and people continue to text, eat or be under the influence while driving.

I’m by no means an advanced rider, but I am a rider, and I don’t buy the “pipes save lives” argument in the slightest. The cone of sound goes out the back of your bike when accelerating: pretty much alerting the motorists I’m least worried about to my presence.

I’m way more worried about people doing stupid stuff in front of me than behind me. And when I’m worried about people behind me, I’m mostly worried at stops that someone will rear-end me... when my hypothetical loud pipes would be idling at a purr anyway.

On my very sensible Honda CB500X, I have a quiet exhaust and have a daytime headlight modulator, which I’m positive has caught the attention of distracted motorists. I’d take a very cool and very legal headlight modulator over loud pipes 100 times out of 100.

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#74

Post by dharmab » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 4:37 PM UTC

peatmoss wrote: post #70

leggomylibro wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, what kind of adventure bikes can be ridden for thousands of miles at a time? I only get about 200-250 miles on dirt, and that's with an extra tank of gas strapped to the back. Are they like 650cc+ with huge fuel tanks? I shudder to think of trying to pick one of those up on a muddy slope... Anyways, an electric bike that could do ~200 miles seems like it could do well as a replacement for smaller engines, but I…

I assume they mean with periodic stops for gasoline, which is a lot more common than a quick charge station. That said, it’s an interesting thought exercise to go unsupported and make your own (solar) fuel via motorcycle. Of course to maximize charging / travel you’d have to ride at night, which would sort of suck.

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman just completed a ride from South America to Alaska on electric motorcycles. They had some Rivian electric support vehicles carrying charged batteries, and also people along their route often let them top off their bikes while hosting them. They'll be making their trip into a web series called Long Way Up (the third in a series of trip blogs they've done over the past 15 years)

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#75

Post by dharmab » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

leggomylibro wrote: post #58

dharmab wrote: post #57

There are other companies targeting other areas of the market. Ultra high end: Harley Davidson Livewire, Zero SR/F High end: Fuell, Cake Mid range: Zero S/DS/FX Low end: Sur-on Light Bee, CSC City Slicker The biggest problem for electric bikes is recharge time. Motorcycle batteries are physically small and have low range, and take hours to recharge compared to 1-2 minutes to refuel at a gas station. That makes them u…

Wow, what kind of adventure bikes can be ridden for thousands of miles at a time? I only get about 200-250 miles on dirt, and that's with an extra tank of gas strapped to the back. Are they like 650cc+ with huge fuel tanks? I shudder to think of trying to pick one of those up on a muddy slope... Anyways, an electric bike that could do ~200 miles seems like it could do well as a replacement for smaller engines, but I…

Thousands of miles with refueling- mine gets 200-220 miles out of a single tank. There are aftermarket DRZ tanks that can get 500 miles of range, they essentially replace both your tank and some of your body panels.

They're not that hard to pick up with the right technique/leverage. YouTube has tutorials showing tiny women pick up 800lb bikes, and MOTOTREK has a good video on how to pick up a big bike off of dirt or mud.

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#76

Post by peatmoss » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 4:44 PM UTC

IgorPartola wrote: post #48

imglorp wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Electrics are still milking the premium market, is the problem. In the West, a brand new Ninja 400 fuel injected sport bike is $US 5000, new. Through economies of scale, and their getting the bugs out and widening tolerances over its 30 years history, they're now the AK-47 of bikes: cheap and dependable. You can spend $20k on a bike, but you don't need to. Similar Honda and Suzuki models. Harley and BMW can't and won…

This is correct. Also consider that almost any Japanese bike can be had used for $3k or under. Electric bikes are in low five figures and the used market is basically non-existent. We have no data on how reliable they will be long term either. Plus range and availability of charging stations is a thing. But I think the main reason we won’t see ICE motorcycles go away soon is simply because used bikes are such a huge…

> while for motorcycles they have only improved substantially in 2010s with the EU mandating ABS as a requirement.

I really wish it were possible to get advanced cornering ABS on something that isn’t a bajillion cc displacement. The smallest, most reasonably sized adventure touring bike I’ve seen with cornering ABS is the new BMW F750GS, which is still >800cc. I sat on one the other day and the weight and height seemed manageable, but what I’d love is a 650cc or smaller Japanese bike where I could get advanced safety tech. I mean, these bikes are where a lot of new riders like myself start, and attract exactly the sort of rider who is likely to do something stupid and reactionary in a corner.

I have ABS on my 500cc Honda, which is honestly as big a bike as I’d have wanted to start on, and I’d have happily parted with the extra dollars for cornering ABS and traction control had they been options. I cannot for the life of me figure out why the best life-saving tech isn’t at least an option on beginner-sized bikes.

Pardon for the tangent rant :-)

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#77

Post by dharmab » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 4:44 PM UTC

peatmoss wrote: post #73

jdavis703 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That loudness is a safety feature. It helps keep drivers alert for the presence of a motorcycle. I don’t ride, but I see our streets are becoming more and more dangerous as people ditch sedans for SUVs and trucks; extra sound proofing is added to cars; and people continue to text, eat or be under the influence while driving.

I’m by no means an advanced rider, but I am a rider, and I don’t buy the “pipes save lives” argument in the slightest. The cone of sound goes out the back of your bike when accelerating: pretty much alerting the motorists I’m least worried about to my presence. I’m way more worried about people doing stupid stuff in front of me than behind me. And when I’m worried about people behind me, I’m mostly worried at stops t…

Bright lights save lives!

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#78

Post by karmakaze » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 4:47 PM UTC

I loved the design, pausing and accepting the 2h charge to run 100km.

The iPad instrumentation however I don't approve of and can't accept. I at least hope it all goes orange-red on black at night.

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#79

Post by Zenbit_UX » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 9:56 PM UTC

peatmoss wrote: post #76

IgorPartola wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is correct. Also consider that almost any Japanese bike can be had used for $3k or under. Electric bikes are in low five figures and the used market is basically non-existent. We have no data on how reliable they will be long term either. Plus range and availability of charging stations is a thing. But I think the main reason we won’t see ICE motorcycles go away soon is simply because used bikes are such a huge…

> while for motorcycles they have only improved substantially in 2010s with the EU mandating ABS as a requirement. I really wish it were possible to get advanced cornering ABS on something that isn’t a bajillion cc displacement. The smallest, most reasonably sized adventure touring bike I’ve seen with cornering ABS is the new BMW F750GS, which is still >800cc. I sat on one the other day and the weight and height seem…

I'd suggest taking a look at a gentpy used Triumph Street Triple (R/S Optional). Depending on the year and mileage you're looking between $6000-9000 with stock ABS and with 675cc right in that sweet spot you're looking for. I picked one up 2 years ago, 2014 with 1400km and no regrets whatsoever.

Re: Yatri: First electric motorcycle to be made in Nepal

#80

Post by Zenbit_UX » Sat, Dec 28, 2019, 10:04 PM UTC

dharmab wrote: post #67

jacobush wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, I didn't know about the Kawasaki Ninja 400. That's a really impressive bike at a fantastic price. That would have been like 2000 dollars in 1987. Completely unheard of. Motorcycles have come a long way.

It has never been a better time to be a rider, you can get some seriously amazing bikes for the money. Unfortunately it is a very bad time to try to make money in the motorcycle industry right now. Older riders are aging out and interested young people can't afford bikes due to student debt and other debt.

> young people can't afford bikes due to student debt and other debt.

I find comments like these interesting because it shows a fundamentally different perspective on motorcycling.

It sounds like you view it as a hobby or pastime, and an expensive one at that, likely because you see it as something to purchase after already owning a car.

I see it as a highly efficient and cheap form of personal transportation, especially for urban areas. In my city (Montreal) motorcycles park for free and almost anywhere they wish, essentially lawlessly. I don't own a car and use a motorcycle to avoid public transportation yet not impact the environment nearly as much as a full size car. The economics of it are amazing too, I spend about $15-20 on gasoline a month while commuting daily, spend almost no time in traffic and nothing on parking. Maybe $600 a year on insurance and $300 on plates. The initial costs were higher due to getting gear but that still doesn't compare to car ownership.