Whilst calculating the emissions totals for our ongoing roadtrip in Scotland with a Landrover Discovery, we came across a news story about the world’s first fully emissions free superbike GP, which is scheduled for the Isle of Man this summer.
Problem is with electric powered bikes is, of course, the weight of the batteries. Size and heftiness has always made it difficult to make a nimble and aesthetically pleasing machine. Things might be moving on, however.
The bike pictured is the GP entry from Imperial College, London. Sponsored by Valence technologies (the folk who make the batteries), the bike will be ridden by Chris Palmer, three-time overall race winner at the Isle of Man TT. Chris also holds the lap records for the Billown Circuit and Mountain Course for the Ultra-Lightweight TT class.
The bike weighs in at 290kg and has a peak power output of 50hp, with the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in 4 seconds and go on to a top speed of 100mph. It has an impressive range of up to 150 miles. The electric motors have been mounted towards the rear, with the batteries occupying space previously occupied by the engine and fuel tank, meaning the bike benefits from a lower centre of gravity.
The TTXGP will be integrated into the usual bonkers TT schedule in June, and will probably be giggled at by the hairy arsed greasemonkeys of the internally combusted pursuasion.
But surely, dragging your knee round the Island with nothing but the sound of benign whirring to disturb your flow would appeal to purists of the art of fast biking. Wouldn’t it?
