The End of Classic Bikes?

[Duccout]

The irony of all this hysteria surrounding electric vehicles is that it is estimated that an electric car will have to travel 70,000 miles before it becomes more environmentally friendly than a petrol engined vehicle. Added to this is the problems around providing charging points near terraced houses and flats, battery recycling and the child labour that is used to mine the battery elements, not to mention what we are supposed to do when the wind does not blow -walk I suppose.

If anyone here reads the motoring column of 'Honest John' they will know that he believes that electric is a cul-de-sac, and he thinks that hydrogen is the way forward, although others are looking at alcohol fuels.

I will be sticking with my petrol vehicles for as long as I am allowed, and at my age none of this may affect me anyway!

Colin

[ranton_rambler]

I think electric propulsion is only a part of the answer, at least in it's current form reliant on batteries. There are experiments with inductive charging embedded in road surfaces which could be interesting.
And we need to get over the idea that you can only charge at home. We don't generally do that with petrol or diesel. I went out for a meal with a colleague and he had a Renault Zoe hire car, which he charged in a nearby carpark while we ate. No bother.

There are other technologies coming along which may suit the bigger vehicles which don't really suit battery-electric - hydrogen combustion, hydrogen fuel cell, synthetic fuels etc. These are not mature yet and hydrogen combustion has a lot of attractions but is not without its issues. In my day job, we are looking at all of these although I am not closely involved.

[George]

Interesting topic but while you have all been contemplating the end of the world I have been on a run with friends of Essex VMCC. Fifteen of us on bikes from a 1919 BSA to a 2012 Honda. My Elite behaved itself and was much admired.

Why worry about things you cannot change, enjoy what you have and make the most of it.

[Geordie]

First day of year with clear skies + mild air.

Hnet.com-image.jpg

Saturday will be a run out with the Montessa boys.

I'm with George on this.

[themoudie]

Aye George and Geordie, agreed and hence my posting of the link to the Norton/Guzzi meet last Sunday 3rd April. Wear them out!

We have fresh snow here again down to about the 300m (1,000') level, but tomorrow doesn't look bad for a canter.

Good health, Bill

[blethermaskite]

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not after us however in the true spirit of "keep on marching" I have just taxed and insured the 350 mk3 and with my new to this season valve lifter I am anticipating putting a lot of miles on the clock this year.....and Bill to answer your quite a while ago question the dunstal decibel silencer is working much as hoped....cut the noise down a bit and has had little effect on everyday riding performance, (not so good on the top end).
Keep on keeping on.
Cheers,
George

[themoudie]

Aye George, off topic, my home made Royce Creasey Gold Star pattern exhaust takes the 'crack' off the exhaust and doesn't appear to affect the performance. If anything it appears too efficient at pulling the gases through and I am having to richen the pilot mixture to cure a 'cough' as the slide takes over.

Slainte, Bill

[Jordan]

Any details of the Creasey muffler?

[themoudie]

Aye Jordan,

I'll post details in seperate titled thread to aid future searching. Good weather this weekend, so will be out and about, rather than tap dancing on the keyboard!

Good health, Bill

[Rocla]

Hello Duccout,

Your topic is polically interesting. My opinion is that classic bikes interest will raise as much as ecology constraints will become a burden. Moreover electric vehicles are deprived of any charm, appeal and personnality: no noise, no mood, and probably no real ecologic advantage! So far, the classic vehicle interest is on a strongly positive trend (more and more oldtimers collectors medias and events), in many countries (Europe, USA, etc...) and I bet this trend will accelerate in parallel with the ecologic pressure