Roehr Motorcycles is introducing their new 2011 Roehr eSuperSport, based on the Hyosung GT650R but repowered by a 50Kw (67 hp) AC induction motor. Top speed is 100+ mph, range is 75 miles and recharge time is 7 hours. MSRP is $17,995.
This seems like a very professionally done conversion of the Hyosung GT650R. It looks good, the performance and range are in line with what we are coming to expect for electric motorcycles and the price makes the whole package a bargain. I think it’s a sharp looking e-bike, a quick glance wouldn’t betray its electric drivetrain and if you’re thinking about an electric, it should certainly be on your list of contenders.
Press release follows:
Roehr Motorcycles is pleased to introduce a significant milestone in production electric motorcycles, the all new 2011 Roehr eSuperSport.
The eSuperSport delivers performance unequaled by any current production street legal electric motorcycle, offering a level of performance that motorcyclists have come to expect and demand.
The 2011 eSuperSport benefits from a closer relationship with Hyosung Motors USA*, based on the award winning GT650R, known for it’s outstanding value, reliability, and high equipment level, has been integrated with Roehr Motorcycles’ latest version of it’s advanced and proven electric drive system. The result is the best performance electric motorcycle value on the market.
Powering the eSuperSport is a highly efficient AC Induction Motor, with 50Kw (67Hp) of power, and 80 lb/ft of torque. The eSuperSport is capable of 100+ MPH top speeds with strong acceleration, providing a unique and thrilling riding experience for those that demand more of a motorcycle than merely keeping up with traffic.
The Roehr battery pack features high discharge, LiFePO4 battery chemistry, proven to be safe and reliable while providing industry leading cycle life and high energy density. The 7.7Kwh capacity provides a range of up to 75 miles and can be recharged with the powerful 1500watt on-board charger in less than 7 hours.
The Roehr battery pack is monitored and protected by a Battery Management System which controls battery charging functions, low voltage warning/intervention, and cell balancing.
The powerful and sophisticated electric drive system is complemented by an equally impressive chassis and running gear, delivering the performance levels that motorcyclist have been looking for in an electric motorcycle.
From it’s stout twin oval tube beam frame, adjustable 41mm inverted forks, and powerful dual 300mm front disc brakes with 4 piston calipers, to the adjustable rising rate single shock rear suspension, the eSuperSport offers the handling and braking performance required of a true sporting motorcycle.
From daily commuting, to spirited back road riding, or just a lazy Sunday morning ride, the Roehr eSuperSport offers the best value in the electric performance motorcycling industry.
Specifications:
Motor
Type: AC Induction
Power: 50Kw (67Hp) peak
Torque: 80 lb/ft
Battery
Type: LiFePO4 high discharge cylindrical cell
Voltage/Ah: 96V (nominal) / 80Ah
Amperage: 650 amps (peak)
Capacity: 7.7 Kwh
Charging: 1000 watt on-board
Recharge time: 7 hours
Management: LVC, HVC, shunt balancing
Performance
Top Speed: 100+ MPH (160+ Km/h)
Average Range: 75 Miles (120 Km)
MSRP: $17,995
Ian says
Sadly another case of why would I bother? $18k or $6k for a ‘normal’ GT650R?
This one is up a bit on torque but down on power and I notice a weight figure is missing from the specs. The fuel saving arguement goes out of the window in that $12k worth of gas is a LOT of miles before you make your money back.
So it doesn’t outperform, it doesn’t look any better, its considerably more expensive. I’m just wondering what Roehr was trying to achieve? Seems like a flawed business plan from the start. Please correct me if I’m missing something?
Ian says
my bad, there is a weight on the Roehr website. It’s also heavier.
Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says
If someone doesn’t want an electric motorcycle to begin with, this one won’t change his mind, however, if someone is thinking about buying one and is looking at what’s available, the Roehr compares very well with the other ebikes out there.
Mark says
That same argument can be made for any electric vehicle. The Tesla is over twice the price of the Lotus Elise that it’s based from. The Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are both much more expensive than their comparable gas engined siblings.
There is always a premium on new technology, and a few people that are willing to pay it.
Roehr is a small company, and doesn’t need to sell thousands of units to make money, so this niche may work for them. Besides, if you really want an electric motorcycle that does more than just keep up with traffic, you really have no other choice. Brammo has been promising the new Empulse for over a year, and has attracted a fairly large amount of pre-orders, but now is delaying it’s introduction until next year. The introduction of this bike may peel away some of those folks that just can’t wait any longer. I think it’s a good move.
Ian says
I totally agree, theres a premium to pay on new techonlogy and its the early adopters that kick things off. But I believe Roehr is barking up the wrong tree if he thinks someone willing to pay the premium for new tech is going to accept a budget package.
These people want something special for their hard earned $18k and sticking some batteries in a cheap Korean chassis just doesn’t cut it. Look at the first Blu-ray players, of course they were $1000 a few years ago but they were things of beauty in anodized housings that you wanted in your house, not blu-ray electronics in a $100 DVD player shell.
anders says
Too much for too little. My ‘lazy Sunday morning’ rides often exceed 75 miles …
ACE
JP says
I’m with Ian though. no matter what, it is 3x the price for less range, and long charge times(it actually weighs less than a full tanked 650 but the 250 is about the same bike less motor just over 400#)). And, in reality one is not saving the environment by using any of the electric vehicles. To make the batteries and charging over time, especially if you’re on coal power and not nukes, will pollute far more than buying the 250cc version of the GT and just using the damned thing every day. viable electrics are not even close right now. All this and the others are simply play toys for the rich to say \look at me saving the planet\ and in reality they are not. Maybe if you lived on Catalina or somewhere else that only allows small electric vehicles, but a sportbike isn’t the most practical anyhow.
Would you pay $66,000 for a Genesis Coup you can only use maybe twice a day and not really go anywhere?.
Decline says
The “argument” that electricity comes from coal plants and so electric vehicles aren’t environmentally friendly just doesn’t actually hold up. It is an argument that just appeals to immediate common sense but once you think about it you realize how ludicrous it is. But if you really want to start crunching the numbers of a town or city plugging in their vehicles versus all that gasoline shipping infrastructure (that is additionally powered by that coal) needed just to get gas to your local pumps and into the cars, go right ahead. When done as a bonus start adding in shipping all the parts and raw materials around using gas versus electric. You will quickly, very quickly see, the benefit of going electric.
Batteries…ok I’ll give you those. Nasty little things they are. And you are typically just better off sticking with whatever vehicle you have than replacing it.
PS- Don’t get me wrong. I love my petrol motors. I do find the electric tech interesting though. But that argument just bugs me because it just isn’t accurate and so often repeated.
todd says
They aren’t using lead acid batteries. Lithium batteries are “landfill safe” and completely recyclable.
-todd
Forzaman says
Article on Lithium batteries: They supposedly last 300 to 400 cycles and then there done. Whats the cost of a replacement pack and the energy required to make and or reprocess? No free energy.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/node/3285
Nicolas says
Rome wasn’t created in one day … you can’t expect the relatively recent electric vehicles (in terms of serious developpment/investment) to have the same level of performance as ICE vehicles who have been developped for the past 100 years.
It’s not great, but it’s a move in the right direction, and imho a good idea to use an exisitng vehicle instead of re-designing/re-inventing a rolling frame.
Nicolas says
now that being said, a fully-running spankin’ new 650 GTR is sold for $6k, I’d imagine you can source the bike minus the engine for at most $4k, so there is $14k worth of battery and motor in there ? hmm ….
Kevin says
Why does almost every American motorcycle brand have the same stupid plan to ruin themselves and the image of any American brand ever having a quality name? Fischer is a rebadged Hyosung. ATK is now selling rebadged Hyosungs. Roehr built a beautiful sportbike, then comes out with an electric Hyosung. Motoczysz had an insane sportbike, then dropped it for some lame electric bike.
I want an AMERICAN bike. Not some Korean junk. And I want a REAL bike that works, not electric.
I want light weight, power, torque, range, refill time, and a good price. If they were smart they would invest in a DI 2-stroke.
todd says
Buy a used bike. Prices range from free to $10,000, 100% of which goes to the American you bought it from.
You want an American sport bike? buy a good, clean Ninja 636 for $4,000. What a bargain.
-todd
Kevin says
Problem with that is they are still not American bikes. The original money spent went overseas. I currently have a KTM 990 Super Duke, but I would like an equivalent bike designed and built in America. But several brands that could have done this have gone to build electric bikes that are heavier, slower, more expensive, and with far less range. And they rebadge foreign bikes.
fabcnc says
Do us all a favor; stop marketing your bikes for sale to the public. Just make bikes for your own personal use.
skadamo says
One advantage Roehr has with this bike is a wide range of aftermarket parts. Hyosung has a pretty strong following. If you want a bigger wind screen, no problem. If you lay it down you will find parts.
I like it!
@Kevin These electric guys seem to be having fun building them and racing in a new class. People want them. Seems like a win-win. You can always buy a Harley, Indian and eventually Buell if you want American ICE. Electric has added new American motorcycle brands to the mix. Seems good to me.
Kevin says
Harley – Problem: Heavy, ugly, loud, expensive, slow, underpowered, etc. Just not my kind of bike. I wan’t more sport. Something like a KTM Super Duke is perfect.
Indian – Problem: See Harley.
Buell – Problem: 1) They aren’t produced anymore, 2) When they were, they used crappy Harley engines, 3) The 1125CR was severely handicapped by Harley and is ugly., 4) The new EBR will cost a hefty price.
So, no brand exists. I guess I will have to hope Motus is smarter. And maybe EBR can lower their prices eventually.
Tim says
how huge is that rear sprocket? Does it double as a stuntbike? 😉
Oleg says
For the price offered this seems like a losing proposition. If I had 18 thousand dollars burning a hole in my pocket (which I sadly do not) and wanted to spend it on an electric motorcycle I certainly would want something more than a converted gas bike that looks exactly like a gas bike. There have been plenty of innovative designs shown that take advantage of the fact that electric doesn’t have to be packaged the same way as a regular bike, and there is absolutely none of that here. So it doesn’t perform very well, it’s expensive, and it looks utterly conventional. What is the appeal, the mere fact that it is electric? That has to be a rather tiny market, methinks.
R6Power says
As some people say, its a losing business plan. For 18k there are lots of nicer things you can buy.
Electric bikes should have a monocoque chasis built around their batteries. Like this they could carry more payload without messing up the aesthetics or weight distribution.
If they had to use an existing chassis and bodywork, they could build it around an Aprilia 250. It would look and perform much better.
The Hyonsung is a nice cheap beginners bike, not an 18k premium motorcycle.
Mark says
A monocoque chassis? really?. Perhaps you can tell us what electric motorcycle has a monocoque chassis, or any motorcycle for that matter.
An Aprilia 250? That would limit the room available for batteries reducing range while increasing the cost at the same time.
I agree that $18K is expensive for a motorcycle, but it’s not fair to compare the price of this bike with a gas engined bike. What other electric motorcycle can you buy that has the specifications of this bike for less?
froryde says
Be that as a may, still couldn’t get past the fact its a Hyosung. After the supercharged V twin superbike, I would expect (a lot) more from Walter this just a converted Hyosung…
todd says
If they didn’t tell anyone it was a Hyosung everyone would have been praising it as a “truly great American motorcycle”. Just be glad that most manufacturers don’t tell you where they really get their stuff.
-todd
J says
Thanks for pointing that out, Todd.
Hyosung has been involved in manufacturing some very popular models in the past (for other brands), so it seems a little unfair to condemn Roehr for using them as a supplier when some of the biggest brands in the business have done the exact same thing.
R6Power says
I was thinking something along the lines of the Amarok P1, with a monocoque chassis built around the batteries. I am actually surprised that more manufacturers don’t go for this solution.
Regarding the Aprilia 250, it has an extremely good chassis and better looks than the GTR. I don’t really know the volume capacity but i’ve read about an electric project with the 125 some time ago.
Ian says
@J / Todd, There’s a difference between using them as a supplier, and using one of their products. If this was a new product being manufactured for Roehr by Hyosung then that’s different.
They don’t need to ‘tell’ everyone it’s a Hyosung, it is what it is. Badging it a Roehr doesn’t make it a “truly great American motorcycle” or change the fact that it is a low budget bike, which is fine if like Hyosung you’re pitching it at $6k. Not fine if I could have the same bike but with an engine AND an R1 for the weekend for the same money.
Tom Lyons says
I think it’s the best looking electric bike that I’ve seen.
WestOfBen says
Ah, how much does it weigh now?
Scotduke says
Electric bikes continue to improve. Yes, this is a new technology and there’s still a way to go. This one looks better than most I’ve seen so far and the performance is just about there for day to day commuting if you ask me. The price is still on the high side, though here in Europe the fact that our fuel prices are roughly twice that of the US there might be more incentive for customers to buy a bike like this. The low maintenance costs of this would be an additional incentive and I expect it’ll be easier on the drivetrain too. In another 10 years will I be riding an electric bike? Well we’ll have to wait and see but the signs are encouraging and this motorcycle is definitely a positive step ahead on the route.
B50 Jim says
The folks at the University of Illinois just announced they’ve developed battery technology based on nanotube construction that reduces charging time for a typical phone battery from hours to seconds. They have working prototypes, have applied for patents, and are working with manufacturers to produce the batteries. The technology is scalable so a battery for a car or bike would recharge in minutes, given a heavy enough power cord. The batteries are expected to be in full production within a couple years. So that should take care of the charge-time half of the argument. If nanotube technology also can increase the battery’s capacity, there goes the capacity half of the argument. Then it’s only a matter of putting them into volume production and watching the charging infrastructure come on line, which it will because there will be profits in it.
The future is almost here, no matter how hard the entrenched interests are fighting. It will be electric.
Ola says
This reply is to Forzaman.
Note that that article concerns computers and gadgets, not cars. The way you set up your batteries could very well differ quite a bit (e.g. it is possible to utilise a higher capacity battery, but then only using 80% of it; not letting it discharget completely) which can affect the longevity.
Also, that article is from 2006. Nowadays, there are commercially available batteries that takes around 1000 charge cycles before they start to wear out. The energy required to produce and recycle such a battery is insignificant compared to the energy they’d deliver to a vehicle, during its lifespan.