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0 pointsx005411y ago0 comments

Would you really want someone who could not be bothered to learn how to shift on a normal bike to be zooming around at 120mph+ on an electric super-bike? Besides, they already have sport scouters for that.

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adventured11y ago

Why would a person have to zoom around at 120+ mph on an electric bike just because they couldn't be bothered to learn how to shift on a normal bike?

There's no actual logical connection between the two things.

I've always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I would enjoy not having to shift. Accordingly I may choose an electric motorcycle over a traditional one. And none of that has anything to do with whether I'll be a safe driver or not.

Logically it's absolutely no different than a driver preferring an automatic car vs a manual transmission car. It doesn't mean the person is going to drive faster.

x0054OP11y ago

No, it does not. However, if you wanted a motorcycle that shifts for you, they have those, they are called scooters. In fact, Ducati even makes an auto dual sport bike. However, if the only thing that's stopping you from learning how to ride a motorcycle is the fact that you do not want to learn how to ride with a sequential shifter, I really do not want you to be on the road on a fast bike. Basically, learning how to shift a bike is far less complicated than learning how to properly take a corner or pull out of one, or shift lanes.

So, basically, if you are afraid of bikes because they have shifters, but otherwise willing to learn, give it a try. I guarantee you that you'll feel comfortable shifting the gears on a bike and starting with the clutch on the first day. However, if you just don't want to learn because it looks like too much work, please, stay away from bikes, electric or otherwise.

Zigurd11y ago

That's a fair question but the industry's answer, in the form of products like the Can Am Spyder is "Yeah, we want people who can't even balance on two wheels."

I also think the whole transportation industry is going to have to get over crashworthyness and move on to autonomous automatic crash avoidance. High speed trains are not crashworthy compared to traditional passenger trains. Efficient personal vehicles should not need to be crashworthy.

sigzero11y ago

Great point and my answer would be "no, keep them off motorcycles period."

pyoung11y ago

I don't know, I think I would rather have these people on motorcycles than be behind the wheel of a 2 ton SUV. As someone who regularly walks and rides bicycles (and I have a motorcycle license but am reluctant to use it for safety reasons), I would much prefer that we keep the idiots of the world out of the big cars and trucks and put them onto smaller, less dangerous (to others) vehicles.

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