New Honda Electric RTL Trials bike

New Honda Electric RTL Trials bike

Author
Discussion

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

6,192 posts

197 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
I know there is not much love for Motorcycle trials here, and even less for Electric motorcycles, but this is big news!

https://global.honda/en/newsroom/news/2024/2240913...




nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

6,192 posts

197 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
The exciting new about this Honda RTL trials bike is that it has a clutch and a gear lever too!

Yippee!


smifffymoto

4,771 posts

212 months

Saturday 14th September
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I would love to know how the gears work but I know the explanation would perplex me.

The forks look trick in 3 colours.

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

6,192 posts

197 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
smifffymoto said:
I would love to know how the gears work but I know the explanation would perplex me.

The forks look trick in 3 colours.
Yes it looks ace!

Some speculation that the price is going to be $15000 though,

I sincerely hope not!

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

6,192 posts

197 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
Some more pics.



[url]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/130314/202409143732746[/url


Steve Bass

10,364 posts

240 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
nigelpugh7 said:
smifffymoto said:
I would love to know how the gears work but I know the explanation would perplex me.

The forks look trick in 3 colours.
Yes it looks ace!

Some speculation that the price is going to be $15000 though,

I sincerely hope not!
Probably just like a normal bike with the electric motor driving the primary gear through the clutch...
The forks are a nod to the Showa three colour units originally fitted to the Montesa Cota 315R.... (great bikes, even today with a big following still)

Biker9090

1,131 posts

44 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
I think trials/trail bikes are a brilliant target for electric bikes.

We are already seeing an ever increasing amount of hatred for noisy bikes - these could seriously limit those complaints and keep the lanes open

MrGman

1,618 posts

213 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
I agree, I do enduro and the Stark Vargs are going to be the popular ones, already starting to see them at practise days.

What I don’t agree with is these will save the hatred, noise is an easy target, however when these events are 100% EV I still think the locals will find something to complain about, the ones that complain are just those kind of people.

Evanivitch

22,075 posts

129 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
Steve Bass said:
Probably just like a normal bike with the electric motor driving the primary gear through the clutch...
The forks are a nod to the Showa three colour units originally fitted to the Montesa Cota 315R.... (great bikes, even today with a big following still)
Wouldn't need to change gear though, because the torque of the motor would just mean stick it in third...

Steve Bass

10,364 posts

240 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
Wouldn't need to change gear though, because the torque of the motor would just mean stick it in third...
Instant torque is one thing, but through a gearbox with 6 ratios and a clutch would be far better. All the (to date) twist and go electric trials bikes suffer on low speed control that the torque is not Instant. Having the torque moderated via a gearbox and clutch would be far better than single speed twist and go allowing normal levels of control and power modulation.

Evanivitch

22,075 posts

129 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
Steve Bass said:
Instant torque is one thing, but through a gearbox with 6 ratios and a clutch would be far better. All the (to date) twist and go electric trials bikes suffer on low speed control that the torque is not Instant. Having the torque moderated via a gearbox and clutch would be far better than single speed twist and go allowing normal levels of control and power modulation.
I mean there's been plenty of EV conversions of cars with the original box and it's been unnecessary to change gears. Only things like Taycan have 2 speed gearboxes for top speed.

Managing torque could be simply done with a thumb switch for different maps.

Steve Bass

10,364 posts

240 months

Saturday 14th September
quotequote all
Evanivitch said:
Steve Bass said:
Instant torque is one thing, but through a gearbox with 6 ratios and a clutch would be far better. All the (to date) twist and go electric trials bikes suffer on low speed control that the torque is not Instant. Having the torque moderated via a gearbox and clutch would be far better than single speed twist and go allowing normal levels of control and power modulation.
I mean there's been plenty of EV conversions of cars with the original box and it's been unnecessary to change gears. Only things like Taycan have 2 speed gearboxes for top speed.

Managing torque could be simply done with a thumb switch for different maps.
Trials riding is a very unique proposition.
There's lots of instances where you want high engine rpm, not too low a gear and to slide the clutch to maintain traction in slippery conditions. EV trails bikes to date are not very good at instant punch for a splat or zap and in slippery, low traction conditions. It's not for nothing they really haven't caught on, they are very limited in the hugely different conditions of a trial, dry, rocks, wet, mud etc.
The huge and instant torque is a problem where you want instant traction to climb or jump rather than having the rear spin or too much torque too low in the power range

nigelpugh7

Original Poster:

6,192 posts

197 months

Sunday 15th September
quotequote all
Steve Bass said:
Probably just like a normal bike with the electric motor driving the primary gear through the clutch...
The forks are a nod to the Showa three colour units originally fitted to the Montesa Cota 315R.... (great bikes, even today with a big following still)
Yep the are a thing of beauty!

So much so I bought a Cota 315R just because of the way it looked!