Q & A with Electricross creator

Neal Saiki, the owner of Electricross Inc. and the creator of the Drift electric motorcycle, has been good enough to field questions about this exciting bike. 

If you haven’t been to his website yet, check it out at

www.electricross.com

Read up on the bike, check out the videos, then come here and post your questions.  Mr. Saiki will check in occasionally and answer some. 

This bike is an exciting addition to the sport, and opens up all sorts of possibilities. 

I’m going to start this thing off with a few questions –

Mr. Saiki,

How many prototypes did you go through before deciding on the current Drift version?

How does the gyroscopic effect of the bike feel compared to gas bikes?  Bigger gas bikes have more mass rotating inside the engine and keeping them driving forward, smaller gas bikes have less and are easier to flick around.  What would you compare the Drift to in terms of ‘flickability?’ 

Why did you decide on a 19 horsepower engine?  It seems with electric there would be no limit.  How feasible is a 50 horsepower electric? 

What other bikes are you working on that you can tell us about?    

Electricross Drift

Thanks Pete.  Those are good questions!

The Drift took a long time to develop.  I spent a year on the computer doing a lot of stress analysis.  Then we went through 3 versions to get the manufacturing and welding right.  My specialty is rapid product development, so this was a long time for me.

The Drift is #140 and when it's in the air most people say it's a lot more like jumping a bicycle.  It's very easy to toss around.  I work with some of the top bicycle freestyle riders in the world and they are talking about doing doing crazy stunts that haven't been done on motorcyles yet.

Electric power really has no limit to the amount of horsepower.  The problem is that if you run high horsepower, the batteries are drained too fast.  I can make a 200 hp bike, but it would run for 1 minute (if you can hang on that long).  There is also the safety issue.  22 hp on a #140 bike is already crazy enough.

Bring on the questions!

Hi Neal

I have a question about traction on different surfaces with your bike compared to a 4 stroke 450.

I see your tires are smaller and would like to know if your riders have had a hole shot race with a full sized (250/450).

I assume your riders can make your tires spin at will, due to the torque available from the electric motor. Must have good throttle control.

The Drift looks small,  are you working on a version for us bigger boys?

Yes our tires are smaller because smaller tires roll more efficiently.  With a Drift you can easily holeshot a 450 on pavement, but on the dirt it's pretty even.  Of course those big bikes have way more HP and they catch up around 30 mph and walk away.

Our bikes are best on hard packed surfaces where you can ride for a long time.

We just had our bike race at Prarie City and we were 4th off the line in a field of 20.  If she could do it again she's pretty sure she could get the holeshot.  It was an uphill start on sand.  Not the best for our bike with narrower tires.

Neal

Jake,

Around here in the Bay Area of SF California, the small bikes are so much more popular.  I'm not going to make the bigger bikes for at least 2 years.

Another reason to stay away from big bikes is because the larger motors and batteries are way more expensive.  I'm trying to introduce the bike at a reasonable price.

On our site we have a video of Arik Swan doing a 60 foot triple and he's 190# and 6'3".  The bike wasn't too small for him, but he is also a good mountain bike rider so he's used to it.

Neal

Neal:

I was impressed when I read your Bio. Santa Cruz Mountain Bikes RULE!

What kind of life do you get out of the batteries? (How many re-charges?)

From viewing the videos it looks like these bikes really haul butt. How do they handle on a supercross track?

Are there any plans to organize any type of electric dirt bike racing events?

Does the State or Federal Government (Forestry Service) require these bikes to have DMV green stickers for use in offroad recreational areas? 

How do you like Scott's Valley? Seems like a really nice area to live!

Would you consider entering one of your bikes in the Dirt Rider 24 Hour Torture Test if of course Jimmy invited you?

We use a special charging system to extend the lifespan of all our batteries.  Each battery gets separate monitoring so they never get overcharged.  The regular power packs are good for about 500 cycles.  I can get 1000 cycles out of them, but I always charge them right after I use them.  Most people forget so I just say 500 cycles.

The new lithium batteries I'm using are incredibly tough.  They are guarenteed for 1000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge.  In normal useage they will get 2000+ cycles.  Basicallly they last forever.

Hey Neal, Im wondering what the leagel status is on this bike? I mean i cant jump on my YZ250 and putt down to the local mini mart. But with almost no noise, And the fact that it looks like a big peddle bike???? Would your bike with on/off road tires be a cool way to get around town And also rip up the trail?  
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DIABETES SUX!

Supercross would be really fun on a Drift.  It's great for jumping.

The Drift has no noise and no hot exhaust so as far as I know it doesn't need a sticker.

We are working on some electric bike races, but for now we are racing gas bikes.

Scotts Valley is a great place to live and ride (if your bike is silent).

Neal

I don't know about 24 hour test.  Electric bikes have a limited range and people have to get used to that.  It's not that you replace your gas bike with a Drift, it's a totally different experience.

An electric bike is great for people who want to ride near their house where you can't ride a noisy gas bike.  For long all day adventures, you are better off with a gas bike.  For one hour rides after work, the Drift rules!

How did you come up with the thought of designing this bike? Is electricross your company, do you work for them, or what? Are you active in the testing or do you have someone else do it and then they bring the results back to you? How do you guys come up with funding for all this testing before you are even able to produce the bike? I would imagine it takes a lot of resources to design, test, and redesign, before the production begins.

Neal Saiki, one of the videos said that it was at Prarie City. I like about 20 mintues from Prarie City where the Hangtown MX race is held, and I was wondering if that was the same place.

Ride CR:

I thought Hangtown was in Rancho Cordova, just East of SAC.