Comments on: Specialized Turbo: 28 mph Bicycle (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Fri, 24 May 2013 13:37:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Marco http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-39662 Marco Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:18:12 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-39662 The relevant factoid from this article and associated comments is that the rules in the US are arcane and intrusive. It is the rules, mostly written by people whose minds are stuck in the last century as well as those with a finaicial interest in the status quo, that stand in the way of forward progress on transportation and energy policy. I am a firm believer that if the government would get the heck out of the way we could solve our problems ourselves. FOr example, my old Honda quad goes 50 miles an hour and will run all day on a tank of gas. Why shold I not be able to license and ride it like a motorcycle? But in my state (WA) a "motorcycle" is limited to 3 wheels, and so a quad is precluded from being operated on the road. Amend the rule from number of wheels to something like GVWR an open up a whole new market - gaining employment, innovation, reduced congestion and pollution. Why not? Luddite thinking and money-politics. Unfortunately, this is the norm around the country, and unlikely to change. I agree that 28 mph is a death zone - too fast for riding close to car doors and pedestrians, too slow for the traffic lanes. Logic - fail. The relevant factoid from this article and associated comments is that the rules in the US are arcane and intrusive. It is the rules, mostly written by people whose minds are stuck in the last century as well as those with a finaicial interest in the status quo, that stand in the way of forward progress on transportation and energy policy. I am a firm believer that if the government would get the heck out of the way we could solve our problems ourselves. FOr example, my old Honda quad goes 50 miles an hour and will run all day on a tank of gas. Why shold I not be able to license and ride it like a motorcycle? But in my state (WA) a “motorcycle” is limited to 3 wheels, and so a quad is precluded from being operated on the road. Amend the rule from number of wheels to something like GVWR an open up a whole new market – gaining employment, innovation, reduced congestion and pollution. Why not? Luddite thinking and money-politics. Unfortunately, this is the norm around the country, and unlikely to change. I agree that 28 mph is a death zone – too fast for riding close to car doors and pedestrians, too slow for the traffic lanes. Logic – fail.

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]]> By: RC http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38982 RC Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:49:02 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38982 There is a Turbo factory in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. They also partner with Ferrari to do their specialty bikes. There is a Turbo factory in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. They also partner with Ferrari to do their specialty bikes.

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]]> By: Tim http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38691 Tim Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:25:43 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38691 I think 70 is doable with the right sproket combo, and going down hill. In the town where I went to high school there was a guy who put a giant front sproket on one of his bikes, and a buddy riding by him in a car said he approached 60, and that part of the country is very flat, so I can't imagine he was getting much help from gravity. I think 70 is doable with the right sproket combo, and going down hill. In the town where I went to high school there was a guy who put a giant front sproket on one of his bikes, and a buddy riding by him in a car said he approached 60, and that part of the country is very flat, so I can’t imagine he was getting much help from gravity.

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]]> By: Reinhart http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38684 Reinhart Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:33:54 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38684 I'm 53 years old, not that great of a rider and can still reach 30 mph on flat terrain. I can maintain 17 mph average all day long. I believe that bikes like the Turbo leave you in no man's land in that 28 mph is too fast of a speed when going by parked cars and driveways in town where the electric bike is supposed to shine. I cannot tell you how many times I was thankful for riding sane speeds in these situations. $7,000 is a lot to spend on a bicycle, especially when you give up the health benefit of pedaling your but to your destination. A better option would be to buy a CBR250R for about $4,000 ($3,000 cheaper that the Turbo!) and still enjoy excellent fuel economy while riding in a designated traffic lane and not on the side of the road. I’m 53 years old, not that great of a rider and can still reach 30 mph on flat terrain. I can maintain 17 mph average all day long. I believe that bikes like the Turbo leave you in no man’s land in that 28 mph is too fast of a speed when going by parked cars and driveways in town where the electric bike is supposed to shine. I cannot tell you how many times I was thankful for riding sane speeds in these situations. $7,000 is a lot to spend on a bicycle, especially when you give up the health benefit of pedaling your but to your destination. A better option would be to buy a CBR250R for about $4,000 ($3,000 cheaper that the Turbo!) and still enjoy excellent fuel economy while riding in a designated traffic lane and not on the side of the road.

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]]> By: Reinhart http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38680 Reinhart Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:23:57 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38680 Seems to me that with a couple of 5,000mah Li-po batteries and an appropriate brushless engine from the R/C world you could create a comparable electric bike for about $5,000 less. I don't see where all the money was spent to build the Turbo(must be a lot of profit involved, or so it would seem). Seems to me that with a couple of 5,000mah Li-po batteries and an appropriate brushless engine from the R/C world you could create a comparable electric bike for about $5,000 less. I don’t see where all the money was spent to build the Turbo(must be a lot of profit involved, or so it would seem).

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]]> By: tepi http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38568 tepi Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:41:49 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38568 Also, Armstrong rode (and rides) Trek, not Specialized bikes.... Also, Armstrong rode (and rides) Trek, not Specialized bikes….

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]]> By: harry http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38554 harry Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:50:53 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38554 Where is the Turbo? Where is the Turbo?

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]]> By: Dave http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38523 Dave Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:33:11 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38523 The electric bicycle market is many times bigger in Europe than it is here so it makes sense to offer it there. Realistically, they will not sell many, if any of these here. It's tough to sell a $7k bicycle outside of the racing community in the US. It was likely filmed in SF because Specialized is in Morgan Hill. The electric bicycle market is many times bigger in Europe than it is here so it makes sense to offer it there. Realistically, they will not sell many, if any of these here. It’s tough to sell a $7k bicycle outside of the racing community in the US.

It was likely filmed in SF because Specialized is in Morgan Hill.

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]]> By: edpix http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38518 edpix Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:02:38 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38518 Gary, I apologize to you, I just over reacted in my defense of Lance who was an inspiration to me as I went and go through my personal battle against cancer. I also apologize for taking this off topic, This Specialized bike is pretty cool and probably the beginning of a lot more bikes to come with similar concepts. Ed Gary,
I apologize to you, I just over reacted in my defense of Lance who was an inspiration to me as I went and go through my personal battle against cancer.

I also apologize for taking this off topic, This Specialized bike is pretty cool and probably the beginning of a lot more bikes to come with similar concepts.

Ed

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]]> By: HalfBaked http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/03/specialized-turbo-28-mph-bicycle/comment-page-1/#comment-38515 HalfBaked Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:31:17 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=20917#comment-38515 His philanthropic work not withstanding Lance used performance enhancing drugs to achieve his accomplishments on the bicycle. His philanthropic work not withstanding Lance used performance enhancing drugs to achieve his accomplishments on the bicycle.

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