Yamaha’s Electric Motorcycles

Finally, a big-name motorcycle producer has jumped in the electric moto game. While smaller companies such as Zero and Mission may dread the competition, they also may benefit from the attention such a well-known company can bring to the electric motorcycle market.

The PES1 (Passion, Electric, Street) and PED1 (Passion, Electric, Dirt) were first introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show, with promises that will raise a few eyebrows. Reportedly, the PES1 weighs less than 220 lbs, and the PED1 weighs in at just 188 lbs and can fit in the back of an SUV.

The combination of an electric motor and a lightweight design will be a lot of fun on twisting, winding roads, and convenient for commuters, though there has been no mention of the bikes’ top speed.

A Proper Adventure Bike

Sometimes bigger isn’t always better… especially when looking for a little adventure. This article from autoevolution discusses the lack of proper adventure bikes – motorcycles built for both comfortable asphalt touring as well as good off-road handling. However, there seems to be some hope with Yamaha’s new concepts. See the full story here:

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/is-yamaha-bringing-back-proper-adventure-bikes-78056.html