The BMW C1-E is powered by a Vectrix electric motor

Interesting, but:

BMW Motorrad Australia product communications manager Tim James said the C1-E was "just a study about how to manage traffic at the moment and there are no plans for production".

... but they used Lithium :-)

... but they used Lithium :-)

In 2007, NiMH was the *right* choice for batteries.

BMW, with Vectrix, made the right choice for this bike in 2009.

It's not as if Vectrix did it wrong and now BMW is doing it right.

I didn't mean that Vectrix did it wrong, I simply see opportunities for the future of my V :-)
As many others, I'd like to have less weight & more range :-)

Sorry - I just couldn't resist! ;-)

Sorry - I just couldn't resist! ;-)

I was thinking the same...

Vectrix was projected 10 years ago...LiFePO4 didn't even exist...

Yummm... No helmet. The one thing I hate about biking these days is having to "suit up". I would love to trade my V for such a thing. Less interested in moving to a state where there is no helmet law.

-Randy

Actually, in 1997 it was 10 26A-h lead-acid batteries!

Yummm... No helmet. The one thing I hate about biking these days is having to "suit up". I would love to trade my V for such a thing. Less interested in moving to a state where there is no helmet law.

-Randy

Sorry, my friend. In the US, the C1-E would still be classified, registered, licensed and insured as a motorcycle. If you live in a helmet state, you'd still be wearing a helmet.

Suit up for the crash, so you don't have to suit up for the funeral! ;-) (not a helmet debater...just thought that was a catchy phrase)

Yummm... No helmet. The one thing I hate about biking these days is having to "suit up". I would love to trade my V for such a thing. Less interested in moving to a state where there is no helmet law.

-Randy

Sorry, my friend. In the US, the C1-E would still be classified, registered, licensed and insured as a motorcycle. If you live in a helmet state, you'd still be wearing a helmet.

Suit up for the crash, so you don't have to suit up for the funeral! ;-) (not a helmet debater...just thought that was a catchy phrase)

In Michigan for a three wheeler you have to wear a helmet unless you can show that the roof is as strong as a crash helmet (or something like that - don't have the law in front of me right now!). I think it only applies for 3 wheels not 2 - so what moccasin states would still hold true in Michigan.

However, having dealt with state by state law variations I'm not quite as confident with his blanket statement... ;-)

p.s. in a crash, unless that C1 is wider than it looks, I'd be worried about the head dragging on the floor as you slide down the road. The most graphic benefit of a crash helmet that I ever experienced was looking at my helmet after I dumped a bike on one of the busiest motorways in the UK (the M25 around London). The helmet had a nice 2 inch round flat spot ground on it. If I hadn't been wearing a helmet that would be where my brain matter would have been oozing out...

But hey, it's your head.

It is so nice to see more and more Electric bikes but I do like to see some specifications on them. Beemers are sort of expensive so I really don't expect to see them in show rooms in the near future. Especially this economy.
I hope it use high voltage packs not the 48 and 60 volt packs on most scooters. High current low volts get you short range. My XM-3000 has 25 mile range and VX-1 has 50 Mile range maybe more. But it's double the voltage and 2KW more power if used but I go slow on VX-1, very slow. Then again you can't compare the two. Pb-acid vs NiMH and wheels and tires are different. Larger wheel is more efficient. Any specs out there yet?
BTW I love NH for it has a NO helmet law and Taxachusetts has Helmet law and I still hate it. Just hate government telling what to do and when to do it. I raced dirt bikes and yes it saved my skull but none the less
I still hate um. Live free or die!
Rusty

a vx1 doesn't have vaguely 50 miles range, unless you plan on going 25mph the whole time.

35 miles range at 45mph, or 25 miles range at 60mph is more accurate

Matt

I never go over 25 MPH and the miles remaining always seem to match distance gone plus miles done. My record is 21 miles at full speed and 57 miles with three bars left.

Well, it seems to make a lot of sense to me. BMW is a 'luxury' brand that commands high prices for its products, and would attract people with enough money to buy a bike with Vectrix-like performance. I wonder if the Vectrix had a BMW badge from the start, would it have sold more? Who knows, maybe BMW will buy Vectrix?

p.s. in a crash, unless that C1 is wider than it looks, I'd be worried about the head dragging on the floor as you slide down the road.

The issue of helmets was discussed in great length on the old Venture One forums, most (not all) states with mandatory helmet laws also have an exception of some sort for enclosed 3-wheel vehicles. Some of those exceptions apply to anything with a roll cage and a seat belt.

As for the C1, if you look carefully at the picture, there are little wings to the side of the driver's head. These are designed expressly to keep the driver's head away from the ground in the event the bike goes down.

A vehicle such as the C1 or C1-E is not useful for me: I need space for a passenger (In my trips I transport a children to his school).

Having both a C1 and a Vectrix, all I need is to send them both together in a faulty teleportation machine to have my very own Brundle/Fly/CV1

Source "The Fly" (1986)

Having both bikes already, can you just imagine how much I want one of these!!!

Isn't there copyright laws or rules? For copying speedometer,motor, kill switch and other similar stuff. At least I know if motor or controller give out I can get a BMW to work on my VX-1. When Ford bought into Jaguar some of their Fords looked like an English styling and same thing when Chrysler got bought out by Mercedes Benz
their cars took on German styling too.Since I got a good buy on my VX-1 I don't mind or won't mind paying a slight premium to get replacement parts in order to be on the road in short time.
Russell

Isn't there copyright laws or rules? For copying speedometer,motor, kill switch and other similar stuff.

Only if you retail it. Nothing wrong with buying a few parts, mocking up your own design, then negotiating with the supplying company towards a joint venture.

If you're just doing research, well, parts is parts. ;-)

and if the company you swiped the designs from is bankrupt, whos going to sue?

Matt

copyright applies to media. printed, recorded, etc

Patent applies to novel intellectual property

Trademark applies to designs, logos, shapes and styles

the form of vectrix instruments might be registered trademark, but I doubt it. There is a huge market in copied aftermarket automotive components.

High res photos can also be found here...
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/2009/top-2009-BMW-Motorrad-BMW-C1-E-Concept.htm