floody
Wheel size expert
Apologies for the lack of clarity in my original post, the 8-10kg I referenced above refers to the total added weight of all the e components (it can actually be less) - the motor is 2-3kg, batteries typically 4-6kg and maybe a kg of wiring, controller etc. - pretty much like the bike Nico is riding in the YouTube video Ivan posted in 133 - check it out if you get the time...only a couple of minutes. I guess what I was trying to say before was that you definitely do pay a weight and cost penalty - and as ridethelightning stated previously, for pure lightness and nimbleness a quality MTB can't be beat.
As you can see, batteries are where the weights at - this applies for any e vehicle from tesla cars to rc planes. The motors comparatively are super light and super efficient. The technology is always improving but is far from competing with fossil fuels in energy density. If they even get remotely close though, it'll be pretty much bye bye to fossil fuels for energy and the ICE as a power source.
A 10kg motor is a completely different kettle of fish, as per what I wrote in that post you quoted from:
Some of these beasts produce peak power of 12kw/16hp - do those types of bikes belong on technical single track - fark no. However in this day and age of global warming fears (justified or not - a completely separate debate), peak oil concerns, pollution fears and general environmental conciousness - I like the fact I can have an electrically powered, nimble small 'motorbike' that I can cycle/train it to a designated off-road area, kick arse for an hour or two and then cycle/train it home all for the cost of a couple of kws of energy kindly supplied by the solar array that's on my roof. The alternative is to break out the ute, load on the dirt bike, fill it with million year old dead animals and then fill everyone's ears with the screaming joy of high revving engines. Nothing against those that do this (and it's there tracks that I'd be sharing) just know what alternative I'd go for.
However the place for a debate on those bikes is on a dirt bike forum which is why I tried to delineate between the two early in the thread.
Hope this clarifies things and enjoy the trails.
Its all just semantics, 10kg worth of e-gear is a 10kg motor to me. I mean a 3kg motor is just dead weight without the battery and wiring.
As for using million year old dead animals, well until there is major change that's what you're doing regardless, its just a different kind of 'fuel' in a different kind of tank.
For all intents and purposes you're riding a moped.