50cycles survive Zero Motorcycles 24-hour electricross

14th April 2009 We survived the Zero Motorcycles 24 hour Electricross challenge 50cycles made a flying visit to California last week to take part in the world's first all-electric 24-hour motorcycle race in the sunbaked heart of Silicon Valley. Our bike lasted the distance, completing 879 laps or about 450 miles in the 24 hours, up to a mile of which was off the ground (yes, these bikes can jump!). The Zero X turned out to be an incredible machine, all we hoped for and more - a satisfyingly chunky 3kW battery pack, a motor that can be cooled by pouring water into it, a stupendous turn of speed and a lightweight, futurisitic design. Our riders loved it (that's Lloyd, pictured left, taking to the air on one of the final laps) and no doubt you will too when you come and try out our demo motorbike. We'll publish a full account of our trip soon - our initial reports and videos are already online on the 50cycles electric motorbikes website. New motorbikes around the corner The Zero X is only the first machine out of the Zero Motorcycles stable. Next up is the road legal Zero S offering the same instant torque and acceleration from a standstill, with a top speed of 60mph, a range of up to 60 miles and a total weight a touch over 100kg including onboard charger, it's a uniquely powerful all-electric Supermoto machine. We'll have both models available to see and test-ride soon. Read more on our website or get in contact with our Zero team. A $1,000 deposit reserves your bike and you can claim $50 off using promotional code MSR-UK-0101. Things can only get Twitter II If you visit our 24-hour race page, you'll notice that there is a twitter feed below the text and video. We update this several times a day. The moment something interesting or important happens at 50cycles, in the field of electric vehicles, or in the world in general, we will post it here first. All you need do is sign up to Twitter with your email, then find us at http://twitter.com/50cycles and click to say you want to follow us. We were all sceptical at first, but it's turned out to be worthwhile and fun to use, especially with something like Tweetdeck running. Actually, you don't even need to sign up oe login to see the news from 50cycles, take a look. Agattu F promotion continues Kalkhoff's Agattu F is the first electric bike in the world to feature Panasonic's new hub motor system. The Agattu F looks like an Agattu pedelec, rides like an Agattu pedelec and comes with everything you get - lights, mudguards, rack, suspension, built-in lock - you get with an Agattu pedelec. And it also comes with a European-style coaster brake as well as the usual excellent V-brakes. We have a small number of these bikes earmarked for UK customers left at the introductory price of £1395 - that's £100 off the current web price and £500 off the manufacturer's recommended price! Use promotion code agattuf100 when calling 0844 800 5979 or when checking out online. This offer is valid until midnight on 30 April 2009, or until we sell out of them! Specialist electric bike helmets from Casco We've had our eye on these new helmets - designed for electric bike riders and only electric bike riders - for some time. The Casco E.Motion helmets benefit from a unique sandwich structure (yum) making them extremely lightweight and comfortable, even in warm weather. Like our famous Yakkay helmets, they can be fitted with optional ear covers and come in two sizes: Small / Medium = 52 - 57 cm (20½ - 22½ inches) - head circumference Large / X-Large = 58 - 62 cm (22½ - 24½ inches) head circumference As Casco put it "Pedelec - the new lifestyle of cycling - fast, comfortably and sweat free from A to B" • New shape & function especially designed for the needs of pedelec cyclists • Extremely compact and attractive design by Casco with patent pending helmet technology • Ideal climate regulation all year-round (minimized risk of colds in winter and increased UV-protection during summer) • Optional earpads for cold season’s use • Comfortable high-quality interior • Easy fitting with ergonomic disc control • Features anti-theft ring for attaching to a lock. Available in three colour combinations, we're selling them at the recommended price of £119.99 including UK postage and packing. If you'd like to order or learn more, just send us an email (no need for a message, a blank email will do) and we'll notify you the moment we publish the details on our website. Kalkhoff Panasonic batteries perform very well in long-term battery test Finally, some great news from A to B magazine's rigorous battery testers in the current issue: "After six months of fairly intensive all-weather use, our Kalkhoff Agattu battery hasn't deteriorated at all. We estimate the capacity to be 272Wh today, which is slightly ahead of Panasonic's claimed capacity [260Wh] and exactly the same as when we tested it last October" This is excellent news for Kalkhoff pedelec owners - your batteries are all that we and Panasonic claim them to be and more. That's it for now - further news about the Zero motorcycles event and much more to come... The 50cycles Team