"Not for the mass market is an overwhelming understatement". I honestly can't conceive of how much more money than brains you would have to have to even consider this, let alone buy it.
If you think impractical deathtraps are "cool", then so be it. That's the "coolest motorcycle" you'll ever see.
What this is is "proof of concept", not a marketable product. It's also something which should be incumbent on large automakers to develop. As much as people think I hate big corporations, this is something which would be better served with their resources. As it stands, this is "crowd funding on speculation.". I'm kind of wondering if this will duplicate the standard, "Elon Musk new product release paradigm", which as you know, involves handing out money, then sitting by the phone hoping for the best.
That's true of all consumer technological product. I remember $10,000.00 Pioneer 60" Plasma TVs.
Is 3d printing a good idea, yes. Is an electric motorcycle a good idea, I suppose. Is this specific iteration of such a product a good idea, not in the least.
The only "use", I can see for it, is riding around your fabulously expensive gated community, trying to convince your fabulously wealthy neighbors how trendy and ecologically responsible you are. It wouldn't come close ti making up for the exorbitant heating & cooling costs associated with your 10,000 sq. ft. mansion.
You bring up many good points, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a luxury product aimed at the luxury market. Many of the people who hate on this product are people who would like to own this product, but would never pay for it at any price.
I love electric technology, but I understand that with any new tech, it will only be affordable to those with large wallets. That being said, I'd like to shift this conversation a bit to something everyone can understand.
I want a luxury sports car, almost anyone who considers themselves a car guy, does. So am I going to hate the ferrari 458, Mclaren 675 LT or Porsche 911 just because I can't afford them? Hell no! As much as I hate to say it(because I'm poor), but progress starts in the luxury market. The Tesla Model 3 exists because the p85 came before it.
This tech is cool, but that doesn't dismiss the fact that it's unafordable. However, by allowing this product to exist it shows demand for such a product. Seeing a large demand creates scale-ability for products like this.
Tons of people WANT this, but they can't afford this. So if a company sees that there is enough demand then they are able to scale production up to meet demand. It isn't a black and white thing, it is something that takes years of development and many companies coming together to meet the supply demand of the manufacturer.
It may take a few generations(meaning a few decades) for them to bring the price down to compete with things like harleys. But we do have to start somewhere. The fact that they are even trying such dramatic and exotic designs only helps the rest of the industry.
Sure, people like you and me can't afford this right now, but if they don't do this stuff right now we might never be able to afford it in the future.
To reiterate my earlier statement, "I look forward to the future innovations I'll see, but not afford."
Perhaps my kids will have the oppurtunity to become organ donors on E-cycles
