Brammo

When Victory Motorcycles announced that it would be running two electric bikes at the Zero TT Challenge at the Isle of Man TT in June 2015, a lot of people were curious about the two riders it tapped to race for the team in the competition. One of those riders is Lee “General Lee” Johnston, who isn’t really a household name in the world of motorcycle racing the way folks like Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez are.

Despite his lack of top-class pedigree, Johnston is still a talented racer who has some impressive finishes in his resume, including a top 5 finish at the Isle of Man TT in 2014. This year, Johnston will return to the Isle of Man where he will suit up for Victory Motorcycles in the aforementioned Zero TT Challenge.

Apparently, Victory decided that I was important for us to get to know the General so it released a video introducing the General to legions of fans who will have their eyes trained on him and partner Wiliam Dunlop as they carry Victory’s flag into competition.

It’s worth noting that both Johnston and Lee will be piloting electric motorcycles that may or may not have been Brammo electric bikes in the past. If you’re a little confused about this arrangement, remember that both Victory Motorcycles and Brammo’s electric technology development are owned by Polaris Industries. It’s no coincidence that upon buying Brammo back in March 2015, Polaris immediately gave the keys to the proverbial Brammo EV kingdom to Victory Motorcycles, which is why we’re seeing the motorcycle brand compete in not one but two races in the coming months. Have we forgotten Project 156, everybody?

Details surrounding the bikethat Johnston and Dunlop will ride at the Isle of Man TT have yet to be revealed in full. What we do know is that the bike will make use of Brammo’s newly acquired technology to go with participation from world-class manufacturer Parker Hannifin, which provided the GVM PMAC motors and what Victory describes as "highly sophisticated electric controls” to maximize the bike’s peak power, power delivery, and overall durability.”

Seems like Lee Johnston’s going to have his hands full with this bike, huh?

American electric bike manufacturer Brammo is the latest company to get bitten by the recall bug. This time around, the company is planning to recall a handful of its Empulse and Empulse R models made between November 19, 2012 to July 8, 2014 over problems involving the gearbox.

According to a memo issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem with the gearbox of the Empulse is serious enough that the bike’s transmission breather tube may blow onto the rear fender and the tire. In the event this happens, oil could drip into the rear tire, which could lead to the tire losing traction and setting up the increased likelihood of a crash happening.

All in all, Brammo indicated that a total of 149 units are affected by the issue and owners of these bikes are being encouraged to bring their bikes to Brammo dealers. These bikes will be tested and if it’s discovered that they’re experiencing the problem, engineers will install a new transmission breather baffle kit at no cost to the bike owners.

The recall starts today, February 12, 2015 so if owners believe that their bikes are having problems, they’re free to contact Brammo’ customer service.

Click past the jump to read more about Brammo’s recall of its Empulse and Empulse R bikes.

Polaris Industries’ acquisition of “certain electric motorcycle assets” from Brammo made news the previous week, signalling a new opportunity for the former to expand its own lineup of existing models and venture into the the world of EV bikes. The same announcement also included pieces of information on what Brammo’s plans are moving forward. Today, though, we can say with all certainty that Brammo’s future will be dedicated solely on developing world-class electric vehicle drivetrain systems.

That was the announcement made by Brammo founder and CEO Craig Bramscher. According to Bramscher, the Polaris acquisition wasn’t made so that Brammo itself would fall in line with the former’s other bike brands, namely Victory and Indian. Instead, the acquisition fell more in line with the two company’s plans to work side-by-side to develop class-leading electric motorcycles.

Part of that exclusive agreement with Polaris calls for brim to supply its electric powertrains to Polaris, which will then use it for its motorcycles and other on-road and off-road vehicles. The technologies in play here include lithium-ion batteries, electric motors, and associated control electronics, so basically, the set-up would be for Polaris to build the bikes and for Brammo to supply the power trains.

Sounds pretty simple, right?

Click pas the jump to read more about Brammo’s strategy moving forward.

Polaris Industries has given new life to a start-up company with the full acquisition of Brammo Inc. The buyout is great news for the Brammo, which has been struggling to gain any traction as an electric bike maker amidst a segment that seems to be growing in competition as the years pass. Without the funding it needed to compete against the big boys, Brammo found itself in the unenviable position of fending for itself without any financial stability to stand on.

But with Polaris Industries coming into the picture, Brammo will not only live to see another day, but it will have a lot of weight lifted off its shoulders. Instead of building these bikes from the ground-up, Brammo will now be able to focus exclusively on developing and integrating electric vehicle powertrains, leaving the job of bringing these products to market to Polaris, which is in a much better position to do it and more importantly, get the job done.

Part of the buyout includes Polaris’ takeover of Brammo’s production facility in Spirit Lake, Iowa, which it will reportedly use to produce the electric motorcycles beginning in the second half of 2015. The buyout is also a significant step up in the relationship of the two companies that began in 2011 when Polaris invested $28 million in the company.

Now that Polaris has essentially absorbed a significant part of Brammo’s business framework, the two companies can proceed with developing new electric bikes that will fall under the Polaris brand name.

Click past the jump to read more about Polaris Industries’ purchase of Brammo Inc.

The Oregon based Brammo is one of the top manufacturers in the electric motorcycles segment and has recently announced that its electric bikes will be sold in the UK.

Brammo’s motorcycles will be sold though the GoinGreen website which is dedicated to green vehicles. Brammo’s lineup available for the UK market will include the Enertia Plus, the Empulse and the Empulse R models. For the moment, we don’t have any official details about the prices, but we don’t expect to be a big difference between the US and UK price tags.

Brammo’s plans to expand on new markets is a brilliant idea as apart from the fact that it will boost its sales the strategy will also help it gain an even better reputation among electric motorcycle lovers.

The first Brammo motorcycles will reach the UK shores in March 2014.

Stay tuned for more details on Brammos UK market launch.

The Brammo Enertia Plus is the pumped up version of the standard Enertia model. This electric motorcycle is fitted with a stronger lithium-ion battery that offers a maximum range of 80 miles – 40 miles more than the standard Enertia.

In terms of design, the Enertia Plus shares the same body lines with its sibling. However, it can be easy recognized by its different paint job and graphics.

The motorcycle is equipped with a high output sealed brushless permanent magnet AC motor which cranks out a maximum output of 13 kW @ 4500 rpm and 40 Nm of torque available between 0 - 1450 rpm.

For enhanced agility in the city, the Brammo Enertia Plus also comes with a tighter turning radius.

As far as prices are concerned, the Brammo Enertia Plus can be yours for no less than $10,995.

Hit the jump for more information on the Brammo Enertia Plus.

Meet the new ICON Spec 32 Eboz Edition - a special model that was created to mark the company’s entrance in the 2013 TTXGP series. This Special Edition also celebrates the inclusion of Eric Bostrom on Team ICON Brammo.

The new model is offered in a limited run of only 32 units and comes with an orange/blue livery. The 32 number represents the Eric Bostrom’s race number and can be also seen on the motorcycle’s body.

Talking about the body, the 2013 Brammo / ICON Spec 32 comes with color coded wheel trim, a stainless steel plaque with the unique bike number and a laser cut EBoz signature. You also get a Bostrom Icon Airmada signature helmet painted in the same colors as the motorcycle.

The company says that apart from the style modifications, the special edition also features a slightly tweaked motor which offers “crisper throttle response and sharper regenerative braking as well as a bit more power.”

Icon’s Media Coordinator Joe Gustafson said: “As title sponsor, of Team Icon Brammo, we have the ability to design a great graphic instead of a great compromise. If this was traditional motorsports, there would be just too many variables to design a truly striking piece of artwork.”

Mr. Gustafson added: “There is no playbook for electric motorcycling, so both organizations are completely uninhibited to try a variety of different things. With Brammo, this is shown by their design leadership in the industry by creating world- beating electric motorcycles, and then racing them against their gasoline counterparts – which no other electric brand is doing. On our end, it’s in offering gear that is industry leading in both design and function, and bringing that into the racing atmosphere.”

The Brammo / ICON Spec 32 Eboz Edition is offered with a price tag of $19,995.

Hit the jump for more pictures.

The Brammo Empulse gained itself a pretty good reputation being considered by many the world’s most powerful electric motorcycle. Its electric motor cranks out 54 hp and 63 Nm of torque being one of the strongest units in its class. What’s even interesting is the fact that the bike weighs only 200 kilograms. Thanks to its sporty pedigree the motorcycle is able to ride 100 miles on a single charge and offers a top speed of up to 100 mph. It’s also worthy of being mentioned that a full charging requires only 3.5 hours. The motor is paired with an Electric Transmision (IET) especially developed for electric motorcycles.

The Brammo Empulse will be released and sold in Asia and the other countries with a starting price of US $ 16.995. There is also an Empulse R version available which is offered with a starting price of US $ 18.995.

Hit the jump for more information on the 2013 Brammo Empulse.

Brammo, Inc. and S.M.R.E. Engineering have entered into a strategic partnership. Thereby Brammo has acquired an exclusive international license of SMRE’s patented Integrated Electric Transmission (IET). From now on, Brammo has the possibility to offer its electric motorcycles with a 6 speed transmission.

The Integrated Electric Transmission (IET) is a mechatronic propulsion unit that emulates the feeling and performance of a traditional internal combustion engine, with a specially developed electric motor, clutch and gear shift.

The first two models that will receive the new transmission are the Brammo Engage and Encite. The Engage MX dirt bike has an anticipated price of $9,995.00.

Talking about the bike, Brian Wismann, Director of Product Development at Brammo said: "Electric motorcycle design has always been a bit of a balancing act in direct drive systems where great acceleration performance comes at the expense of low top-end speed."

Hit the jump for more information on the Brammo Engage.

Brammo is one of the most popular electric motorcycle manufacturers. The company earned a favorable reputation in the world of electric two wheelers as its products are reliable and well built.

The Enertia Plus was always considered one of the most capable models in the company’s lineup and there is no wonder why, as it delivers strong performances and offers a pretty good handling. Furthermore, the bike has also received a set of significant upgrades for 2013.

One of the most important modifications is the new 6 kWh battery which increases range from 40 to 80 miles. It is the same battery system, developed during the company’s TT racing project, that will power the new Empulse 6.0. The bike has also received a tighter turning radius and new colors combined with the latest Brammo graphics.

For the moment, there aren’t revealed any official price specifications for the new Brammo Enertia Plus, but we can expect to be priced below $5000.

Hit the jump for more information on the Brammo Enertia Plus.

There’s no question that the Brammo Enertia was built for one purpose: produce grins for newbie and experienced motorcyclists.

This bike is poised to become a popular ride, thanks to some of the best features you’ll find on the market, particularly a promise from Brammo that the Enertia comes with a quiet sound and zero-emissions.

All that can be achieved by a tuned exhaust barking a staccato note from a high-compression engine with the Enertia’s whirring 72-volt, brushless DC motor and 428 gauge DID chain. Sprockets are practically all you hear other than the wind rushing past your helmet. This feature fits the people who don’t like the noise.

Brammo’s zero-emission bike is promising to be a real motorcycle that offers a deep hue of environmentally-friendly greenness, making up for any apparent performance shortcomings. Even if its juice comes from coal-fired power grids, its pollution footprint is but a fraction of catalytic-converter-equipped motorcycles, which is always a good thing.

Find out more about the Brammo Enertia after the jump.

On October 13, Brian Wismann, the director of product development at Brammo Inc. and Dave Schiff of Crispin Porter Bugosky have started a road trip from Ann Arbor, MI to Washington, DC. Their goal for the ten-day journey is to raise awareness of electric bikes with Brammo’s Enertia model, which has a 42-mile range and needs four hours to fully charge its six lithium ion batteries.

Considering the 520 miles that need to be covered, the guys will have plenty of time to familiarize people with their $11,995 powercycle. Yes, it is damn expensive, but considering that it only consumes $4 worth of electricity (for the specified trip), it should pay itself back in time and, preferably, during shorter distances and implicit fewer stops (after all, we do live in the century of speed).

Speaking of power, the Brammo Enertia has a 13kW electric motor, which powers it to a top speed of 60 mph. I wonder what the President will think about it. Meanwhile click pass the break to check out the video or go to shockingbarack.com, where the entire journey is being chronicled.

After gaining popularity by racing the Enertia TTR sportbike at this year’s Isle of Man TT motorcycle race, Brammo announces that their bikes are now available at select Best Buy stores.

Brammofan blog was already interested in the subject and after reporting that the Enertia TTR racers were on display at select West Coast Best Buy stores, they started to dig deeper into it. So they went at the Cascade Station Best Buy in Portland, Oregon to take this picture of the bike and also to find out that there are three in stock. Those having a license with a motorcycle endorsement can take the electric bikes for a spin, but hopefully without trying to imitate the way professional racers rode the bikes back in June. Still, we’ve added a video of the Brammo Enertia TTR at the Isle of Man TTX GP in order to start your interest even more.

It might seem that some things are there to look the same for ever and ever, but life is no fairy tale and as things are evolving, people are trying to reinvent the past with what they got on their hands now. For instance, Brammofan has come up with a very interesting way to promote the famous Brammo Enertia electric motorcycle with excellent results. People are sending in Photoshop creations such as the “Enertiaryder” and the “Terminator Enertia” as part of a contest that they have going on. Any ideas from you?

Brammo has been recently testing their TTR prototype which will be raced at the 2009 all-electric Isle of Man TTXGP and took the opportunity to shoot two teasing videos which not only show that the bike can be fast and look aggressive (note that it doesn’t get the final touches yet), but sound unbelievable good too. We’re simply amazed by the two rather fast passes and the sound that they’re accompanied by!

See videos after the break.

Brammo plans to sell their Enertia electric motorcycle for $12,000 in five West Coast stores in May. Considering the great number of visitors for a single Best Buy location, such as the one in West Hollywood which sees approximately 7 million customers a year, we can’t help being impressed by their distribution network and check their plans for the future. Brammo currently works at a two-seat model which will join the Enertia at the 1,200 Best Buy locations in the US and other 1,500 ones throughout Europe and China as soon as it will be released next year.

Enertia’s electric powerplant develops 28lb. ft of torque which gets the bike up to no more than 53 mph while the battery only keeps up for 45 miles. So there’s no obvious reason why people would buy it, especially over the much cheaper, torquier (50 lb.ft) and lighter (129 lbs less) 2009 Zero S electric supermoto, just to give an example, but I bet it will sell successfully (it’s human nature, I guess).

Their future model is claimed to achieve a top speed of 75 mph and have a 100-mile range so they clearly know where they’re wrong and consistently work to improve their products.