Excellent review of the Arcimoto FUV! My parents own a Arcimoto FUV and absolutely love it. They don't drive it crazy so they are perfectly comfortable driving it on the open road.
Fun! Interesting comments about a floorboard vs foot-pegs. Charging on EV motorcycles gets interesting because they tend to have smaller battery pack AND are more efficient. Because of that, 240V charging at a decent rate can be nearly as useful as DC Fast Charging. On my Vectrix, I had about a 4K charge rate with my Leaf cells, and typically charged at State Park Campgrounds. 7 or 10K 240V charging for this type of vehicle would be great! PS: On a technical side of things GREAT AUDIO.
I have had my FUV for several months now and now have about 500 miles on it. I come from the touring motorcycle world and I chose the FUV with local utility travel in mind. I like the FUV's windshield and roof as I live in the sunny south. To me the Roadster is for touring and would not be a choice for me because of its limited range.
Cool. I hope Arcimoto thrive, boost features like that cruise control and abs - when they implement the leaning tech they'll need a decent multi axis IMU. Do they talk to Bosch? And they get range to 150 miles+. And slightly faster charging - can it do 50kw? And they start exporting this .... Then I'd have this - the roadster - over a second bike or electric car. It'd make the perfect occasional commuter for me into London, UK (from MK 50 miles away). And most other longer distance trips. A big advantage to sell in the UK of course is this doesn't need to switch between lhd and rhd. Excellent review. Real banter, and useful info.
My wife's 2009 Can Am Spyder had 3 wheel ABS, traction control, sensors for pitch, yaw, and roll for stability control and electronic power steering to tame the turns. It was extremely stable in almost any situation, dead stable at 90 mph on the highway yet fun in the twisties. There is absolutely no reason 13 years later a new trike should not have these features.
Thanks for spending the time to review the product! I feel like Archimoto is on the verge of releasing a killer product. Continue pushing the cost down, improving the engineering / range - this could be a great 2nd vehicle for a lot of folks.
There is a reason many bikes and smaller EVs like this don't have rapid charging - they often have lower voltage batteries, and the CCS standard only supports voltages down to 200. A pity as an AC onboard charger adds cost & weight, but CCS needs minimal hardware on the vehicle.
Love this review. I got the chance to test ride the FUV and I really liked it. Thought it would be great in beach towns. I am really interested in the roadster for my wife but I am also holding out for the leaning version to come out. She is sadly too short to ride my Zero SR/S.
As an Arcimoto FUV reservation holder in Michigan (I know...it'll be a while), thanks for keeping the excitement level going! Yes, DCFC would be great (just like it would be on a Zero...ahem!), but as Winter said, even 6-7 KW onboard AC charging (maybe 10 KW?), this would seriously extend the day riding range. Maybe the could even offer dual chargers as an upgrade.
10kW plugs are super prolific (nema 14-50) most places in aMerica there are fields of them. we call them RV parks. Why would you settle for 60%. That a "D" not even a passing grade.
The handling and performance differences between traditional tree wheelers and motorcycles and this newer two wheel upfront configuration can not be overstated. When the CanAm Spyders came out, the required training course in Washington State would ensure that you would crash in many situations if you followed the course content. Fortunately this has been corrected, but does bear remembering for all drivers.
I cannot wait for Can Am to bring out the electric version of the Spyder. I have a 2012 SpyderRT Ltd and it’s wonderful add an electric motor and batteries? Superb!
In the same way bike riders have to adjust to the Can Am Spyder, you have to learn these. You move your weight into the corner. The pillion hold their grips. Arcimoto have to add power steering and passenger grabs too. The Spyder had cruise, ABS & stability control , three disk balanced braking and traction control. It is also more bike like. You can bet Can Am will have added all the safety points to their EV version.
That was good Info (from Ian, sounds like) about how adding a passenger can change the steering from "milquetoast Jekyll" Understeer to (potentially vicious) Hyde Oversteer.
@@transportevolved Yes, Ms. G-B, I AM aware that we are in the season of "Happy Holidays," and All That. -- Thanx for the Correction on "Who's Who." (Enjoy your Cycling -- all of it that your wife will Permit!)
At least I watched all the way to "The Bitter End" -- where I heard an influencer say, " . . . and Ian." (See Alec Guinness, doing his "Jedi Mind Trick.")
In city driving in my FUV, I get about 5-5.5 mi/kWh. On the freeway at 70 MPH, maybe 2. Which since it has an 18 kWh usable pack, means…. you don't go very far on the Interstate. It's definitely an "around town fun" vehicle, not a road tripper. Note that there is no efficiency/consumption meter in the vehicle; my measurements are based on _delivered_ power from my home L2 EVSE. Since that has losses, it's probably higher in "from battery pack" energy. I have driven 95 miles on one charge
Great video , yes wheels forward trikes generally understeer. I think the future of motorcycles will be tadpole electrics. back wheel trikes really make no sense. worse is leaning trikes they make as much sense as leaning cars it's a dumb idea. I like the FUV designation
Damn, even from this video I'm thinking: I wanna have a go on that one 😀 Although it could have done with a few more miles of range, would have loved to see it touch the 3 digits on that one.
The reason I hold onto my Arcimoto stock is that they will eventually get it leaning, and that will solve many problems and make it much more appealing to bikers.
I agree with you about it being a good candidate for people with mobility issues. If I could ride it with ability to throw a knocked down wheelchair on the back I’d love it.
I'm going through several scenarios in my head for ways for wheelchair users to get on and off a FUV and store a collapsable wheelchair on the side without help.
Arcimoto has passed all the safety test to make it road worthy. It's not a car, just like trikes are not cars, and doesn't have the same regulations as a car. So you think Can Am should pass car safety standards?
@@beachbum200009 Three-wheelers and two-wheelers are not required to have the safety features of four-wheelers. But same as with a motorcycle, you don't have any crash protection.
this does not fit for me at all: no abs, no cruise control, no real faster charging and a lot more flaws like the brake pedal they can forget about it at that price point. I will get another ICE bike for sure cause we have enough EV right now in the family, even more than ICE but that will change back in the future due to too many issues and too slow speeds on long distance trips. Fastest model 3 average speed over 1000 km was just 105 km in 9,5 hours on a sunday during lock down. Diesel beats that by hours the further it gets. So we will replace 1 or 2 EV by plug in hybrids Diesels sooner or later. short commute via battery, everything else on gas. Makes sense.
If it's registered as a motorcycle then ABS is a legal requirement in most jurisdictions. Having ridden a Zero since 2011, I personally I wouldn't consider an electric motorcycle without traction control. I'm perfectly happy to drift a CBR1000, but electrics are utterly different once they lose traction. Nothing limits the speed of the rear. Unlike a petrol that loses torque as it speeds up, electric motors make the same torque up to about 2/3 of the maximum vehicle speed. These are front wheel drive as far as I know, but still, hard pass from me without TC. It might take a year or three before it bites you, but it will.
Great report, but this is an absurd vehicle! In most climates of the US its usable only a few months of the year. How is this “toy” remotely good for the environment sitting in the garage? I hope it fails, quickly.
@@transportevolved here on the East coast of the US it’s single digit temperatures and heavily salted roads. There are no motorcycles or bicycles for that matter, on the roads for at least 6 months of the year.
Excellent review of the Arcimoto FUV! My parents own a Arcimoto FUV and absolutely love it. They don't drive it crazy so they are perfectly comfortable driving it on the open road.
This is something an older person could buy and actually use on a regular basis. I am very interested in one.
I'll stick to my R6 for picking up my Social Security check & taking the long way home
I liked the two host format in this episode, my vote is for more like this one
Fun!
Interesting comments about a floorboard vs foot-pegs.
Charging on EV motorcycles gets interesting because they tend to have smaller battery pack AND are more efficient. Because of that, 240V charging at a decent rate can be nearly as useful as DC Fast Charging. On my Vectrix, I had about a 4K charge rate with my Leaf cells, and typically charged at State Park Campgrounds. 7 or 10K 240V charging for this type of vehicle would be great!
PS: On a technical side of things GREAT AUDIO.
Thanks Ben! The audio was my baby. Saved with 32-but recordings and hours in the post production suite! - Nikki
I have had my FUV for several months now and now have about 500 miles on it. I come from the touring motorcycle world and I chose the FUV with local utility travel in mind. I like the FUV's windshield and roof as I live in the sunny south. To me the Roadster is for touring and would not be a choice for me because of its limited range.
Cool. I hope Arcimoto thrive, boost features like that cruise control and abs - when they implement the leaning tech they'll need a decent multi axis IMU. Do they talk to Bosch? And they get range to 150 miles+. And slightly faster charging - can it do 50kw? And they start exporting this .... Then I'd have this - the roadster - over a second bike or electric car. It'd make the perfect occasional commuter for me into London, UK (from MK 50 miles away). And most other longer distance trips. A big advantage to sell in the UK of course is this doesn't need to switch between lhd and rhd.
Excellent review. Real banter, and useful info.
My wife's 2009 Can Am Spyder had 3 wheel ABS, traction control, sensors for pitch, yaw, and roll for stability control and electronic power steering to tame the turns. It was extremely stable in almost any situation, dead stable at 90 mph on the highway yet fun in the twisties. There is absolutely no reason 13 years later a new trike should not have these features.
Thanks for spending the time to review the product! I feel like Archimoto is on the verge of releasing a killer product. Continue pushing the cost down, improving the engineering / range - this could be a great 2nd vehicle for a lot of folks.
And Ian! Such a legend :-) What an awesome and fun video, you two are truly a joy to listen to.
There is a reason many bikes and smaller EVs like this don't have rapid charging - they often have lower voltage batteries, and the CCS standard only supports voltages down to 200.
A pity as an AC onboard charger adds cost & weight, but CCS needs minimal hardware on the vehicle.
Wow enjoyed your short review the Arcimoto Roadster..... going to watch the longer version now!
That was a really enjoyable review, refreshing, thank you
Love this review. I got the chance to test ride the FUV and I really liked it. Thought it would be great in beach towns. I am really interested in the roadster for my wife but I am also holding out for the leaning version to come out. She is sadly too short to ride my Zero SR/S.
As an Arcimoto FUV reservation holder in Michigan (I know...it'll be a while), thanks for keeping the excitement level going! Yes, DCFC would be great (just like it would be on a Zero...ahem!), but as Winter said, even 6-7 KW onboard AC charging (maybe 10 KW?), this would seriously extend the day riding range. Maybe the could even offer dual chargers as an upgrade.
10kW plugs are super prolific (nema 14-50) most places in aMerica there are fields of them. we call them RV parks. Why would you settle for 60%. That a "D" not even a passing grade.
Love the idea of it and hope they make the improvements mentioned.
Great video. It's definitely clear that Nikki uses all of the available tarmac when cornering. :-)
And sometimes more. I was certainly quicker - Nikki
Fabulous - absolutely more, please!!
had a laugh at the "and Ian" part at the end on this one 😂
no rain wind cold snow cover
I'm not a motorcycle fan, but it does look like a lot of fun.
The handling and performance differences between traditional tree wheelers and motorcycles and this newer two wheel upfront configuration can not be overstated. When the CanAm Spyders came out, the required training course in Washington State would ensure that you would crash in many situations if you followed the course content. Fortunately this has been corrected, but does bear remembering for all drivers.
Washington 3 wheel licenses was in the works years before Can Am was a thought.
Good video, I was kinda hoping you would also ride a Can-Am Spyder or Ryker for comparison
We couldn’t get a review unit locally, though we did try - Winter
I cannot wait for Can Am to bring out the electric version of the Spyder. I have a 2012 SpyderRT Ltd and it’s wonderful add an electric motor and batteries? Superb!
In the same way bike riders have to adjust to the Can Am Spyder, you have to learn these. You move your weight into the corner. The pillion hold their grips. Arcimoto have to add power steering and passenger grabs too. The Spyder had cruise, ABS & stability control , three disk balanced braking and traction control. It is also more bike like. You can bet Can Am will have added all the safety points to their EV version.
So jelly. Can’t wait to take one out for a ride in Florida
Nice info and great shoot
That was good Info (from Ian, sounds like) about how adding a passenger can change the steering from "milquetoast Jekyll" Understeer to (potentially vicious) Hyde Oversteer.
Who is Ian? Do you mean Winter? - Nikki.
@@transportevolved Yes, Ms. G-B, I AM aware that we are in the season of "Happy Holidays," and All That. -- Thanx for the Correction on "Who's Who." (Enjoy your Cycling -- all of it that your wife will Permit!)
At least I watched all the way to "The Bitter End" -- where I heard an influencer say, " . . . and Ian." (See Alec Guinness, doing his "Jedi Mind Trick.")
Interested to see the camera car was a Fiat 500. That must have been a fun drive.
This is so awesome!
So uh, when's the high performance version with a wider track, more power, and stiffer suspension
And even less range?
Interesting review. How many miles/kWh in this or an FUV?
In city driving in my FUV, I get about 5-5.5 mi/kWh. On the freeway at 70 MPH, maybe 2. Which since it has an 18 kWh usable pack, means…. you don't go very far on the Interstate. It's definitely an "around town fun" vehicle, not a road tripper. Note that there is no efficiency/consumption meter in the vehicle; my measurements are based on _delivered_ power from my home L2 EVSE. Since that has losses, it's probably higher in "from battery pack" energy. I have driven 95 miles on one charge
Do you need a helmet for the FUV? As a regulatory requirement? Not the roadster, the full cage FUV.
That depends on what state you’re in. In some states (such as Oregon) you don’t, in others you do - Winter
It looks like the Roadster is a (much?) longer wheelbase than the regular FUV?
No, if I recall it’s exactly the same - Winter
I love it!
The bmw scooter of 2004 or so the C1 allowed to drive without helmet, one of the big advantages - but of cause you had to buckle up.
Great video , yes wheels forward trikes generally understeer. I think the future of motorcycles will be tadpole electrics. back wheel trikes really make no sense. worse is leaning trikes they make as much sense as leaning cars it's a dumb idea. I like the FUV designation
How does it compare to the Can Am Ryker?
Damn, even from this video I'm thinking: I wanna have a go on that one 😀 Although it could have done with a few more miles of range, would have loved to see it touch the 3 digits on that one.
Bad aero is killing the range, wonder how it could be improved
@@2nd3rd1st maybe you could draft behind a Fait 500
The reason I hold onto my Arcimoto stock is that they will eventually get it leaning, and that will solve many problems and make it much more appealing to bikers.
The range is a bit short and needs a 22kw charge to really take it out.
Can-am F3 Spyder would be a good ice comparison. Same riding dynamics
I agree with you about it being a good candidate for people with mobility issues. If I could ride it with ability to throw a knocked down wheelchair on the back I’d love it.
I did grin when you termed it a tadpole. I'm usually a fan of other colors but the silver model looked great.
Fun is Good.
These look like early racecars from the 1920s.
I'm going through several scenarios in my head for ways for wheelchair users to get on and off a FUV and store a collapsable wheelchair on the side without help.
The main reason for having three wheels instead of four is skirting all of the safety regulations that pertain to cars.
Arcimoto has passed all the safety test to make it road worthy. It's not a car, just like trikes are not cars, and doesn't have the same regulations as a car.
So you think Can Am should pass car safety standards?
@@beachbum200009 Three-wheelers and two-wheelers are not required to have the safety features of four-wheelers. But same as with a motorcycle, you don't have any crash protection.
You keep comparing this to a motorcycle, but how about a snowmobile? This looks basically like a sled on roads.
👍
Great!
Just wish someone made an EV bagger.
My motorcycle came with cruise, ABS, but not traction control.
this does not fit for me at all: no abs, no cruise control, no real faster charging and a lot more flaws like the brake pedal they can forget about it at that price point.
I will get another ICE bike for sure cause we have enough EV right now in the family, even more than ICE but that will change back in the future due to too many issues and too slow speeds on long distance trips. Fastest model 3 average speed over 1000 km was just 105 km in 9,5 hours on a sunday during lock down. Diesel beats that by hours the further it gets. So we will replace 1 or 2 EV by plug in hybrids Diesels sooner or later. short commute via battery, everything else on gas.
Makes sense.
They should make one or two for disabled people in a wheelchair like me.
OH, you two are awful. I got my email that I could order my FUV and have been able to hold off. You are not making this any easier. Dammit.
You should *totally* get a ride - Nikki *grin*
This whole video reeks of a half-baked product, not ready for prime time. Kind of sad really, because I really wanted to invest in the company.
If it's registered as a motorcycle then ABS is a legal requirement in most jurisdictions. Having ridden a Zero since 2011, I personally I wouldn't consider an electric motorcycle without traction control. I'm perfectly happy to drift a CBR1000, but electrics are utterly different once they lose traction. Nothing limits the speed of the rear. Unlike a petrol that loses torque as it speeds up, electric motors make the same torque up to about 2/3 of the maximum vehicle speed. These are front wheel drive as far as I know, but still, hard pass from me without TC. It might take a year or three before it bites you, but it will.
4th
Second
Great report, but this is an absurd vehicle! In most climates of the US its usable only a few months of the year. How is this “toy” remotely good for the environment sitting in the garage? I hope it fails, quickly.
Not at all - here in Portland, people ride in all weather! - Nikki.
This will have a world market.
People use motorcycles all year round. I personally wouldn't buy this, but I can understand why someone might want it.
@@transportevolved here on the East coast of the US it’s single digit temperatures and heavily salted roads. There are no motorcycles or bicycles for that matter, on the roads for at least 6 months of the year.
@@beachbum200009 far too expensive for any 3rd world nations.