Industry spies claim that the debut electric motorcycle Victory plans to enter in the Zero TT this summer at the Isle of Man produces less power than the original Brammo Empulse RR it is based upon. The bike itself, though showcased in several photos when the initial announcement was made, remains largely secret.
Photo: Victory Motorcycles
Victory was very reserved in providing too many details about the new bike. All we found out from Spirit Lake was that the bike was largely based on Brammo machinery, but with a revised chassis and a new power pack.
While the Brammo Empulse RR proved to be successful on the closed circuits and a most rewarding bike on the road in its street-legal trim, it could never be a real competitor in the Tourist Trophy.
For starters, the Mountain Course is a real road, with bumps, jumps and all the things one expects to run into on an everyday street, minus potholes. This means that lapping at 120 mph (193 km/h) around the Manx Island requires a stronger, racing-grade frame which Victory admits having already built and tested.
The battery pack became bigger and a tad heavier, undergoing the same "racifying" process. As Spirit Lake claimed a 20% boost in capacity, it looks like the TT machine could carry 17kWh.
According to A&R, Victory allegedly reduced the peak power of the Parker-supplied motor from 173 to 150 horsepower, while the torque remained at 162 lb-ft (220 Nm). It is yet unclear why Victory believes that reduced power output, apparently in favor of overall efficiency, might prove to be an advantage on the Mountain course.
However, until we see Lee Johnston and William Dunlop aboard theie electric machines, it's anyone's guess as to how the Victorified Brammo performs under real-world racing conditions, especially against Team Mugen's Shinden Yon.
A new frame to withstand the grueling Isle of Man race conditions
While the Brammo Empulse RR proved to be successful on the closed circuits and a most rewarding bike on the road in its street-legal trim, it could never be a real competitor in the Tourist Trophy.
For starters, the Mountain Course is a real road, with bumps, jumps and all the things one expects to run into on an everyday street, minus potholes. This means that lapping at 120 mph (193 km/h) around the Manx Island requires a stronger, racing-grade frame which Victory admits having already built and tested.
The battery pack became bigger and a tad heavier, undergoing the same "racifying" process. As Spirit Lake claimed a 20% boost in capacity, it looks like the TT machine could carry 17kWh.
Peak power reduced to 150 horsepower
According to A&R, Victory allegedly reduced the peak power of the Parker-supplied motor from 173 to 150 horsepower, while the torque remained at 162 lb-ft (220 Nm). It is yet unclear why Victory believes that reduced power output, apparently in favor of overall efficiency, might prove to be an advantage on the Mountain course.
However, until we see Lee Johnston and William Dunlop aboard theie electric machines, it's anyone's guess as to how the Victorified Brammo performs under real-world racing conditions, especially against Team Mugen's Shinden Yon.
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