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Acronyms are tricky, ya know? People always want to know what they mean and they always take the focus away from the bikes or brand image. The boys at BRD have opted out of their first attempt at a name and are re-entering the world as Alta Motors, bringing the specs of their Redshift MX and Redshift SM as welcome presents.
The fun stuff first. The Redshift electric motor weighs 11 pounds and makes 40 horsepower. Yes, seriously. Next, the MX version of the motorcycle weighs 251 pounds, while the SM comes in at 264. I swear to God, I'm not making these numbers up.
Using an electric motor has a ton of advantages. For one, torque delivery is completely flat, meaning all the torque, all the time. It also allows for an infinite number of "fuel maps," allowing the rider to adjust things like throttle response, engine braking, and even a virtual flywheel.
Remember trying to learn to shift while riding standing up? Worry no longer, kids. The Alta Motors Redshift is... shiftless.
Alta Motors has done a ton of testing and reports that the battery lasts for about 50 miles of "aggressive riding." The battery is a proprietary lithium-ion unit that's been engineered to last 1,000 hours and 50,000 miles. The 70-pound battery is swappable, and Alta says it takes two guys about 5 to 10 minutes if they know what they're doing.
Now the icing on the cake: Delivery of the Redshift begins in the second quarter of 2015 in California (the company's home base) and the third quarter of 2015 in the rest of the country. Meanwhile, here's some action footage to keep you entertained.
