TT Zero Articles
News
MotoCzysz breaks 100mph TT barrier
Riding the 2012 MotoCzysz E1pc, Michael Rutter has shattered the electric motorcycle lap record at the Isle of Man TT. Rutter lapped with an average speed of 100mph, closely followed by the Mugen (Honda) Shinden and then fellow MotoCzysz rider Mark Miller, who also broke the 100mph barrier. The lap claimed Rutter and MotoCzysz £10,000 in prize money, which probably covered a portion of the team
06 June 2012
John McGuinness rides Honda’s electric race bike
“The bike was, as you would expect from a company such as Mugen, a well-designed and well put together proper race bike,” stated 17 time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness shortly after his first ride aboard the Mugen Shinden. “As soon as I got underway it felt natural and I almost forgot it was fully electric while I was also learning the Twin Ring Motegi circuit for the first time.” ...
22 March 2012
Is the Mugen Shinden just a disguised Honda RC-E?
The bike you see here is the Mugen Shinden, a prototype electric race bike that will compete at this summer’s TT Zero, racing bikes like the MotoCzysz E1pc. Mugen is a japanese race team and tuning company that’s long existed as sort of a Skunk Works-like, external R&D company for Honda. There’s no public link between Honda and the Shinden. But, now that we see the bike, it’s evident that ...
05 March 2012
News
Honda to race electric motorcycles
Honda will become the first major manufacturer to enter the electric racing fray when its satellite company, Mugen, enters an all-new electric motorcycle in the Isle of Man TT Zero this summer. With huge historical significance, the company will race alongside electric innovators like MotoCzysz in an effort to set the first-ever 100mph average lap of the 37.7-mile Mountain Course aboard a zero-emi...
16 February 2012
Michael Czysz on the 2011 MotoCzysz E1pc
We caught up with Michael Czysz this morning when rain delayed the Isle of Man’s TT Zero race until tomorrow and finally squeezed details of the 2011 MotoCzysz E1pc out of him. Is this new bike really a significant step forward from last year’s revolutionary machine? Is a 100mph lap finally in sight? What’s his response to MCN calling him a liar? How does he plan to steal Chip Yates’ thund...
09 June 2011
2011 MotoCzysz E1pc: 37 beautiful, high-res photos
Exclusive to Hell For Leather, this professional photo shoot reveals the 2011 MotoCzysz E1pc in its full glory. Much more than an update on last year’s bike, this year sees the usual less weight and more power, but also dramatic packaging differences. The frame moves outboard of the battery packs and changes from aluminum to carbon fiber while the suspension moves inboard, under the tank for bot...
06 June 2011
2011 MotoCzysz E1pc in action
Our buddy Jamie Robinson snapped these pictures for us as Michael Rutter turned a wheel on the 2011 MotoCysz E1pc for the first time. Jamie reports that Rutter was “steady” at the test on the Isle of Man’s Jurby Airfield, likely taking it easy ahead of today’s practice session on the Mountain Course. Not only do these pictures give us a better look at the new bike, but they reveal one fasc...
04 June 2011
Sneak Peak: 2011 MotoCzysz E1pc
On Tuesday, we gave you the first look at the 2011 MotoCzysz E1pc’s new 200bhp motor. Now here’s a teaser shot of the completed bike. As you can see, its battery pack — now with cells produced by Dow Kokam — radically differs from the individual cells of the 2010 MotoCzysz E1pc. Also making its first appearance are the new colors that come with the Segway sponsorship. Of course, a motorcyc...
02 June 2011
News
2011 TT Zero: more money, more coverage, hopefully more speed
The Isle of Man has begun soliciting entries for the 2011 TT Zero, adding a £5,000 prize for the fastest university or college team while the £10,000 prize for the first 100mph lap remains unclaimed. That may seem like a lot of money until you remember that last year’s winning bike, the 2010 MotoCzysz E1pc which managed a 96.82mph average speed, cost $200-$300,000 in development alone. Perhaps...
13 December 2010
News
Up close with the dustbin Agni
Photos: Amadeus PhotographyYesterday we showed you the 2010 Agni E1 race bike being campaigned at the TT Zero and suggested its dustbin fairing might not be the ideal solution to aerodynamic efficiency. These new pictures seem to confirm that, the fairing looks like little more than a straight adaptation of shapes last used in the 1950s and no concessions appear to have been made to directing cool...
08 June 2010
News
Is this the new MotoCzysz E1PC?
Is it? Well, no, it's just Michael Czysz playing around in photoshop to try and torment you, dear reader, but it does raise a very important question. With an as-yet unseen bike shipping to the Isle of Man in less than two weeks, how is Czysz going to top last year's show-stopping MotoCzysz E1PC? >When it leaked shortly before last year's inaugural TTXGP race, the E1PC instantly made every other ...
10 May 2010
News
Michael Czysz on streamlining and electric racing
In 1957 dustbin fairings were banned from road racing, now some people think it's a good idea to bring them back- They are seriously mistaken.Editor's note: Michael Czysz is the man behind When the best racers in the world arrive at a track with winds in the 15-25+mph range a modified fairing can be fitted to their bike. This fairing has less surface area, often a...
09 March 2010
News
Electric racing controversy continues
This morning, the Isle of Man government issued a bizarre statement intended to address "speculation and unsubstantiated claims" surrounding its decision to drop the TTXGP and replace it with its own event, TT Zero. You'll find the statement reprinted in full below, but essentially it reeks of desperation, making wild accusations to address unspecified criticism. Meanwhile, Azhar Hussain and the T...
08 February 2010
News
TT Zero: Isle of Man TT splits with TTXGP, launches own electric motorcycle race
The Isle of Man TT is splitting with TTXGP and launching its own zero emissions race. "This is an indication of how seriously we take ," says TT representative Simon Crellin, "we're bringing it under the same umbrella as all other TT racing." TT Zero will operating under the FIM's new electric racing rules. Where does this leave the TTXGP?>Without a flagship race at the Isle of Man, but with an in...
28 January 2010