My 2018 Drifter REVISED

[mittico68]

You're absolutely right and if I had (much) more money in my pocket, I think I would buy a Tesla or something like that.
That said, I'll never sell my Drifter! 

[Zoar]

Sure it would be nice, but I would still like to hear that rumble from the pipes... 
Call me petrolhead or wathever you like, but I love my Drifter the way it is!

Yes the Drifter is great as it is. Retro Vintage.

Other motorcycles, though, can be electric powered and I like where Ducati and others are going with their electric bikes.

I have a friend who has a TESLA. And I can tell you that it is VERY QUICK, VERY FAST. You press the accelerator and it is like driving a 600 Horse Power gasoline engine. You can go zero to 60 faster than most cars on the road today. The first time I drove it we traveling from a 30 mph ZONE to a 55 mpg ZONE and he said "go ahead hit it!" ...I hit it. We went back in our seats like a rocket engine had been ignited. But it is electric and it is always right there. it is perception altering and I became an electric vehicle fan the first time I drove one.  They are making combustion engines obsolete. That said, do I love my DRIFTER???

You Bet!

[mittico68]

Sure it would be nice, but I would still like to hear that rumble from the pipes... 
Call me petrolhead or wathever you like, but I love my Drifter the way it is!

[Zoar]

Amen, brother, amen.

I do like SOME of the new electric bikes coming out. Here is one. It is made by Ducati:

Cost of solar panels has come way down: If I added a few more panels I could get an electric car and/or motorcycle and charge it at home and with all the new charging stations popping up, it would be a smart way to gooooooo!

[mittico68]

Well, .....................that would be a sacrilege. Sorry, can't do that.

That said,  I do want to get an electric motorcycle soon. And keep my Drifter just the way it is.

Amen, brother, amen.

[Zoar]

Zoar, I think you should rename the subject of this topic, by "My own power plant REVISED"... LOL... 
Seriously, I really like the way you think out of the box, because it surely helps our poor planet's health.
But now you should find a way to complete your scheme, by converting your Drifter to electrical energy... 

Well, .....................that would be a sacrilege. Sorry, can't do that.

That said,  I do want to get an electric motorcycle soon. And keep my Drifter just the way it is.

[mittico68]

Zoar, I think you should rename the subject of this topic, by "My own power plant REVISED"... LOL... 
Seriously, I really like the way you think out of the box, because it surely helps our poor planet's health.
But now you should find a way to complete your scheme, by converting your Drifter to electrical energy... 

[Zoar]

Sure, that makes sense.  The cheapest route is seldom the best route.   Just trying to get my head wrapped around it

I guess I don't see it as a comparison of cheapest to something else. I see it as I have my own power plant and power storage and that gives me an asset and advantages that I do not get by writing checks to the Utility company every month and having them dictate the rules and also when something happens and the grid goes down I have no power.  I also like knowing I am making all my power in a green way and not helping to perpetuate the DEPENDENCE  on fossil fuel which is by far the biggest contributors to the power grid in the US, (Gas and Coal).  See link---
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/power-plants/?utm_term=.51193c69ee53

They provide most of the power to the current massive grid power system.

Plus the way we make power now with massive power plants feeding the Power Grid is horrifically inefficient and incredibly wasteful. Gas and coal power plants, and the infrastructure to supply them, consumes so much power and are NOT efficient and the percentage LOST getting the power from these power plants to our homes is downright wasteful and stupid.  Studies have shown that if you count the waste and inefficiencies of fossil fuel power production and distribution, the net is about 15% to 35%. That is a horrific and wasteful system.

I like NOT supporting what I believe is a stupid.

Here is another LINK that attempts to add up just SOME of the LOSSES that are inherent with the current massive fossil power plants-grid based system that is the primary method that is still being used:
http://insideenergy.org/2015/11/06/lost-in-transmission-how-much-electricity-disappears-between-a-power-plant-and-your-plug/

I like collecting energy from the sun that hits on my land, transmitting it a few feet to my house with virtually no moving parts or fuel needed to make it work, and not contributing to the highly inefficient and polluting system that is the dominant grid power system.

I know some people say yea, but you have to make the panels and batteries. That is so lame. If we added up also all the chemicals and rare earth metals and energy that goes into making Power Plants and the trains and tankers and vessels needed to transport the fuels to the massive power plants, and yes all that is consumed to build power plants ---which is comparing apples to apples---it makes my 8 solar panels and 4 batteries look exceedingly smart and very efficient and not wasteful compared to billions of tons or wasted and consumed raw materials to make power plants and feed that massive power production approach that utilizes gas or coal.

I have spent decades IN and around Power Plants around the US and I can tell you they are inefficient and they are gross consumers of resources and materials and virtually no one has actually computed a fraction of the consumption and consumed resources. The math has been done on the OUTPUT at the built plants and the line losses which is only a SOME of the losses and yet studies show those two alone account for 65% LOSS. meaning 35% usable output and as stated that is not all the losses.

[greenbarn]

Sure, that makes sense.  The cheapest route is seldom the best route.   Just trying to get my head wrapped around it

[Zoar]

SO, 18K worth of equipment 13 yrs ago, Fed credit to make it 12K, let's say current price is at least 15-20K (I don't know what credits are available).   SO if my electric bill is, let's say 200/mo, I'm looking at a 75-100 month return on investment?  seems like a long time....Am I looking at this wrong?    What is the lifespan on the batteries and the panels, BTW?   Can you run 240 volt equipment?   Just a few questions,LOL

Well if all you want to do is try to make it be cheaper and no other considerations -- like the fact it makes me feel so good and I have power when no one else does and I have NO utility bills, then indeed it will not be cheaper.  You have to weigh and add in the other benefits.

[greenbarn]

SO, 18K worth of equipment 13 yrs ago, Fed credit to make it 12K, let's say current price is at least 15-20K (I don't know what credits are available).   SO if my electric bill is, let's say 200/mo, I'm looking at a 75-100 month return on investment?  seems like a long time....Am I looking at this wrong?    What is the lifespan on the batteries and the panels, BTW?   Can you run 240 volt equipment?   Just a few questions,LOL

[Zoar]

That's pretty cool.

Yes. It is really cool and as indicated, it s one of the best things I have ever done. I am truly "empowered" and far more self sufficient and self reliant.  The only thing is if everything does go to shit, people definitely would descend on my place because I am one of the few with OFF THE GRID Power production. As I stated above, there are tons of solar installations locally but almost all of them are Solar Grid-Tied. With no battery aspect. I think that is dumb. But this would not be the first time I see what "everyone is doing" and think it is dumb.   But yes it is really cool to make your own power and have your own energy storage... And yes it is dramatically superior to a gas or propane generator because that runs out of fuel. I have a infinite supply and as I have lived for 13 years I have sun and energy storage to provide for all my needs.

And yes also with my Pi Truck it is an actually MOBILE POWER PLANT.... and it can make tons of really great food too! (I have TWO totally independent power generation and power storage systems now in operation. My home system and my mobile, Pi Truck, system).

[greenbarn]

That's pretty cool. 

[Zoar]

Yes, if you Google solar energy potential US you get:

https://www.energy.gov/maps/solar-energy-potential

Ohio and my area of NY are in the same boat as far as solar index.... and we are better off than GERMANY and Germany has adopted solar in a big way and as stated I have been making my own power fo 13 years so yes solar works in our solar index.

Here is another map, I find this one even more useful because I can see it better!  As you can see my area is the same as northern Ohio.

https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+index+map+USA&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=YoDJULBMBQoflM%253A%252CvW7ehjn1gF7bQM%252C_&usg=__r0jMIStur6MGCvWAOGoLHD-WGK8%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjs0eXPi-LaAhWjxVkKHWOuCSUQ9QEIbDAF#imgrc=Fbzel7ycP_hJTM:

We have tons of solar panels around here and when I went to Florida a couple of weeks ago there were NONE. So in my experience adoption of solar power has nothing to do with the solar index. It has everything to do with attitude and belief system. Some areas the general population just oppose or even hate solar because they associate it with being left leaning so they will come up with every reason NOT to use solar. It works at my house and in my region (with low comparative solar index).It is that simple, really. Yet for those who oppose it, no amount of facts or proof or actual history will change their minds.

[Zoar]

That's really cool.   Is there a resource that gives you the "solar potential" of your immediate area, like a solar power map??   We have  so many bloody cloudy days in the winter, makes me wonder.

Yes, if you Google solar energy potential US you get:

https://www.energy.gov/maps/solar-energy-potential

Ohio and my area of NY are in the same boat as far as solar index.... and we are better off than GERMANY and Germany has adopted solar in a big way and as stated I have been making my own power fo 13 years so yes solar works in our solar index.

[greenbarn]

That's really cool.   Is there a resource that gives you the "solar potential" of your immediate area, like a solar power map??   We have  so many bloody cloudy days in the winter, makes me wonder.

[Zoar]

That's something I wouldn't mind looking into, sometime.

Well, it is pretty straight forward, Here is an example of my system:

Eight 300 WATT Solar panels (can be 275 watt to 325 watt each, it does not matter) (24Volt DC panels)
Two OUTBACK (FlexMax 80 AMP each) Controllers
Four 6VOLT Golf Cart batteries 240AH hours each (set up in series to make a 24VOLT DC storage)
One 3000Watt Inverter (converts the 24V DC to 120V AC)
Miscellaneous electrical junction boxes and some wires

Can't get any simpler than that!

Well, except if you use only one Controller. But this is really simple as you can see, and it works.

My home is powered with this I have a JET PUMP and refrigeration and washing machine and appliances and lighting and radio and TV just like other people. We don't suffer.

But we are not energy pigs either or energy oblivious. I have some people come to me and say "Oh, we don't use much power!", and I ask to see their Electric Bill. They use 25,000-32,000 WATTS HOURS a DAY!! Sorry, that is being energy oblivious. That is being an energy PIG. We use about 2,000 to 3,500 at my house and we are very comfortable and happy!

[greenbarn]

That's something I wouldn't mind looking into, sometime.

[Zoar]

So do you have some good resources for us??  I'm interested in looking into this.

I did it myself. So I guess I am the best resource.

I contacted and dealt with all the "solar Installation" companies in my region, and this area has a lot of solar/renewables, far more in 20 square miles here than the entire states of Florida and Georgia COMBINED. But these companies all quoted me far more than  wanted to pay. So, yea, I have done it myself and don't have any other resources to recommend.   I also made the FOOD Truck, pi Truck, all solar powered (for all ts electrical needs). And I want to do an RV next. I want another StepVan, like the Food Truck but my girlfriend really wants an Airstream or Boler or other small trailer.

[greenbarn]

Yes. It is not rocket science and you don;t need a NASA budget.

. I like making my own power. A LOT. After 13 years I would say it is one of the best things I ever did in my lifetime. What's THAT worth?

So do you have some good resources for us??  I'm interested in looking into this.

[Zoar]

That's pretty cool the Wife is a journalist and a few years ago she did a story about this guy who built a cottage up in central Ontario and was told it would cost about 20K to bring in power so he went off the grid, put up a few panels had a bank of batteries and all his appliances including fridge ran off the batteries. His cost was a fraction of the cost of bringing in power and no bills!

Yes. It is not rocket science and you don;t need a NASA budget.

I did my off-grid power system for under $18K and because it is OFF THE GRID I do not get state tax credit but I do get Federal credits so knock off another 30 cents on every dollar so knock off $6K. So it cost me less than $12K. And I have NO utility bill, and when the power goes OUT which is does a lot around here, my power is ON. I like making my own power. A LOT. After 13 years I would say it is one of the best things I ever did in my lifetime. What's THAT worth?

[RockinRollin]

That's pretty cool the Wife is a journalist and a few years ago she did a story about this guy who built a cottage up in central Ontario and was told it would cost about 20K to bring in power so he went off the grid, put up a few panels had a bank of batteries and all his appliances including fridge ran off the batteries. His cost was a fraction of the cost of bringing in power and no bills!

[Zoar]

looks very nice and no snow in the picture, I still have lots in the front lawn.....

Here is a photo taken from yesterday.  My bike photo was just for inspiration. It was actually taken BEFORE I put on the dual seat so autumn 2017.  But this photo in this post is about 20 hours old.

The days have also been gray and cold even when not snowing. I am off-the-grid and make all my power from solar and store it in a battery bank. Good thing because sun (and warmth) have been in short supply but I always have power. Lordy, this solar technology with batteries is pretty darn cool and wonderful and yes it works because I am in a low sun index place yet always have had power.... going on 13 years of off the grid living with 4 years with this larger solar array and it works.

[CDNRatMan]

looks very nice and no snow in the picture, I still have lots in the front lawn.....

[Zoar]

I did not realize how lucky I was to get the speedo visor with the purchase of the bike!

Regarding the sliding forward, the only other bike I have right now with a dual seat is a Ducati ST4. Last year my GF rode on the Ducati with me and our only complaint was she was constantly sliding forward on the seat.  Ducati are a challenge to drive without some aggressive movement. I am optimistic the Drifter will be vastly superior. We will see. Hopefully soon!

I am looking forward to riding my Drifter 800 again. It has been cold with occasional snow here since I posted last. But it is better than UP pf Michigan where my son lives. He texted me and said they just went over 300 inches of snow for the season, that is 25 FEET and it is still coming down. We had white on the ground this AM, so no motorcycle riding today. Again. I have been starting it and letting it run some.  I am biting at the bit........