Sol Power–BrammoBlog.com

Blog 39: The Start of the “Once a Week Blog“. I know this is causing much sadness, and gnashing of terrible teeth, but I gather everyone will find a way to accept this…or I’ll EAT YOU UP!

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King of all Wild Things 🙂

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And for people who liked the movie. The movie actually had some really nice parts. And the Creatures were great…but…

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Wasn’t sure if I wanted them both on bikes or not…so did one of each. If you don’t like it, I’ll EAT YOU UP!.

You can’t possibly say, “I’ll eat you up” too many times.

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Part 1: So the blog left off with our farewell tribute to the lovely Green Enertia. Today we start discussing the bold Black Enertia Plus.

With her first photo trip being the freakin’ Grand Canyon (see blog 37), well that was an impossibly high bar to launch a photo career. But the Grand Canyon, while lovely beyond words, was also a short visit. The Plus is now entering her long term test riding portion. With that comes nice photos and fun observations. At least fun for me.

I will be doing a bit of a review of the Plus with next weeks blog. Today focuses on a couple of rides I’ve done since the Grand Canyon.

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One last look at the Plus at the Canyon.

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Background. The Enertia had a city range of about 40 miles. This new Enertia Plus has improved batteries that increase the range to 80 city miles, while keeping the same size and weight. Very nice. 40 miles was fine for commuting, but kept me from going on longer rides. And New Mexico has some lovely rides.

The increased range was much anticipated by me. Still the first test was to see just what the true range was. And to see how well the “fuel gauge” worked (on the Enertia the battery read-out was very linear from 100% down to 40%, but then a bit wonky after that.)

I drove for 5 days on one charge. Commuting, errands and such. City miles, but fast city miles as I usually do roads that are 35 to 45 mph. I think what Brammo calls “city roads” are more like 25-35 mph. I was hoping for 80 miles with my suburban commute. But since the Enertia ranges was more like 35 miles, I thought the Plus’s range would be around 70 miles.

I was surprised.

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It’s Christmas in August at Gavin’s House.

At 18 miles I still had 80% of the battery left, which equals 90 miles to 0% if the battery draw is consistent.

On the old Enertia I would have been at 50%. So already it was over preforming. Nice. But still early in testing.

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First full assessment of the Battery. The draw on the battery is very linear and predictable all the way down to 1%.

I never felt comfortable running the Enertia all the way down, but I’m fine doing it with the Plus.

86 miles is GREAT. Especially with my driving style of “Get in front of cars and don’t let them catch up or they will kill you” 🙂

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So the first run through went very well. Well enough that I decided that the second test would be a long single run from my house to the top of Sandia Peak and back. About 70 miles round trip and some serious hill climbs and speeds of over 55 mph. The battery shouldn’t get me all the way there and back, but I do have some charge spots on the way home.

Surprise number 2: I get all the way there and back without charging and still have 9% of battery left. Super Sweet. Like if chocolate had a society and that society had a superhero and that superhero was super super duper chocolaty***…well just like that. Whatever I just said.

Blood sugar must be low…off to the vending machine….BRB

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First stop is Einsteins for some grub. And yes, Cars Suck.

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I like to stop at Einsteins so I can park in the Motor Cicles parking.

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Next stop is the TinkerTown Museum. I love that place. 25 miles from my house and at the base of the mountain. About 12 miles uphill to the crest. I hope to make it with at least 40% charge.

(more on Tinkertown here: )

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Top of the mountain. 35.6 miles traveled and 40% of the battery left. I think I can make it home on that.

It is all downhill from here, as they say.

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On top of the World…looking down on everyone…Like I am wont to do.

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10,678 feet. I had a group of people all asking questions about the bike until the Ranger came over and frowned upon my choice of parking spots. Sigh.

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So it took 60% of the battery to go from my house at 5232 feet and ride up to Sandia Peak at 10,678 feet. I only had 40% to get home, but I thought I could make it since I would use less energy to get down the hill. And, worse case, I stop at a Subway or Smiths to get some plug time. I like to type plug time.

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No need to worry though. I got home with 9% battery left and went out and did 7 more miles. 

76 miles on a charge is pretty good for the trip I did.

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if no video…go to the next one. I used a punk song from 1978 and YouTube is questioning it’s use. It’s freakin’ 34 years old and a handful of people will see it…I doubt the Buzzcocks will care.

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Rt 333 (half of the sign of the beast road I call it). Long….only watch if your bored or boring.

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Heading up Route 14 toward the Sandia mountain. This route goes all the way to Santa Fe and is a FUN FUN ride once you get away from the busy part. Busy…ha.

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Rt 14 and then turning toward the Crest and Tinkertown Museum.

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The whole ascent. Was 20 minutes long…I speeded it up.

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Heading from the Crest back down.

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Part 2: I have to throw this in here. My mother and I went to a fund raiser for Martin Heinrich. He is our Congressman, but is currently running for the US Senate. He is a HUGE fan of the environment and alternative energy. His wife, Julie, was there and told us about how Martin is an Engineer and when he was in college he helped built a solar race car. Nice. We could use more Engineers in Congress.

So we, Rebecca and I, sit and have a drink and talk a bit and get to meet both Rep. Heinrich and his lovely wife. And, of course, it is photo time.

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My mom is 73 and she just kept going on and on about how good looking Rep Heinrich is…embarrassing 🙂

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She then decided that she wanted to Photobomb (should you ever use the word bomb with an elected official?) the future Senator.

I can read his mind: “Lord give me strength. I am a member of the US Congress and I have to deal with this from little old ladies?”

She was actually jumping up and down behind him.

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I talked Rep. Heinrich and Julie into taking a photo with the Enertia Plus. Actually he was very interested in seeing it and talking about it. He even knew the price of the Empulse (well the old Empulse…).

Great Guy. And great wife too. Those things seem to go together. I think a politician’s spouse is the smarter one at least half the time. With Obama and Heinrich I think it is about a tie. Smart husbands. Smart spouses.

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Blurry, darn it…but still a nice photo. Brammo should get him an electric motorcycle. 🙂

I am very free and easy about giving away bikes for Brammo…I’m sure they appreciate that.

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Part 3: Miller Motorsports Park–For some reason I keep calling it Miller’s MotorPark…and then I think of this:

but we must wait….too much for one day…so I will blog again tomorrow…breaking my new rule of one blog a week. Grrrr.

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Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness: visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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Bonus Photo…Enertia at Sunset.

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bonus bonus photo:

*** Now when I mention a “super super duper chocolaty” SuperHero…well I instantly think of Willy Wonka…but on a chocolate world with a chocolate society I envision him a bit more like this:

Now before I get grief for putting Gene Wilder (a hero of mine) in BlackFace…well A) He has done it before–See Silver Streak. And B) it isn’t BlackFace, it is yummy Milk Chocolate face. But, yes, I know I’m treading a fine line…and will remove it if anybody asks me too…