Star Trek Future Motorcycles

Interesting news this week as the President Obama put out new mileage and pollution requirements for American autos. I support those measures; can still remember brown skies during periods in the summer in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and the calls to "drive less" due to them, and of course we all remember the $4 fuel of last summer (and the shortages from time to time). The Japanese have many cars now that can meet the 2016 goals; the technology to do both is there now.
Speaking of technology though; interesting seeing the motorcycles of Star Trek this weekend when I saw that (very good by the way) movie. Early in the movie a cop goes after a young James Kirk with a flying motorcycle. Very cool (and much like the "speeder bikes"of Star Wars) though not really happening anytime soon (if ever in that case).
However later in the movie, a more grown James Kirk rides to join Star Fleet (and check out the construction on the new USS Enterprise) on an electric bike. THAT technology is not for the future, but is coming to the here and now.
Already, there are electric scooters which have around an 80 mile range and good top speeds, and also there are electric drag racers which are making quite a mark. There is also an electric dirt bike being tested, and a race is being planned for this year with electric sport bikes. Many people think of electric bikes as being slow and with limited range, but if one looks at the Tesla Sportscar (which has amazing performance) you can see its possible to get real speed and performance out of electic motors. Trains move tons of gear with diesel electic engines, and electric motors power submarines. Given enough power, you can do great things with electric motors. They are light, simple, and all the power is available from the start giving some amazing torque numbers.
The big problem is the the batteries; being both expensive and heavy...but both price and weight are coming down, as is the storage capacity. Range is also being worked on. Also being worked on is other alternative sources of power. Suzuki showed a bike which would use hydrogen power and a fuel cell (like those used in the space program) to power a future bike; the exhaust would be water vapor as the bike burns the hydrogen, and vents the water vapor.
Motorcycles are uniquely suited to the new technology being light weight, aerodynamic (due to the work done on sport bikes especially in those regards) and a good single person vehicle. If you note traffic it quickly is noted that most people drive solo. In Europe and Asia with the price of fuel motorcycles are much more common.
So, I think its a matter of time until Captain Kirk's electic motorcycle becomes commonplace, and could well take motorcycles to new and exciting levels. Much on the new electric and alternative motorcycles can be read about (as I have) on the web, and especially in the pages of Motorcyclist Magazine which has run a number of features on the new bikes under development, and those motorcycles which are for sale now!