Electric motorcycle

stubsryan

Been Around the Block
I’ve got a crazy idea to make an electric bike. This could be interesting at best. At worst it will be a huge money pit and complete fuckup.

Check this out


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So I’m looking for a doner bike. If anyone has a suggestion I’d be keen to hear it. I really don’t know much at this stage but I’ll watch some videos and come up with something. I was thinking the cb360 but I bloody just used the swing arm for my 350 four.


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I think a frame without engine cradles would be the most flexible, like the small Ninja used in that project. Frees you up to hang battery packs etc. but weight distribution front/rear will be a challenge.
 
Anything with a light frame setup would be a good idea too. Weight is the enemy of the electric motorcycle. More weight = more battery needed to get good distances, which = more weight and so forth....although batteries have come VERY far, the good ones cost you as much if not more than the rest of the build...I've toyed with using a CB350 frame I've had sitting around for years and just making a heavy one for commuting the 7 miles from my house to work. Still waiting on speed controllers and the like to come down in cost. Subscribing, can't wait to see what you come up with. Dirt bikes are also good light platforms.
 
Thanks guys. I’ll come up with something. I would prefer to have a full bike rather than the cb360 frame that I have. Less work which will allow me to focus more on the electrics. I just enquired about a hayabusa but the bloke has sold it. Maybe I can find an old cbr 600 or something like that


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good thing is a lot of people blow up sport bike motors so finding a cheap donor should be easy. Looking forward to what you come up with.
 
good thing is a lot of people blow up sport bike motors so finding a cheap donor should be easy. Looking forward to what you come up with.

You’re right. I’ve found an r15 with a trashed engine for cheap. I’m going to hold out for something a bit bigger just incase I go full retard and want to race it at a track or do something equally stupid


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There is a book "How to Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle" by Karl Vogel. Don't waste you money on it. He built an EB using a Harley big twin frame and components which is probably the worst platform he could have used. He also jacked up the rear suspension which told me he knew very little about motorcycles. The information in the book was more suggestions than DIY and most of the components are now just memories as better products are on the market. Please keep us posted on your progress and ideas.
 
There is a book "How to Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle" by Karl Vogel. Don't waste you money on it. He built an EB using a Harley big twin frame and components which is probably the worst platform he could have used. He also jacked up the rear suspension which told me he knew very little about motorcycles. The information in the book was more suggestions than DIY and most of the components are now just memories as better products are on the market. Please keep us posted on your progress and ideas.

Yeah anything with Harley sets alarm bells off. The only good Harley ever did was getting Eric buel making race bikes for them back before my time. I’ll be sure to keep clear of that book. Cheers m8


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So we have a bike! It’s a Kawasaki zxr250. My mate Lee has donated the bike to the project and a few lads are on board so it should be fun and a bit of a learning experience. I’m aiming for a 25kw continuous bldc motor


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I toyed with the idea of using a Ducati 907ie as a donor for one. Square tube frame with removable cradle (on one side anyway?). Full bodywork to hide everything, big tank that could have it's bottom cut out so it could be used as a cover. Relatively cheap considering the components on it. This was a lot of years ago though, they are probably going up in price these days.

But then I made a list of requirements (range, speed) and tallied up the cost of what it would take to get there with it.

That pretty much ended that idea.
 
I toyed with the idea of using a Ducati 907ie as a donor for one. Square tube frame with removable cradle (on one side anyway?). Full bodywork to hide everything, big tank that could have it's bottom cut out so it could be used as a cover. Relatively cheap considering the components on it. This was a lot of years ago though, they are probably going up in price these days.

But then I made a list of requirements (range, speed) and tallied up the cost of what it would take to get there with it.

That pretty much ended that idea.

Yeah it’s not a cheap idea so I feel what you were thinking mate. I’m frugal as fuck so I’ll find a way. I’m thinking a forklift motor and see what happens from there. It will still cost but it’s worth having a crack at it


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