Check out that beefy electric motor hanging out where the swing arm connects to the body of this motorcycle. It’s the muscle that makes this recently completed electric motorcycle ready to race.
[Jackson Edwards] has been hard at work building this from the ground up. His goal was to make it competitive with production line motorcycles and his most recent test runs are pointing to success. The film shows off a couple of problems with the rear suspension. This actually led to him dumping the bike on a turn. He was unharmed but the control panel on the handlebars was unfortunately trashed. A bit of work fixed the handling and he was able to ride with confidence. We’re struck by how quiet the thing is as it tears past the camera at the very beginning of the video.
Sure, we’ve seen other electric motorcycles before. Those were all conversions from gas. Designing from the ground up really opened up a lot of choices not possible with a retrofit. Make sure to dig through all the posts on his blog to get the full picture.
and now… the fine tuning
That is awesome! I’d imagine the rider had a lot of adjusting to do. Electric motors are instant torque, unlike gas counterparts that need RPM to get loose.
Hmm, with a retrofit I would assume the handling part of the bike would be dialled in, more or less. Assuming that the center of gravity and mass could be retained. Is it me or does this bike look a bit ‘long’?
It looks definitely longer than an usual bike.
It’s not a retrofit according to the HaD post. Go check out the website, and you’ll see they have details on frame design and construction. This is a ground up build.
I understand it’s not a refit. But my point was that a refit might be a way to avoid the handling problems an completely new and untested design might bring. That’s all.
Would love to see a build log of this thing, interested in what kind of motor/battery/controller he’s using.
There’s a lot more info on the bike on the endless-sphere forum on several different threads. His username is Farfle. I’m posting links elsewhere on this page
Surely the most interesting thing if you look back in his blog is the design, machine and assembly of his own custom designed motor?
How did that not make the front page?
Truely is from the ground up !!!
Any specs. on this? Motor size, battery, controls?
There’s several threads on the endless-sphere forum, his username is Farfle: http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=49359
The swing arm seems too long and too flexible.
Interesting to appearantly choose to make the swing arm pivot coincident with the motor shaft… that would keep the chain from tightening with suspension travel, which would be a good thing.
I just can’t help but think it has way too much flex.
Very interesting putting the motor inline with the swingarm pivot. I understand that this means there’s no change in chain tension with suspension compression, but most production bikes intentionally have the front sprocket below the swingarm pivot to reduce rear suspension squat under power.
Being an avid sport bike rider I really like the idea of electric. They’re no 230mph monsters like my race bike but look like a ton of fun. This motard definitely looks a bit stretched out for running on a trackx probably why he’s having so much trouble with the suspension and low-sides.
Oh Christopher just check out the Lightning motorcycle. 218mph+ and more to give. (Most of the system could support 400+hp) Drag bikes in the 6 second 1/4mile. The list is just getting longer.
http://farfleselectrics.blogspot.ca/2012/07/working-on-new-motor-hopefully-should.html
he made his own motor, crazy!
There are also several threads on the bike over at the endless sphere forum:
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=49359
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=44393
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=41576&hilit=farfle+mens+club
Major props on making his own motor.
Always blows my mind that people will spend all that time and money on a project then not spend $20 on a tripod to show the world what they made. (Troll) Awesome bike!
endurance is the question
The answer is not much. At the local track we were getting about 20-25 mins og runtime, and about 40mins of charging off of a lil 2000w genny
The track, Pats Acres, where he tested his bike is where Dennis Palatov first tested the DP1 (http://www.dpcars.net/dp1test/da.htm) Is there any connection or just a lot of motor-sport inventors in the area?
That is really cool, ill get in touch and see if he’s local!
Very cool! For anyone wanting to simply build their own electric motorcycle. Converting one from gas to electric is pretty simple. I’ve had TONS of FUN on mine!
Interesting. Good for him to take such an eco-friendly initiative. I work at a Temecula winery and we’ve been hoping to transfer all of our vehicles to electric, I’ll have to show my co-workers this cool video.
I’ve wanted to retrofit my ’77 Suzuki with an electric motor for forever but because of the cost associated I’m not able to begin. This was wonderful to see!
If it’s in good condition, sell it and put the proceeds towards and electric build. ’77 Suzukis of any model are pretty thin on the ground nowadays.
That is awesome! I can’t imagine ho the rider do lot of adjustments. Electric motors are instant torque, unlike gas counterparts that need RPM to get loose.