Ninja Electric Bike

[northsidegz]

Wouldn't meet my needs, but thought you folks might like a look at this. Recently sold for $3K.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290728711018

[Water Warrior 2]

Really hate to be critical of the bike but WTF. That is just brain dead. I can walk across the street and buy a new electric bicycle for $600 that will run circles around that lump of lead.

[alantf]

Dunno, but it seems to me he did the conversion then can't wait to get shut of the damned thing. Seems like a project that didn't turn out as well as he expected. :??:

[Rookie Rider]

Looks like the big red ugly slop thing would hit the ground on a lean.

[Water Warrior 2]

What keeps running through my mind is the weight factor. 6 lead acid batteries and an electric motor in place of an aluminum engine and case with a few steel gears and shafts. Might make a great boat anchor.
Good news though, turn the gas tank in to a glove box.

[Rookie Rider]

Hahahaa, you always come up with the funnies WW.

[mrlmd1]

What a waste of time and money, and what about the idiot who bought that?

[jonathan180iq]

There are tons of electric bike conversions out there. I think they are awesome.

Have you guys not seen the Aprilia RS50 electric conversion? It's wicked awesome. (It actually might be an RS125. Either way, I can't post the link here because it's blocked by the work server.)

There are cleaner and better looking conversions out there:

http://www.instructables.com/image/F4LEIY6F8QANFQ3/How-to-build-a-72Volt-electric-motorcycle.jpg

http://cdn.greenoptions.com/0/04/0440c7d0_ElectricGP-RSpkwycityscape.jpg

http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/electric-motorcycle-photo-01.jpg

I would totally ride one for around-town commuting. Motorcycle experience without burning gas.

From a strictly performance oriented view, electric vehicles have oodles of torque when compared to similarly powered counterparts. AND, all of that torque is on tap instantly, without having to rev the engine into the butter-range. Just some things to consider. They aren't dumb at all. They kick ass.

I once rode a cheap GM electric vehicle around Tybee island for a week and couldn't have been more thrilled with the experience. When we got home in the evenings, we would just plug the car into the outlet and drive it all day long the next day. Even switched into power mode, which would give up a governed speed around 40mph (it could have gone faster but there are government limitations on speed of "neighborhood vehicles") it would last all day long.

[Water Warrior 2]

Ah, now that is more like it. Nice looking conversions with no compromises except long range touring. Not a biggy for a commuter though.

[northsidegz]

Here's another. $6,500! Not sure I'd like the weight of that in my trunk though.

I do find these interesting, but have little knowledge of their performance and/or practibility.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Electric-motorcycle-1983-conversion-gas-electric-/320945577165?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item4ab9d8dccd

Could a $600 electric bicycle really go 60mph? :??:

[Water Warrior 2]

The overall weight and center of gravity height may not be much more than the original design. I doubt the stock suspension has to work harder than normal.

Don't know if an electric bicycle will go 60 mph but it sure feels like it when they pass me on the sidewalk. And they are too quiet. They need a flapper against the spokes to make noise.

[jonathan180iq]

There are some electric bicycle kits out there than touch speeds in the 50s and 60s, but it's not sustainable.

When I rode my bike all the time, and didn't have a car, I did a lot of research into the electric bike and even the small two-stroke motorized bike movement. The price that you mentioned, Northside, is about right for the fastest of the bunch. There are more expensive ones, which use higher grade batteries and such. But their goal is longevity, not top speed.

At one point I even purchased an older Currie electrodrive kit (This was from before Currie stopped making add-on systems for bikes) It was a disappointment to me because the PO had mistreated the batteries and I wasn't about to fork over ANOTHER $100 or so for more batteries.

Anyway, I am kind of getting off topic. But to answer your question; Yes. You can get electric bike kits that will give you bursts of highway speed. But it won't last long, as you'd be draining the batteries incredibly quickly and you will only get that speed on very flat land. The better option would be to get a motor and controller that are just as strong, but tuned down for torque and distance. I don't need 60mph. If I could get a constant 20-25mph for a 30 miles range I would never have to drive a car again, unless I had the kids or something.

Speaking of, I bike commuted into work yesterday (for the first time in a long time) and my 5 year old sat in the bike trailer behind me, talking the whole way and telling me how much fun it was to feel the wind in his face. I couldn't respond all the time, because there were a couple of hills that wouldn't allow me to catch my breath. :) But it was an awesome experience for both of us.

[northsidegz]

And they are too quiet. They need a flapper against the spokes to make noise.

LOL. I do, in fact, have some baseball cards that just might do the trick. :2tup:

[Water Warrior 2]

And they are too quiet. They need a flapper against the spokes to make noise.

LOL. I do, in fact, have some baseball cards that just might do the trick. :2tup:
Baseball cards take me back a long way. Haven't seen one since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

[mrlmd1]

This is the electric bike/scoot you would want. I hate to think about the price though.

http://www.gizmag.com/bmw-c-evolution-e ... ter/23498/ (http://www.gizmag.com/bmw-c-evolution-electric-scooter/23498/)

[Water Warrior 2]

Pretty impressive machine by the 'B'ring 'M'y 'W'allet folks. Regenerative braking is an old idea put to use in a modern machine. Trolley buses had that 60+ years ago. Probably street cars long before that. On the bike it would help extend brake pad life as well as range.
I do think though that an electric vehicle is not the way to go without a lot of advancements. They are proven to leave a massive carbon footprint just in their manufacture and are limited by range. They are a lot of $ just for an urban runabout.
A big thumbs up to BMW but I'll stick with my precious fossil fuels and extended range.

[JWR]

http://www.torquenews.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/300_size/image-1075/%5Btitle-raw%5D/P7298101-web.JPG



125 mph at this weeks race.
The race featured most of the top electric motorcycle teams from North America and Europe.

[northsidegz]

Did you see the article for this one (from the link provided above)? Wow. Sweet.

http://images.gizmag.com/inline/zeecooelectricmotorcyle-10.jpg

[Water Warrior 2]

Did you see the article for this one (from the link provided above)? Wow. Sweet.

http://images.gizmag.com/inline/zeecooelectricmotorcyle-10.jpg
Not exactly a grocery getter. A good looking machine but highly impractical in my mind. Sure would impress the folks at the local coffee shop. No loud pipes either.............. :2tup: