Now this is a cool chopper

**benVFR** · 09-21-04, 09:52 PM

Met this guy who built this last saturday...

How is this for "unique".

6 Marine batteries.. forget exactly what the details on the electric motor was.

He said it only did 80mph as it weighs 950lbs. However it has a Harley Transmission/Belt, and he said it has so much torque that if you do a burnout to get the tire heated up, it will be able to put enough torque down to snap the drive belt. (So it sounds like it would probably go way faster than 80mph with different gearing)

Range was only slightly worse than a Superhawk...

It is going to be on a discovery channel show this winter. Apparently HE will not be in the show much at all, they have an actor riding it around. He was ultra camera shy and wouldn't sit on the bike and let me take a picture of him on it.

Ben

**Kham** · 09-21-04, 10:52 PM

wow! it runs on battery? how long to charge it all up?

**Nikon** · 09-22-04, 06:39 AM

wierd.....to say the least. what exactly is the point of an electric bike? stupid question. what's the point of an electric car I guess right? just seems silly when bike cost so little for gas. I guess that tere isn't much to the engine then huh?

looks comfy........

**SEVENSGT** · 09-22-04, 07:09 AM

Originally posted by benVFR
Range was only slightly worse than a Superhawk...

...I like it, electric means tourque as soon as you turn it on

now lets do a sportbike electric, and try to lighten it up a bit

**snowborder** · 09-22-04, 07:58 AM

that is not a chopper it is a cruiser

**legalspeed** · 09-22-04, 08:10 AM

Why is there a gas tank?

Impress us; now make a trailer with a generator and a gas tank.

**benVFR** · 09-22-04, 08:31 AM

Actually he has a sidecar with a diesel engine that turns the system into a hybrid...

Chopper to me does not mean long forks, V-twin engine, etc... it means the owner did some serious cutting and welding.

The point is to move things forward.. motorcycles are actually fairly pathetic on gas, at least sportbikes. A hybrid car beats most of our bikes at 5x the weight. And we pollute a lot per engine size too.

He obviously didn't let me ride this thing but I tried a few other electric bikes, scooters, etc.. and they are actually really fun to ride and they sound rather cool.

Ben

**Nikon** · 09-22-04, 11:08 AM

Originally posted by benVFR
motorcycles are actually fairly pathetic on gas, at least sportbikes.

sure hybrids do better on gas but I woul hardly say that 40+ mpg is 'pathetic on gas'..

RSVMILLE661 · 09-22-04, 11:19 AM

What he doesn't tell you is that 3 of the batteries go to power the speaker under the seat that provides the classic *cow farting into galvanized bucket* sound.

**ftrain** · 09-22-04, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by SEVENSGT
...I like it, electric means tourque as soon as you turn it on now lets do a sportbike electric, and try to lighten it up a bit

The weight comes from the batteries. There are some new batteries that we have at work that are much smaller and lighter we are using for a government project. Once you saw the price tag of $15k a battery I am sure you would not want one.

**CheshireNinja** · 09-22-04, 04:27 PM

[edit] Found some specs:
http://www.electric-bikes.com/motorc...Electric%20Hog

He could have gone with a fuel cell, and had the same results for lots less weight.

And besides, how cool would it be to totally shock people who expect a big loud chopper and all they hear is silence. I am always amused when I sneak up on people in parking lots with my Prius because its running electric-only.

As far as I can tell, my Prius still gets better mileage then my EX500, and the Prius weighs about a ton versus 380 lbs.

Now this is a cool chopper

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