I want to build an electric bike

[Punjistick]

With all this talk about electric bikes and now that I drive 30 miles each way to work, I'm thinking about building my own. The problem is I don't know where to start. I figured I'd ask here if anybody looked into this before.

I figure I can take any old street bike (maybe get one with a blown motor) for pretty cheap. As I understand it, you need an electric motor, batteries, and some type of controller to make it all work (plus some other stuff I don't know about). This place has some parts and kits to buy PartsPage.

I could care less what the bike ends up looking like. I just need it to go a minimum of 60 miles on a charge. Acceleration and top speed doesn't need to be crazy but quick enough where I'm not gonna get run over.

Any ideas?

[TheIglu]

Brushless motor, brushless motor controller, LiPo batteries (or NiMH, but LiPo has more capacity, more punch and less weight but are more pricey)

Good luck!

[elwood206]

Thats gonna be too cool if youre able to build an electric bike. From my limited expirence with electric powered rc stuff Id say Li-Ion+a brushless motor would be worth the extra $$, the brushless motors are much more efficient and theres not much besides the bearings to worry about failing. how would you get it to be street legal once its built?

[ZX-12R]

If you can find an adequate motor and battery, I'll help you design and build a controller for it.

[Rick Lee]

Let us know how it goes. I am curious about building one myself now just to save a couple hundred bucks a month on gas! Post up pics and info as you go. Thanks

[TheIglu]

Let us know how it goes. I am curious about building one myself now just to save a couple hundred bucks a month on gas! Post up pics and info as you go. Thanks

Buy a KLR. I'm on 230 miles so far this tank.

[catch2otwo]

cant see riding an electric bike being much fun, no sounds but a hum, no real acceleration, handling might be bad might be good, doenst seem like much enjoyment. might as well ride a bicycle. but kudos to you for doing it, definatly a cool project

[sanfelice]

I think an electric bicycle is the way to go, as you would not have to deal with the RMV and you could park wherever the hell you wanted to. There's been plenty done on that over the years. I bet we see more versions in the near future. Check out the LA Times this week for a quick look at an electric bike.

[mikeb]

Buy a KLR. I'm on 230 miles so far this tank.

why bother? just get a cheap dual sport or ex250 and call it a day. probley cost a 1/4 of what you'll spend fabing a home made electric.

[KillBill]

YouTube - Gomi Style - Electric Motorcycle Conversion

[TheIglu]

Gotta pay for electricity, gotta pay for gas. Electricity is probably a lot cheaper, but it's still not free.

BTW, acceleration on an electric motor is NOT weak if sized correctly. If you think a purpose built electric bike won't go good enough, you haven't seen what magnetic fields can do lately.

[TheIglu]

Buy a KLR. I'm on 230 miles so far this tank.

247, still haven't filled up.

[sanfelice]

my little dual sport 225 can get about 65mpg in the city and some get up to 80mpg on the open road (not slab, it's no good for that). Me, I get about 50-55mpg in the city the way I ride...

besides insurance cost, I don't see any reason to get a scooter when you can buy a dual sport or get something like an old CB360 or such. CL is full of great bikes for the city if you can put aside your racer pride.

[Punjistick]

Will a bicycle be large enough to store enough juice to go 60 miles? I can always charge it at work and not have to pay to ride it.

I haven't even thought about registering it. Does it matter if you change the engine out. I mean as long as it has lights/signals and passes an inspection what would it matter if it runs on gas or electric. Just take a bike that currently has a clean title and you can insure.

Sure I could just by a bike that gets good MPG but where's the fun in that.