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The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Big Bear Electric Chopper

By Paul Crowe

Electric Chopper

A chopper project dedicated to fallen officers of the California Highway Patrol, has all the usual chopper looks but it’s missing something normally associated with bikes like this,… sound. This chopper, looks like it’s powered by a 124 cubic inch S&S V twin, but the engine has actually been gutted and the whole bike has been built with batteries and electric motors in place of the usual gas powered components.

Big Bear Choppers and Hybrid Technologies teamed up to build this bike which has a Baker six speed transmission and will go 80mph. It has six 48-volt lithium cell batteries which they say are good for six hours of running which I think might be a little optimistic, after which there’s a cord you just plug in for the recharge. If you look at the engine, everything seems normal but even the carb has been hollowed out and actually functions as an air scoop to direct cooling air to the electric motor.

Nothing was mentioned about how much this bike cost to build but I have a suspicion it was pretty pricey, but then, how many custom choppers are cheap?

The bike is destined for the California Highway Patrol’s museum in Sacramento after it makes the rounds of various shows and fund raising events.

After the bike was seen on TV, another company contacted Big Bear Choppers about building a hydrogen motorcycle.

I have to admit, this thing is very cool. Think about all of the custom cars that look very old but are powered by completely new and updated power trains. With a car, if you keep the hood closed, no one will know but with a motorcycle, you’ve got a problem disguising the updated components. Using a little trickery, Big Bear Choppers pulled it off.

If that company inquiring about the hydrogen chopper comes through, that will certainly change the whole image of hydrogen motorcycles and you’ll get something that doesn’t look as wimpy as the ENV.

Big Bear Electric Chopper on Bikernet
Big Bear Choppers
Hybrid Technologies

Electric Chopper

Posted on February 4, 2006 Filed Under: Alternative thinking, Electric motorcycles, Engines, Motorcycle Builders, Motorcycle Design, Motorcycle Technology, Workshop & Tools

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Comments

  1. sfan says

    February 6, 2006 at 12:58 pm

    I wonder if the exhaust is digitally tuned 😉

  2. todd says

    February 6, 2006 at 3:33 pm

    I don’t understand the corelation between CHiPs and electric vehicles, especiall choppers. Heck, the thing isn’t even street legal, what with no turn signals, side reflectors, license plate (or license plate light) or tail/brake that are visible from either side of the vehicle. Come on now, wouldn’t a super-pursuit K1200S or a black and white V-Rod make more sense?
    Yes, I’m sure this is just the image the CHP wants to project; anti-establishment hoodlums / techno nerds.
    -todd

  3. wayne says

    June 2, 2006 at 3:23 am

    I am a police officer and I own a Big Bear Chopper Venom chopper. I have to say that seeing a major manufacturer actually taking the time to build something to honor fallen officers is absolutely awesome. I think the time and the work that went into designing the bike for the officers is challenging enough , but to add an electric motor , totally disguised as a conventional motor , is an engineering feat in itself. Good work to Big Bear and thank you for your support.

  4. George says

    June 15, 2006 at 1:17 am

    As a CHP officer (now retired), friend of Kevin Alsop (BBC owner) and owner of a Venom Chopper, I can tell you that this bike was built as a labor of love on Kevin’s part. Hybrid Technologies footed what turned out to be about half of the production cost of this bike. Kevin donated the remaining costs, but make no mistake that Kevin committed to building this bike in the memory of all slain CHP officers even if he had to foot the entire bill. The bike is flawless and is much more detailed than the photo’s show. There is a real gold CHP badge mounted on the gas tank fuel cap. The wheels are real gold plated and a digital photograph was incorporated in to the rear fender. The photo is of the funeral from a CHP officer that was slain at a court house in Pomona, CA. The CHP officers association took possession of the bike, then donated it to the CHP museum which is located at the CHP academy in Sacramento, CA. If you are ever in that area, stop by and take a look. The public is welcome.

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