A tip from a reader pointed me to an electric streetfighter project by Canadian James Biggar, but once I took a look, I saw he had two other projects he had already built that were just as impressive, an earlier and simpler electric motorcycle and his Cyber Trike which is an electric leaning reverse trike. All three are accompanied by fast motion build videos from start to finish ending with road tests showing how well they perform. When I started watching the video of the streetfighter, I was almost immediately hooked.
How do I start, what do I do?
A problem many people have when thinking about a project is they don’t know where to start, they don’t know what’s involved, they don’t know what skills they need or materials or how to create the design, in fact they have a hundred questions and no answers. If someone could show them how it’s done, they might get the urge to give it a try. If they know they need new skills, like welding, they could see where in the project you have to weld and how simple or complex it is and they would have a project, if finished, that would make the effort to learn how worthwhile. The videos for these projects can do that. Can’t weld? Look at the third video below for his first project. It’s plywood!
Do they work? Yes!
The performance of these two motorcycles and trike looks to be more than enough to induce a lot of grins and smiles, the videos show him on the road and off, accelerating and cruising and I noticed something right away, the only thing you hear is the wind. For some folks here, that’s a negative and I completely understand, but there’s something about accelerating up to speed and cruising without any engine sounds, it’s both strange and fascinating.
The videos are not intended to be step by step how-to build instructions, but you get a very clear impression of what’s involved. James sells CAD drawings with material lists so you can give it a try knowing you don’t have to start from scratch, you get a design and you know it works, that’s a nice place to start. They also show how electric builds are less complex than builds with internal combustion engines, there are a lot fewer parts which is interesting in its own right.
Check out all of the videos and jump ahead if you don’t have time to watch the whole thing, but make sure you watch at least one, all the way through, it’s worth it. This fellow has some real skill and you’ll get a compressed view of a project from start to finish and you just might get the itch to try it yourself.
A big thanks to Jessy for the tip!
Want to understand how electric drivetrains work?
Motors for Makers Explains How Electric Motors Really Work
Building Your Own Battery Packs for Your DIY Electric Vehicle Project
Mick says
Why are you pushing electric bikes? Two posts in two days on electric bikes. personally I have no interest in them or any electric vehicle. I’m a petrol head. Geddit?
Paul Crowe says
I’m not “pushing” electric bikes, I’m covering a growing segment of the motorcycle world. If Harley Davidson has the LiveWire and several electric bicycles, if Erik Buell has the Fuell electric bicycles and the Flluid electric motorcycle and numerous companies are introducing them or soon will and more and more builders are building them, you’ll have to get used to the fact that they’re out there. I love gas powered bikes as much as anyone, but I can see the appeal of electrics and I’ll keep covering them along with everything else.
Doug says
Man, this comment is so bad on many levels.
Paul Crowe says
Mick just has strong feelings about internal combustion versus electric, as many do.