48V Electric Flat Tracker

About a year ago, my dad and I had the idea to convert a beach cruiser bike into an electric motorcycle. We purchased the bike and all the parts necessary and got to work. We modified the frame and rebuilt the bike from the ground up. When we finished, we were extremely satisfied with the results - a 48 volt, 15 horsepower board track racer.

Step 1: The Components

We started with a Felt beach cruiser because it had the right look. We wanted a beefy bike that could fit all the components. The goal was to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. Here are the rest of the main components we purchased:
- Briggs and Stratton Etek motor (now discontinued)
- Alltrax AXE 300-amp programmable controller
- Magura 0-5K ohm twist-grip throttle
- 4 x 12V, 21Ah sealed lead acid batteries
- Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes (160mm rotors)
- #35 moped chain
- 13-tooth drive sprocket
- 66-tooth rear sprocket
- big power switch
- 300-amp fuse
- 8 1/4 in. stainless steel motor mount (this replaces the original bottom bracket)

Comments

[1up]

Without a doubt, the nicest electric bike I have ever seen. Amazing work.

[iminthebathroom]

When I talk about instructables to people, I use examples of exceptional work to illustrate it orally to them, yours is one of the ones that tops the list!

[Kayak Kid]

how much did it cost

[JohnnyD77]

About how much did this cost you?

[MartijnD]

Nice project! Aren't you concerned about crash safety, if the lead-acid batteries burst and the liquid contact your skin it will give 3rd degree burns, if you are really unlucky, even up to the bone.

[aetourneau]

It is a amazing work!
I would also like to make one but where is that I could get back a motor ?
Sorry if y have made some mistakes, I'm French.

[karl w becker]

In my exerience In CT. If you get stopped on an electric the cop calls it in and get's told to "get real" and let's you go. Once again Law has not kept up with the technology.

[piterrock]

alguém sabe me informar um bom motor elétrico pra colocar em uma bike chopper que estou montando , o aro traseiro é de carro ???

[The MadScientist]

How many watts is your motor?

[charlesfries]

It would be 11,520 watts or 15 HP

[ComixDude]

i am sure someone already asked but, how do you charge them ?

[jwesson]

remove and charge individually same as marine battery or get a charger for the whole pack on eBay. (Scooter E Bike Electric Bicycle 48V Battery Charger 20AH 110V Input For USA CA)

:)
.

[Pengwin3]

Well, it runs off of 4 12v batteries, so you could just hook it up to a car battery charger.

[rangerweavere]

With the amount of speed that you claim for the EV-12 to reach you would have to get it registered as a motorcycle or risk the possibility of large fines and possible jail time.

[isaacwilk]

If you ride it on private property with permission, you don't need to get it registered. I don't think the cops will mind too much as long as you only ride it around the neighbourhood responsibly, and don't annoy any neighbours or cause problems with traffic.

[woodstockbirdy]

God you are stupid. It's a bike, thats electric. No where does anyone say you have to get it registered as a motor bike. They sell commercial ones all over the world, and the don't have to get theirs registered and they go way faster.

[timmytwogunz]

i live in dunkirk ny where i have a friend that has recieved 7+ tickets for a store bought toy electric scooter. unreg vehical no plates no signal no insurance lots and it is messed up kids cant ride them even if their parents got it from the store

[mmaciver]

Yeah, I was bored the other night, and went though all 50 states (and Puerto Rico) looking at the motorized bicycle/moped/scooter laws... NY state sucks in this regard; they will not even allow it in a parking lot! I'm sure there are places upstate that may be cool, but if they go by their laws... they really SUCK! I am so glad I don't live in that fu*^#%@ state!

[rangerweavere]

No that would be you.
Once you hit 60cc's then its considered a moped.

[mmaciver]

they don't go by "CC's" when talking about an electric propelled vehicle; CA law allows for no more than 1000 Watts power output, so he's WAY over!, and 30mph max speed, on flat, even terrain. He'd get a ticket for sure! In CA they may take his ride, and that would just suck! Most states have a limit of 25 to 30 mph, as a general rule. as far as engine size goes, for a motorized bike, some states accept up to 125cc (to allow for the Whizzer Motorbikes), while other's don't have a law for them, or electrics... check out www.moped2.org If you suffer from pain, like me, and have many hours awake in bed, you might be interested in reading about your state, or all of them!

[woodstockbirdy]

Well, I guess I'm in Canada and they don't have to be registered, but I don't know in the US.

[lloydrmc]

In my state it's 50cc and 30mph, if I recall correctly. I don't recall the regs on electrics. I have read that they go by speed, (either what it will do by itself, or the speed it assists you reaching if you are pedaling), and they are very strict.

[mookiex4]

Well actually in my State at least. If you leave the peddles and crank on it, they consider it still a bicycle and would be legal. Bicycles already have to obey the rules of the road just like cars. That means remaining under the speed limits and obeying all other traffic laws for the state. The only thing you wouldn't have to do is register it as a motor vehicle. If you look at most of the videos on youtube and such the bikes have digital speedometers on them.

[lloydrmc]

Oh, please - "jail time"?

[woodstockbirdy]

I agree.

[Super Cronk]

It depends on the laws of your state. I know in North Carolina you don't have to register a bike that's under 50cc. However I don't know how electric bikes are covered there. You do raise a good point though. You want to make sure you know the laws where you live so you don't get yourself in trouble.

[kbales]

For most US states the limit is 50cc and/or 2 bhp. So electrics would be limited to that 2 horse power range.
Many of those states also require that the top speed be either 30 or 40 mph but it looks like this thing may be doing better than that.

[isaacwilk]

If you're not driving on roads you don't have to register anything.

[woodstockbirdy]

Even if you were on roads you would not have to register it.

[lloydrmc]

There's a specialized registration in my state for motorized bicycles.

[AudioMaximus]

What would the legality of something like this be in NJ?

[The MadScientist]

How many watts is your motor?

By the way nice bike.

[AudioMaximus]

I think I just found my summer project...
My design however will have no welding, since I don't own welding aterials anyways. I'm thinking of using a motor from a lawn edger that I don't need anymore. i don't know if it will be enough horsepower (probably about 3-5 hp), but it's worth a shot. If it isn't I can always get a better one from a friend for a good price.

[fmadwid]

Where can u get a rear sprocket with 66 teeth. Can't find that anywhere. I've everything else but that.

[fmadwid]

I live in Canada, Ontario and can't find a Felt here. Does anyone have one willing to sell me?

[geminitriplets]

Are the brakes sufficient for your bike? It seems that the increased weight and the speeds you can achieve might be too much for ordinary bicycle brakes.

[hayme]

Well that sucks. in my country i cant buy parts like this. Is it possible to make some kind of a Tesla turbine placed on this? or if i can salvage some kind of a powerful fan engine or a boat engine, can i still put it in? what are the possibilities that if i did not follow your components, i am going to explode and burn?

[Radioactive_Legos]

I figure as long as you have a source of power that fits and that you can control, you should be safe(ish).  But always use your best judgement, and if you don't feel comfortable, don't do it.  Tesla turbine would be hard to adapt for use on something like this, though.  High RPM and low torque would have to be geared way down and you'd lose a lot of efficiency doing that.  Plus you'd have to supply some sort of fluid under pressure to keep it running.

[hayme]

goddamn dude! when you said safe(ish) it feels like if i do it my way i am going to be like a taliban chopper with with paul bin hamad teutel sr. ok dude thanks for the advice and imma show you my stuff before i try to run this thing and hope for me not to go BOOM!

[pie R []ed]

What's the range like on this?