So this is was my senior project. It was a 1974 Suzuki 750 GT. It is now an all electric motorcycle. We built it for around $2100 as proof that a cheap and efficient electric motorcycle is possible. Just because its not at the bleeding edge of the tech does not mean its crap. We researched and found that the average person’s commute was around 20 miles so that was our goal to hit. We got the bike for cheap ($200) and motor and controller and batteries made up the rest of the cost. Its got a top speed of 50 mph so it can be driven off-highway to an office or place of work. Its got an extension cord built into the gas tank along with a charger that charges the 50Ah lead acid batteries in around 8 hours (overnight or during work). This is a perfect example of engineering; its multi-disciplined covering mechanical and electrical and it was all about time and money (we had very little of both).
If you would like more information its available at the website I set up for it at Sae.wvutech.edu/projects/electricbike
Its got videos, photos, and a lot of documentation.
Yep that would be me in the billabong shirt and riding the bike. I started another blog about engineering in general. This covered both so I posted it there first since I have posted about it before on here when I started this. Enjoy!
I took some of these and believe it or not, actually helped some! I talked Justin into doing the entire gas tank yellow and contributed in drunken comments about what they needed to fix. YES. That orange chair in one of the pictures was where I set up camp most nights/early mornings.
I have an awesome girlfriend.
