Test Fit – Success!
And now, it’s time to see if all that stuff fits under the covers. Verdict: Yes. One more major component, the motor controller, is mounted in this pic (under the seat). This should be a spot that provides good airflow to keep it cool. I’ll have space under the controller to add a heat sink, [...]
All Cells in Place
So finally, I have all the cells in place. The last four cells are stacked at the back. This corresponds to the back of the gas tank. It’s amazing how well everything fits into this frame. I would have had a much easier time if I’d gone with smaller cells like a 60 amp-hour form, [...]
Top Pack
Here’s the top pack, now settled into its frame. The individual packs are strapped together, then strapped into the frame. I feel comfortable that everything will ride well on the street, but at some point I’d like to have these cages professionally fabricated. I’m no engineer. The small color wires running from the cells will [...]
Top Rack
After putting on the bottom rack, the top rack came next. This holds eleven cells, three in the front, six in the middle, two in back. This frame provides support for the pack below and vice versa. Both the lower and upper use existing mount points in the frame where the motor once bolted into [...]
Bottom Pack in Place
After weeks of making small steps–including a lot of fabrication, fitting, and a little verbal torque–I’ve finally started getting big chunks assembled and in the bike. First to go in was the lower battery pack. This holds nine cells. I cut down the width from my first cut at this. Doing so allows me to [...]
Packaging complete, BMS next
I’ve done about all I can do to package and prep twenty-four 100 amp-hour lithium cells to go into the EBR. After trying a couple different packaging strategies, I settled on this approach. An aluminum base, side plates to contain expansion, held together with high strength poly packaging straps. In order to shoehorn these packs [...]
Visit with Brian
Passed through Monterey, Virginia last Monday. Monterey is a small town hidden in the hills of far western Virginia, right on the border with the Mountain State. It’s also the place where, on any Sunday, you might find Brian Richardson prowling the backroads on his electric Norton. This is the bike he successfully campaigned during [...]
Ultimate Motorcycle Journeys Due Winter 2011
Funny how things happen in bunches. I have nothing going on for months, then boom – batteries, books, etc., etc. Anyway, the latest Whitehorse catalog included an advance plug for Ultimate Motorcycle Journeys, North America edition. (“North America edition” leaves the door open for Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, etc., etc.) I’m really pleased [...]
At Last. Batteries. Batteries!
Here they are. The final piece of the puzzle. The long pole in the tent. Twenty-five 100 amp-hour 3.3 volt lithium iron phosphate cells. I’ll be using just 24 in my pack but thought I’d have one extra on hand, just in case. If you haven’t read the other posts about the batteries, I’ve been [...]
First Ride on the EBR
Let’s see this thing roll!
Appalachian Highways
Appalachian Highways is a companion site for the books and features written by Dale Coyner. Your comments and stories about your motorcycle travels are welcome and appreciated!
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