Uh Oh. Where are the Batteries?
It’s inevitable, I suppose, that every project should encounter an obstacle that threatens its viability, and now this project has found one. No batteries. On December 11th of last year, I ordered thirty 100 amp-hour lithium iron phosphate batteries for my project totalling a shade over $4200 with customs and shipping charges. Shipment was promised [...]
Your Ultimate Motorcycle Trip?
While I’m waiting for the snow to melt, I’m working on a new motorcycle travel project and I’m looking for your ideas and suggestions. I’d like to ask for your ideas, comments and suggestions as I put this together. This video explains what I’m doing. The image above is just a screenshot. To view [...]
The New Motor Arrives
Parts for the EBR are beginning to arrive. Today I received the motor and controller. This is an AC-powered motor, originally designed for golf carts, optimized for electric vehicles. It features a peak of around 46 horsepower and almost 100 ft/lbs of torque, available at a standing start. This bad boy is rated for 7500 [...]
New Project! Ultimate Motorcycle Journeys
If you had to come up with a list of the ten best motorcycle trips on the North American continent you could imagine, what would they be? Would you include a ride along the Pacific Coast Highway? What about Alaska? Trans-Canada? The Four Corners? (Just reciting the names makes me want to get the bike [...]
Journeys III – Done
I’m happy to say that the 3rd edition of Motorcycle Journeys Through the Appalachians is done. Cooked. Submitted. I was happy to do it, but am equally happy to move on to other things. This edition will contain five new loop rides and two new basecamps. Four rides and a base camp are in Ohio. [...]
Lookin’ Good
If you just glanced at this, you’d just see another mid-90′s sport bike. That’s what I hope to accomplish when I get this back together. I need to figure out what to do with those holes in the fairing where the crankcase stuck out. And that hole in the seat where the fuel petcock used [...]
Fitment
After building 30 battery boxes, cutting the tank, and refitting a few pieces of plastic, we can now get a much better idea what’ll fit and what won’t. In order to reach a minimum of a 72 volt system, I had to fit 22 batteries on board. Fitting 26 gets me 84 volts, 30 gets [...]
Cutting the Tank
Following “the gutting,” the first real modification task involved cutting the underside of the gas tank. The tank will be refitted to the bike and will make a nice spot to nest either the controller or battery charger. If I happen to find a place for both of those items elsewhere, it creates room for…more [...]
Phase 2: Prototyping
I stood for a while, staring at the empty frame. Now a bike, only because I say so, this gutted chassis waited patiently while I mulled over my next move. I could pull it all apart, clean and replace components, then start the build back from scratch. But that didn’t seem right. I didn’t feel [...]
Big Battery Cage
One of the main reasons I chose the CBR — big motor = big hole. Big hole = lots of battery space. Can’t wait to start mocking up some alignments so I can see just what I can tuck in here. Bottom line: As many as possible.
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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