There are plenty of people out there that love to strip down an old motorcycle and convert into their own custom creation. But the number of DIY electric motorcycle builders, well, they're few and far between.
But that doesn't mean that there aren't some amazing custom made electric motorcycles out there. Ed Fargo created one of those machines. This is the "Juice" Cafe Racer.
It used to be a 1978 Honda CB750, but it shed a few pounds (the exhaust and gas engine) got some new batteries, and is now one of the coolest electric cafe racers that you'll ever see.
Most electric motorcycles (at least the homemade versions) look primitive, despite the advanced technology that drives them. But Ed Fargo, the creator of the "Juice" Cafe Racer, was able to give his motorcycle a sleek look that should impress classic cafe fans.
But the aesthetics are hardly the most impressive thing about Juice. This Cafe Racer was built for drag racing and with a current top speed of 102.5 mph, Juice would make its "Ton Up" ancestors proud.
"That was the thing about the old cafe racers," Fargo said. "The ton up runs. I wanted to make sure I could at least to 100mph. Right now it tops out at 102.5 mph. I'm about to add 10 more batteries, because I have room for it, and I hope to get it to 110 or 115."
Fargo's "Juice" Cafe Racer has earned him compliments and praise from fellow builders, as well as an invitation to the Concours d'Elegance show where his bike will be presented at the "Road to the Future" display.
The EV Grin
The electric motorcycle industry is growing every day. Brammo just secured more than $28 million in funding, (mainly from Polaris) speed records are being broken every other month, companies like Honda, Husqvarna, and BMW are experimenting more with electric motorcycles, and according to a new Pikes Research report, the electric motorcycle industry will more than double in the next five years.
Why?
According to Fargo, it all comes down to the EV grin.
"Whenever someone steps off of one of these electric motorcycles, they're always wearing the "standard EV grin," Fargo said. "You just don't expect to get such a good ride. There is no noise, these bikes are silent.... but it has such great torque."
So if you're still a little unsure about whether electric motorcycles are a passing craze or not... go out for a test ride and find that EV grin.
You can see more about this cool cafe racer at Fargo's website, Juiceddragracing.com.
