Building an Electric Motorcycle from Scratch

[lordlego613]

TL;DR Summary

I want to make an electric motorcycle, but I know nothing about motors or weight or literally anything needed to make an electric motorcycle.

Basically what I need is to figure out what motors I need for a design I am wanting to make for an electric motorcycle. I know that I want it to go around 60-70 mph, 60 could be the max speed if need be, for the motors to be able to move 700 lbs (which is crazy but my idea is crazy so I need it to work). I also need the rpm to find the motors, and what kind of voltage and wattage is needed. That's the first step and probably the most painful step, but I don't know how to accurately calculate any of this because I am a freshman in college, have not even touched the surface, and I don't know anything, so I need help XD.

 

[Tom.G]

Uhmm... Suggest you wait until at least the late part of your second year in Mechanical Engineering.

Some of the areas you will need to address:
basic physics (to address acceleration, center of gravity)
mechanics
strength of materials
general machine shop
basic aerodynamics
maybe hydraulics (for the brakes)
battery charging systems
variable speed control of motors
how to address dynamic stability (2-wheel vehicles have the front wheel ahead of the steering axis. How much? Why?)
welding (better be certified if you will be welding the frame)

If you expect to ride this on the public streets, you will probably need it at least inspected by the issuing authority before it can be registered.

Sorry ,
Tom

 

[jedishrfu]

This is a serious project and you will need more experience and training before attempting it.

Take some advice from the late Grant Imahara when he talked about building a giant spider robot that almost crushed him while he was working on it alone.

https://makezine.com/article/craft/imahara/

and more on Grant, one of the great Imagineers we lost at too young an age in 2020:

https://www.grunge.com/161254/the-untold-truth-of-grant-imahara-from-mythbusters/

 

[Baluncore]

Welcome to PF.

Building an Electric Motorcycle from Scratch

If you need an electric motorcycle now, buy one now and modify it to do the job.
Life is not long enough to build it from scratch.

 

[Rive]

I know that I want it to go around 60-70 mph, 60 could be the max speed if need be

Sorry, but by your introduction here you are not close enough to the required knowledge level to even consider the safety implications.

This project of yours is as good as dead for the foreseeable future - just forget it before it takes you with it.

Ps.: my suggestion is an electric boosted bicycle. A slow one. That may work.

 

[jrmichler]

I also need the rpm to find the motors

If you cannot figure this out, this project is way over your head.

 

[Windadct]

Perhaps start with a Bike conversion kit - but an older buy OK quality MTB, disk brakes - and then a well rated conversion kit. You will learn alot.

Does your school have an FSAE team - they are pretty much all going electric now and there you will be solving the same types of problems.

 

[jedishrfu]

We realize you are fixated on this goal but don't this overshadow the dangers of building, riding and testing this contraption.

Simon Cowell was gifted an electric motorcycle, didn't read the instructions, took off like a shot and seriously broke his back.

As others have said, take the courses learn how to apply what you learn before you get into a project like this.

With that said, I think its time to close this thread. This activity is dangerous and we let the discussion continue.

Thanks to everyone who contributed here.

Jedi