Blindspot Cycles consists of Chris, his wife, a mechanical engineer, and an electrical engineer. Appropriately, the office and shop is a reclaimed and converted brownfield gas station. The next step is to install solar electric panels so the operation is making its own energy as well.
The latest custom job in the works is a 1982 Honda CX 500 Police Trike that will run at 72 volts and will cruse at 60 mph. With a built-in charger you can plug it in anywhere. Ordered by a green real estate agent, the bike can carry all the paraphernalia he’ll need, get around easily, and bend local eyeballs. Chris warns potential clients, “If you own one be ready, because everyone will ask about it.”
With such few moving parts these bike will last for years, and the best part is when you want to upgrade you can get a fresh set of lithium-ion polymer batteries and you are off to the races — ahem — work. When Chris jumped on his 36v Red Racer and silently took off, it all came together: this was a sweet ride.
[...] This E-Trike, which is a prototype, is charged from a 750-watt array of six solar panels that are on the roof of Hadar’s studio. The chopper is 8.4 feet long and has a large 20-inch front wheel and 26-inch wheels at the back. Flat out, Hadar says that the bike is capable of 45mph. With even Orange County Choppers rolling out an electric motorcycle, we’re excited to see trends shifting towards classic electric cycles. [...]
I love this way of thinking. Starting from a clean slate isnt always the best option.