Electric motorcycle project

 Do I really need another unlikely project in my boneyard?
But this one is sort of intriguing:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/mcy/1310182755.html

It's 72 volt so I would need 6 deep discharge batteries. Where would
they all fit, and not be too top-heavy? Maybe in a sidecar, or a bike
trailer?

However there's something about the concept of electric motorcycles
that bothers me more than, say, steam or diesel. It would be too
smooth, too quiet. A motorcycle shouldn't sound and feel like
a trolley bus, it should thump and boom and vibrate. In other words,
a piston. I suppose this is all terribly Freudian, but I have a strong
feeling it's true.

Alas if this is the wave of the future. Coming generations of bikers
may never know what a true motorcycle feels like. I'm gonna stop here
lest I work myself into a blue funk worrying about grim times to come
and take a ride on my S40 so I can enjoy my 650cc single thumper while
it's still legal.

SQ - "Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway - it's an attitude." --anon
'06 Zook S40 / the usual collection of wrecks

 
You'd need 6 12v batteries - big ones if you want to go very far.

 
and go with an AC motor, less chance of brushes locking up the motor
or catastrophicly failing (BTDT) also less chance of a rotor
delaminating at speed...spectacular lockups are the least of what
happens.

 
Roughly, 10 AH = 1 Hp for one hour.

I don't think a higher or lower voltage would really
affect overall battery weight, but I could be wrong.

Anyway, I plan to market downloadable engine
noises for those unfortunate folks who are stuck
driving EVs and hybrids. Give your Prius a
Harley exhaust note.

 Rob Kleinschmidt wrote:

I wrote a piece of fiction on this theme. Given the slightest
shred of encouragement I'll repost it.

SQ - "Keep your bike in good repair: motorcycle boots are
uncomfortable for walking." --anon