Building a Fully Electric Cafe Racer Motorcycle | Moped 

Thanks! Totally agree!

😂😂 stick welder…thanks. Yeah I’m still learning!

What’s wrong with stick welding?

Thank you so much! I'm a fan of your channel. I watched all of your bike videos several years ago when I was preparing to do mine!

Definitely got a handful of guitar videos coming your way soon!

Thank you so much! So when it came to the 2KW hub, I did it for speed. So I didn't want something super fast, but it also goes a little slower than I calculated. I thought I would be able to get around 40-45mph. Top speed for me is around 35-38mph. That's after the weight of the bike, battery, and rider, which I did not factor for. I should have gone a bit higher. But also I would have needed larger brakes probably, b/c any faster and they probably wouldn't be able to handle it, at least a larger disk in the back. But part of it is for legal reason and the gray area around e-bikes and mopeds in CA. I didn't know what I could get away with really. I mean I even went to get an M2 license for it at the DMV recently and they hadn't even heard of that and told me I couldn't get one, and that I would just need to get an M1. Luckily I was able to get it registered as a custom moped with a title so I could insure it. If I did it again I would probably opt for more power, bigger motor and bigger brakes.

Thank you! Yeah I've got a couple 1950's Harley frames that I was going to try and build out into more electrics, but I'm running out of room in my garage. haha. It's so much fun, I would highly recommend it! All you need is a bike with a junked motor or no motor. You can also re-title the bike as a custom build if you put a new VIN on the electric motor and the frame. That's what I did.

Thank you! Total cost of the hub motor, that was everything including the rear wheel and tire already assembled, brake rotor, controller, etc. was around $900. The battery is a 72Volt 20Ah and was about $300-$400. The Hub motor is a 2000 Watt hub motor, there wasn't much of a price difference at all between 2000watt - 3000watt. I chose a 2000watt thinking it would be more than enough, but hindsight should have gotten the 3000watt for more speed/power. My top speed is probably around 40mph. I haven't taken it faster than that b/c I'm still waiting on the registration to come through, I also have to get my M2 license. It accelerates very quickly, faster than a typical e-bike. The motor is also pushing about 75lbs, plus rider weight of about 155lbs. I bought the motor and battery from NB Power. I found them on Amazon and messaged them via whatsapp. They made everything to my exact specifications(rear axel length, and even battery measurement and shape) and helped me figure out what would be best for what I was trying to accomplish. I highly recommend reaching out to them.

Haha thanks! If you know of one in the LA area, please send me their way! I definitely want to learn to be a better welder.

Thanks for the inspiration and all of the help! This was super fun. Already started on a few more bikes now haha.

​@@VanHoutenBuilds Can't wait to see them. It's addicting isn't it?? I have actually recently revisited my bike project and am redoing the battery compartment to make it a bit safer and nicer looking. I am a huge fan of the light-weight moped builds like those on electric moped emporium. Your bike is 100x cooler than when it started! Hats off!

@@ReedBighamBuilds thanks man! Yeah I saw your new battery compartment video! What you built looks awesome! Yeah the moped was a good stepping stone. Now I’ve moved onto a 57’ BSA Bantam and then have two 1953 Harley frames to maybe do something with. Too many projects!

Yeah I'll film a follow up to it soon with all of the details and test drive!

​@@VanHoutenBuildsnever happened 😅, that classic stang got you busy ehh

@@andyfumo8931 Yeeeeaaaahhhh. Whoops! I'll eventually make a follow up to this. But for now, I'm trying to finish up the mustang haha

Thanks!

Thanks! I can get around 40-50 miles on a full charge. It all depends on if I'm going full throttle as well as the temperature, and wattage I'm using, climbing hills, etc.

Thanks! Yeah, they have that regenerative braking option. I requested the rear disk brake on the hub motor. You can discuss everything with Anne via whatsapp. They will customize or help you customize everything to your exact specifications!

I know, I'll definitely do a follow up video to it with my thoughts. Haven't really been able to ride it much b/c I need to go get a motorcycle license first!

Yeah so I just got it registered with the DMV, so I haven't been able to ride it much until lately! I gave it a bit of a speed test with me on it and calibrated for the smaller wheels. My actual speed ended up being around 35mph on flat terrain throttle wide open. I was aiming more for around 45mph, before I started the project, but forgot to account for weight of the bike plus rider. So knowing that, if I did it again I would definitely go with a 3000W - 4000W motor instead for faster acceleration and overall top speed. I would also use a larger frame b/c going any faster on the small moped frame could get a bit sketchy haha. Who knows in time I may upgrade it. Otherwise I have two vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle frames and I may try a ground up build with those and a much heavier-duty electric motor.

@@HunterVanHouten Thank you that helps a lot! If you update it or do another build up make sure to capture it so we can watch!

I used a 2000 watt motor and controller from NB Power

Whichever one came with the welder! So I guess some off-brand Titanium wire? I use the wire they have at Harbor Freight too.

I reached out to NB Power via Amazon and then started to discuss specifics via WhatsApp with them.

It wasn't a kit, I bought everything individually and pieced it together. The only thing I bought together was the motor, battery, controller, and wheels. That was about $800 altogether.

I honestly didn't even know that was an option! This was my first time doing something like this. Where do you buy your batteries? Bummer you don't have any videos on you page of your motorcycles and vespas, would have loved to see them. Is there anywhere I can take a look at your builds?

They are actually 16" wheels, pretty small haha. My 56 BSA has 19" wheels

I know! I'm going to do a road test video, I just have to go get my motorcycle license!

@@VanHoutenBuilds Good luck! We are waiting...

Thanks! It’s the peanut classic tank on eBay!

I did not order from a website. I found the seller on Amazon. NB Motors and then I messaged them. They sent me a WhatsApp number to contact. I did all my communication through whatsapp with the seller. They said I could either purchase through Amazon or via a paypal invoice. I chose a paypal invoice and they kept me informed during the whole process of my order.

@@VanHoutenBuilds awesome thank you. I'm using a '73 AMF moped frame and don't want to play a guessing game.

@@F.O.GFatOldGuy I hear ya. Yeah it took me months of communicating back and forth with the supplier. They helped me with everything, battery power, motor wattage, they even custom built the battery to my exact dimensions for no additional charge. They gave me a choice of 3 throttle options as well. They also took pictures of everything and sent them to me as they were being built. I also had them custom make two wheels for me so that I could use my existing front hub. I used Reed Bingham's videos as a reference and also reached out to him when it came to electrical. Depending on what you're using this for, I realized that a 2000 Watt motor only gave me a top speed of around 35mph. Hindsight, I should have gone with a 3000 watt hub motor.

Thanks! I used a 2000 Watt hub motor and provided NB Power with my drop out measurements and they built the motor around that! It went really well. Adding the torque arms helped to really lock the rear axel in place. It's so much fun to ride! Already started another bike build haha.

Thanks! It's actually a 20ah battery!

@@VanHoutenBuilds o ok thats better lol. It says 4 in the description

@@davidmiller4758 Whoops! Thanks, I'll fix that!

NB Power

@@VanHoutenBuilds thank u

Thanks! I noticed that they were a little loose and so I tightened them down, also coated them with an anti slip which help a little I think. We'll see how they hold up over time.

Thanks for your answer! I will try to fix the threads with helicoils, so I don’t have to buy a new motor! Hope it works and also that your motor stays intact!

I would definitely recommend using loctite when installing

I bought the tail light separate off of amazon for like $12.99! Search on amazon: FEIFEIER 12V Motorcycle Integrated Brake Tail Light Turn Signals License Plate Bracket LED Universal Motorcycle Tail Light (Black Bracket Smoked Cover). The "kit" I got, wasn't really a kit. I just reached out to Anne from NB Power via what's app and we talked through everything I would need. They pretty much just custom made everything I would need and added in things I wanted.

@@VanHoutenBuilds thank you. Great build by the way!

That's only so I can legally ride on the bike paths around LA! Way quicker and safer than weaving through traffic!

That's a bummer, sorry to hear you had a poor experience with them. My experience was really pleasant, so I can only speak to that.

Yeah, I think the term cafe racer has taken on a different meaning nowadays. I think the term is moreso used to describe the unique aesthetic elements of a bike, which was inspired by those early days of racing from cafe to cafe. Honestly it has more elements of a brat bike anyways. Let's just call it a bike that was inspired by a specific "style."

Here is his channel! www.youtube.com/@ReedBighamBuilds

@@VanHoutenBuilds Thank you so much! I royally messed up the name!

@@williamindelicato2564 I probably just didn't say it very clearly in the video haha

I know, I know....I just got it registered and still need to go get my motorcycle license. Once I get that, I'll post some riding videos!