(Project Fugitive) Lightning Rods Electric Motorcycle Build

This is an ongoing project to build a multi use electric motorcycle to do everything from racing on a track to delivering cargo. This page provides details about the aims and progress of this project. If you have questions or would like to get in touch please use the contact form at the bottom of the page. This ambitious project is being done on a shoestring budget so if you like what you see and have the resources we are open to partnerships to commercially develop the different versions of this bike. Please read on for more information.

The YouTube videos for this build can be found here in reverse chronological order!

What is this? Is it an E bike

This bike is in development as a multi purpose light electric motorcycle that can be easily adapted and used for a range of roles from urban transportation to cargo delivery. It uses a Vector Typhoon E bike frame with a KTM front end with many custom designed parts. The motor is a 10kw mid-drive capable of pushing peaks of over 15kw. This is not your regular E bike conversion but a light electric motorcycle designed for many uses depending on its configuration.

Why are we Building this Bike?

This bike is being built to take gas powered vehicles off the road. We believe that if we are to meet the challenges of de-carbonizing our lives as well as reducing the resources that we consume that perhaps recreating the current system of millions of cars is not viable. This bike build will look to demonstrate how light electric vehicles can be used to take these vehicles out of our cities. This also ties into our building and promotion of other light electric vehicles.

So Serious… What about fun?

One of the greatest feelings is the power and torque of an electric motor. The 10kw Big Block has lots of both of these things. The bike is being built to be a ton of fun to ride with a low center of gravity in the middle of the bike. Initial testing indicated that it will hit speeds in excess of 100kph with ease. The bike can also be geared to run at a lower top speed with a focus on blistering acceleration and hill climbing torque. Just because the bike has a much smaller environmental impact and pollutes much less does not mean it has to be boring. The big thing about this build is the versatility. The same bike that can rip up a dirt bike course can also pull a trailer and deliver people or cargo.

Where Can I see More Information?

There are two places you can get more information on this bike. The first is on the High Voltage Youtube channel. Here you can watch a series of videos on different aspects of the bike as it is developed. Please click this link to see a chronological list of these videos. You can also see more information and chat to us about the build on the High Voltage Discord Channel and you can use this link to join Discord.

What Battery Are We Using

The battery is being designed and built by a very good builder by the name of Rio Cole. At High Voltage one of the biggest things we do is enable people to further their own careers and businesses. Especially those that contribute. Rio will be building a few batteries for this bike in a modular system with a view to making them easy to charge or use multiple packs depending on the range required. 

We are likely using the Molicell P42a cells as they have the best power drain specs on the market outside of Lithium polymer. This is a 21700 cell and we hope to have the option of running two batteries in parallel by extending the sides of the frame to provide extra room.

The capacity of the twin batteries should clock in at well over 60 amp hours at 72 volts. This will give this bike a big range. A delivery version of this bike would have plenty of battery to tow cargo. A juiced up race version of this bike would have the battery to finish the race. 

This bike has a massive advantage over all the Motorcycle companies trying and largely failing to electrify their existing motorcycles. It all comes down to energy density. Right now it is hard to get enough batteries into a heavy Harley frame to make an electric Harley viable. With this bike it will be much lighter so the battery will take it much further. Now in the future if the energy density of cells increases perhaps it will make the electric Harley viable. The nice thing about this bike is it will simply give us better range or a lighter bike. 

Charging Pretty Much Anywhere!
One of the big advantages of light electric vehicles is that unlike electric cars and trucks they can be charged up pretty much anywhere. They don’t need fast charger stations. This opens up big possibilities in our cities and towns as any old Cafe or Shop can have a charge station. We are looking at the possibility of using a built in charger with the bike which would simplify this process even further. Rather than choke out cities with cars we could easily restrict them to light electric vehicle use only and the benefit to our health and economy would be tremendous.

What is the Lighnting Rods Big Block XL Motor?

The Big Block XL is the largest of the motor systems offered by Michael Bachus at Lightning Rods. It is 10kw IPM DC Brushless motor. This has been built directly onto the swing arm of the Vector Typhoon frame using Michaels proprietary mounting system. On this bike it has a two stage reduction with a Belt Driven primary and a 219 chain secondary. The overall reduction is just over 8:1

Regen Capable!

The Fixed length chain along with the belt tensioning allows the Bike to have regenerative braking. This will operate via a throttle control which will enable the rider to modulate the regen braking force. There is something very cool about being able to brake the bike entirely with the motor and know that the power is being returned to the battery to extend your range. Most other regen systems engage the regen in an on / off state. This system will allow the rider to apply small amounts or large amounts as needed giving a much greater degree of control over the process.

Road Legal?

A big part of this build is to have a vehicle that will be accepted onto the streets and roads in cities all over the world. We badly need as a society to have more clean and efficient means for moving people and goods. Right now there are considerable barriers in many places to using light electric vehicles. The laws governing motor vehicles in most places are not equipped to cope with the speed that these vehicles are being developed. This bike is being developed where possible with DOT approved parts. It is being designed to be strong and safe and built to a standard that will be acceptable to vehicle inspectors.

Challenging the System

This bike is very much a demonstration. We intend to use it and the YouTube platform to show to city planners how good such vehicles can be to move both people and goods. It seems crazy to us that all over the world car and bike companies are spending trillions to replicate the current heavy cars and trucks. Light electric alternatives would be outstanding in our cities. Clean, efficient and use far less resources. In order to unleash this potential the mindset has to change.

What's this about a KTM front end?

One of the things we wanted to do differently with this bike was to use a motorcycle front end. The frame comes setup to use a bicycle 1 ⅛ fork. We felt that even the strongest bicycle fork would be being pushed to the limits all the time with just regular riding. We also felt that using what was obviously a bicycle fork would not look so good when looked at by a safety inspector as we are pushing for road legal with this bike. In order to use a motorcycle front end we have developed an adapter which allows for the bearings to fit in the steering tube. Right now the forks we are using are the extremely high performance WP XACT Pro from the KTM85SX factory team bikes. This is to allow us to show the full potential of the bike. There is nothing however to prevent other front ends being used. One of the big goals of this project is to consume less resources. Therefore if front ends from old and non functional gas bikes can be repurposed then the environmental impact from the manufacture of this bike is much reduced.

Road and Urban Commuting vehicle

The bike will be light and nimble, easily able to hold its own within city traffic and arterial roads. We are looking to make this version realistic in terms of power and acceleration. In order to have this bike on the streets it has to meet safety requirements. The goal here is not to go as fast as possible but to get to your place of work or the shops efficiently and safely.

Trailer Towing / Cargo Delivery

This bike is being built with as many uses as possible. One of the uses we are most excited about is cargo delivery. The seating system for the bike is being custom designed to allow for the easy attachment of a gooseneck trailer. The power of the bike will easily be enough to pull cargo. There are several designs in progress for trailers including one with a pod for transporting people and one for shifting goods. Features of these include remote deployable support legs for easy stopping and starting.

Racing / Performance Off Road Bike

We are not going to claim that this bike is a “Sur Ron Killer” or make wild speculations as to its prowess. However we have seen enough to indicate that the combination of the Lightning Rods XL motor and the weight and center of gravity will make for a machine with really good acceleration that is exhilarating to ride. Depending on the configuration this could be for off road dirt bike style racing and riding or on track racing.

Other Potential Uses for this Bike!

As well as the uses already talked about I think there are many areas where this bike could be used. Hunting trips where currently people are using gas powered vehicles could use a combination of this bike with a trailer to pack out meat. The near silent operation of the motor at low bush speeds means it would be far less disruptive to potential game. Another area is for taxi services. We have a taxi pod trailer in design which could be towed behind this bike and transport people around as required within the city. Search and rescue teams could make use of this bike to access areas where traditional vehicles might struggle. The silent nature also would allow team members to listen out more rather than struggling to hear over the noise of gas engines. In areas prone to forest fires electric bikes have a huge advantage as they run way cooler and are less likely to cause an ignition.

Where are we in development?

At the time of writing this the frame and motor along with most of the front end have been acquired. Currently we are working through the selection of wheel components as well as the building of the wheel set. The electronics system has been mapped out and will be in testing shortly. The goal is to have the bike on the road for testing in the late autumn subject to completion of major milestones.

Funding / Support / Collaboration / Development Partners

This bike is being developed by a very small part time group on a limited budget. If you are interested in supporting this project and have experience in the commercialization of projects like this bike please get in touch. We firmly believe that this bike has the potential to be sold however this is not an area we have expertise in. Please use the form below to make any enquiries or ask questions about this build!