this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2023
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Motorcycles

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She's called Theseus.

This death trap is built on the frame of a junker 1985 Honda Shadow I bought for very cheap. It combines a 30AH 48 volt battery with a beefy Kelley Controls bldc controller and a 3kw motor which seems to be intended for golf carts.

On a flat, straight road this thing can achieve 50mph, limiting it solely to city use, but it climbs hills decently well and has gotten me to work and back many, many times.

The front sprocket has 16 teeth, and the rear sports a whopping 72. This is to compensate for the very high speed of the motor but frankly pathetic torque. At a lower gear ratio, this under-powered machine would not be capable of hauling its heavy 80s frame up my long and steep driveway.

It is ugly and probably quite dangerous, but I love it very much.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What kind of range do you get with a battery of that size?

[โ€“] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This battery is actually on the small end of what's viable I feel, and with this heavy frame and the hilly terrain of my town, I would guess it gets around fifteen miles. Better on a hot day, worse on a cold one. I'm fortunate to live where everything is close together, and I could go to and fro without issue.