What do you think about a Hawk conversion to Electric?

jfeliciano15 · 08-02-2017, 12:57 PM

I have been thinking of trying to do a conversion to electric power on my Hawk in the near future. Has anyone seen or heard of anyone doing this yet?
I have been looking for the electric motor online and there are a few places I can purchase them from but I want to do more research.

Ariel Red Hunter · 08-02-2017, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfeliciano15

I have been thinking of trying to do a conversion to electric power on my Hawk in the near future. Has anyone seen or heard of anyone doing this yet?
I have been looking for the electric motor online and there are a few places I can purchase them from but I want to do more research.

I don't think about it, because I don't think it is practical. Too heavy for one thing. If I was going to do it, I'd start with a mountain bike, the kind that has a disc front brake and suspension front and rear...ARH

pistolclass · 08-02-2017, 07:07 PM

Someone I work with has a Zero. Pretty capable electric bike. I wonder if the aftermarket stuff is as capable.

Biker_Andy · 08-02-2017, 07:53 PM

Interesting idea, I've been looking for an affordable electric motorcycle. CSC was talking about bringing one over from Zongshen. I never really considered building my own bike. I thought about building an electric car about 10 years ago but given up on the idea. The problem is usually the battery. Unless your buying 10,000 lithiums they are incredibly expensive individually. If you can find a suitable battery from a salvage then it might work. Otherwise range is very limited with cheaper power sources.

pistolclass · 08-02-2017, 09:34 PM

Between my companies incentives and tax rebates I can get a new leaf for about 10K. Not sure I can get a Zero for 70% off

Mightbaal · 08-03-2017, 03:28 AM

I have 2 self built electric mountain bikes. They are loads of fun. You can easily build one for about $1000. Even cheaper if you want but my 2000 Watt bike I built cost me around 1200 to build but it will hit 40 mph on the flats.

jimwildman · 08-03-2017, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfeliciano15

I have been thinking of trying to do a conversion to electric power on my Hawk in the near future. Has anyone seen or heard of anyone doing this yet?
I have been looking for the electric motor online and there are a few places I can purchase them from but I want to do more research.

I think the hawk is a bit heavy to make a good candidate for this.

Convert an old trials bike,, their lightweight, and trials ebikes make really good sense.

Megadan · 08-03-2017, 06:40 PM

I don't think the hawk is too impractical for an electrical conversion. The real practicality question would be cost. It's not hard to spend thousands doing an electric conversion, even on a motorcycle. You have to make decisions an compromises on the parts used depending on what you want out of the bike.

One of my favorite sayings in automotive racing applies across the board. Cheap, Fast, Reliable - pick two.

If all you want is an electric bike to simply get around town, then I agree with the suggestions about the bicycle conversions.

If you want to do this as kind of an exercise in engineering, or simply because you can, then I say go for it.

I would suggest doing a lot of research to figure out what type and how powerful of a motor you will want to run. Once you have an idea on what motor you would use, see if it is possible to get/make a battery pack capable of supporting that motor and the range you desire. Then also remember the controller and all of the other details involved. Most motors in the power range needed for a smaller motorcycle conversion are usually in the $400-800+ range depending on features (brushed vs. brushless, etc). Motenergy makes a pretty wide range of motors well suited for what you are after, so you could potentially start there.

wheelbender6 · 08-03-2017, 07:45 PM

Many electric motorcycle conversions on endless-sphere.com. Read some posts and see what all is involved. It is far more expensive than replacing your ICE.
-You may have heard that BMW will produce a petro powered motorcycle that has an available electric hub motor on the front. The hub motor is not intended to operate all the time. It is used for escaping the mud and sand. Because the hub motor current is reversible, it can be used as a reverse to back you out of a parking space.

jfeliciano15 · 08-03-2017, 10:58 PM

I will be doing some shopping around and also see if the numbers make sense. Thanks for all of the feedback.

08-02-2017, 12:57 PM	#1
jfeliciano15 Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 35	What do you think about a Hawk conversion to Electric? I have been thinking of trying to do a conversion to electric power on my Hawk in the near future. Has anyone seen or heard of anyone doing this yet? I have been looking for the electric motor online and there are a few places I can purchase them from but I want to do more research.
	1

08-03-2017, 06:40 PM	#8
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,035	I don't think the hawk is too impractical for an electrical conversion. The real practicality question would be cost. It's not hard to spend thousands doing an electric conversion, even on a motorcycle. You have to make decisions an compromises on the parts used depending on what you want out of the bike. One of my favorite sayings in automotive racing applies across the board. Cheap, Fast, Reliable - pick two. If all you want is an electric bike to simply get around town, then I agree with the suggestions about the bicycle conversions. If you want to do this as kind of an exercise in engineering, or simply because you can, then I say go for it. I would suggest doing a lot of research to figure out what type and how powerful of a motor you will want to run. Once you have an idea on what motor you would use, see if it is possible to get/make a battery pack capable of supporting that motor and the range you desire. Then also remember the controller and all of the other details involved. Most motors in the power range needed for a smaller motorcycle conversion are usually in the $400-800+ range depending on features (brushed vs. brushless, etc). Motenergy makes a pretty wide range of motors well suited for what you are after, so you could potentially start there. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
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08-03-2017, 07:45 PM	#9
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	Many electric motorcycle conversions on endless-sphere.com. Read some posts and see what all is involved. It is far more expensive than replacing your ICE. -You may have heard that BMW will produce a petro powered motorcycle that has an available electric hub motor on the front. The hub motor is not intended to operate all the time. It is used for escaping the mud and sand. Because the hub motor current is reversible, it can be used as a reverse to back you out of a parking space. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	0

08-02-2017, 07:07 PM	#3
pistolclass Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: connecticut Posts: 978	Someone I work with has a Zero. Pretty capable electric bike. I wonder if the aftermarket stuff is as capable.
	0

08-02-2017, 07:53 PM	#4
Biker_Andy Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 347	Interesting idea, I've been looking for an affordable electric motorcycle. CSC was talking about bringing one over from Zongshen. I never really considered building my own bike. I thought about building an electric car about 10 years ago but given up on the idea. The problem is usually the battery. Unless your buying 10,000 lithiums they are incredibly expensive individually. If you can find a suitable battery from a salvage then it might work. Otherwise range is very limited with cheaper power sources.
	0

08-02-2017, 09:34 PM	#5
pistolclass Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: connecticut Posts: 978	Between my companies incentives and tax rebates I can get a new leaf for about 10K. Not sure I can get a Zero for 70% off
	0

08-03-2017, 03:28 AM	#6
Mightbaal Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 41	I have 2 self built electric mountain bikes. They are loads of fun. You can easily build one for about $1000. Even cheaper if you want but my 2000 Watt bike I built cost me around 1200 to build but it will hit 40 mph on the flats.
	1

08-03-2017, 10:58 PM	#10
jfeliciano15 Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 35	I will be doing some shopping around and also see if the numbers make sense. Thanks for all of the feedback.
	0