Here’s the recipe: take an ancient British motorcycle design sold to an Indian company, add a fairing, and gut the drivetrain to substitute an electric powerplant. The result is the delicious Hammarhead Volta 102, seasoned with green technology and anachronism. Garnish with 220V and serve very hot.
Because most restomods in the automotive world are horrific fiberglass-and-billet monstrosities, I’m always a bit wary of this sort of bitsa timewarp mashup. Hammarhead has really approached the Volta 102 with some thought, and I think the result is as ingenious as it is attractive. You have style in spades, built-in authenticity, and a reasonably guilt-free powertrain. Of course, you’d be missing the sound and the fury of a R-E thumper, but I’d let it slide.
The Volta ain’t cheap, but methinks it’s a small price to pay to stand apart. In the words of James Hammarhead himself, his “mission is to build elemental motorcycles outside of the plastic-encrusted mainstream motorcycle industry. HHI bikes honor the taut lines and lean form of the iconic motorcycles of the 1950’s. Each build is executed with an eye towards repurposing, recycling and efficiency. Hammarhead Industries provides minimalist motorcycles that are prepared for the modern world. Most are quiet, some are silent and all are built to be ridden.” More info is available at Hammarhead’s website below.
Hammarhead Motorcycles
Anachronistic Future Tech: Hammarhead's Electrifying Royal-Enfield Cafe Racer
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I like it! Cinder block in that nice of setting is a great touch.
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Love the look, though I don't think I could let the lack of the sound of the R-E thumper slide. My first street bike was a 2000 R-E Bullet 500, and probably my favorite thing about it was that sound! I'd still have it today if the damned thing didn't break something every other time I tried to ride it. I finally threw in the towel when it ate the rod bearing halfway up the canyon. It just wasn't worth the cost to repair, so I eventually sold it to a guy who wanted to make a V-twin out of two R-E thumpers. Interesting idea, and it can be done – I've seen a couple examples over at The Kneeslider.
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Sold. Add a number 3 somewhere and a helmet. So what goes in the gas tank?
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The on board battery chargers are in the tank. See http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/05/hammarhead-v… for more detail or email james@hammarhead.com.
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I am a HUGE fan of the dustbin fairing, BUT Electric motorcycles are a bust. Show me just one person who commutes on one to work and back daily for a year or more and I will call their bluff.
I would like to see electric become a viable alternative, but reality keeps getting in the way here.-
I don't get it. Plenty of folks commute on electric bikes. Sure, most are short-range, but a lot of cityfolk don't commute all that far. If you're commuting from Kansas to Wyoming, there are better options. What's the problem?
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150+ MPH electric bike!
[youtube U7xinT2YYxAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xinT2YYxA youtube] -
This reminds me of my dream project: convert a Citroen DS to electric power. I would do it properly, with lithium batteries and an AC induction motor. I would keep the hydraulic suspension, just replace the ICE driven pump with an electric one… Some day, some day…
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heya! do you know where I can get the ghostbusters theme song (mp3)?, thank you..! Mike.
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great experience, dude! thanks for this great post wow… it’s very wonderful report.
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Sound good. Its also my favorite topic.That’s great andthanks for the fine sharring.
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Good submit! I definitely consent.
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may friend had a china made battery charger and it overheated after a week,~`
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