"El Chopper ET"

Plans: $39.95 + 5.00 US shipping/handling.
Plans: $39.95 + 10.00 International/out of US shipping/handling.

A 50+ MPH Custom Electric Motorcycle You Build from Plans
(See also the lighter, less expensive to build original El Chopper)

Smooth, fast, comfortable, clean, and economical are what El Chopper ET is all about. Other words to describe it are longer, lower, fat rear; it’s a CHOPPER and the power is ELECTRIC. The sound of the wind at 50 MPH is all you hear unless you turn on the MP3/speaker system playing loud pipe recordings . The looks alone that you’ll get from kids to yuppies to hard-core bikers will be worth the price of admission (about $1200 of parts including the motor, controller, and, a motorcycle rolling chassis)!

El Chopper ET combines a light weight customized motorcycle based on a stock motorcycle rolling chassis with a high-power electric vehicle motor, controller and inexpensive, readily available batteries to achieve a long-range (25- 35 miles), high-performance, 50-mph-class machine. El Chopper ET is designed to accommodate standard and custom motorcycle seats, tanks, and other accessories to personalize your machine with off-the-shelf parts. The unique stretched out custom chassis and comfortable motorcycle seat provide pure comfort for around-town cruising. El Chopper’s low saddle height (25") and adjustable foot peg position accommodate riders from 4’9" to 6’7" tall.

When configured with full power options El Chopper ET is registered, insured, and ridden as a motorcycle. The design includes a special electronic governor to change the acceleration and top speed for different riders and meet the 30 MPH moped or scooter licensing rules in many states.

El Chopper ET’s design evolved from several generations of electric motorcycle predecessors that were tested and improved through extensive electric vehicle racing including 3 previous National Electric Drag Racing records. Full 3D CAD was used to develop all the details of EL Chopper ET.

The El Chopper ET builder’s Guide shows step by step how to take a Honda Rebel 250 chassis (any year) and convert it into EL Chopper ET. Dimensioned CAD drawings are provided for the two Wheel Base options shown above. Other potential motorcycle rolling chassis can be used to build a comparable motorcycle using electric motors and the technology described in the builder’s guide. The Honda Nighthawk, Honda Rebel 450, Kawasaki Eliminator, 125, Suzuki Savage 650, Suzuki GZ 250, and Yamaha Virago 250 are but a few of the other possible starting chassis.

Building El Chopper is primarily a frame customizing and assembly project If you do not have welding skills or access to welding equipment, you can have the frame built by taking the rolling chassis and the frame drawings from the El Chopper ET Builder’s Guide to a local welding shop.

El Chopper Builder’s Guide includes an introduction to vehicle dynamics and electric vehicle technology, so that the reader will have a basic understanding of 2 wheeled electric vehicles, and how to apply electric vehicle components.

The motor used in this design is the high performance Etek motor that can be operated at 24, 36, or 48 volts. At 48 volts and 400 amps the Etek delivers 15+ peak horsepower. The design accommodates a variety of controller, and battery options also. The motor, controller, power switch, and throttle are available from mail-order/web electric vehicle component suppliers. Even though the Etek motor is perhaps the most powerful and efficient DC motor available for light electric vehicles, Briggs and Stratton is reported to be working on a next generation Etek motor and controller that promise to be even more efficient.

Etek motor Alternatives (click for PDF)

Motorcycle rolling chassis are available from local motorcycle salvage yards or old motorcycles in the classifieds. American motorcycle parts may be purchased from your local dealer or after-market parts dealers or at swap meets. Many of these parts (tanks, seats, pegs, mirrors, etc.) will bolt right onto El Chopper ET. A full list of the materials and sources used to build El Chopper ET are provided in the builder’s guide.

Why Electric?
In addition to zero local pollution (ozone, nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, particulate) from riding El Chopper ET, the cost of electricity per mile to power El Chopper ET is about one-third the cost of riding an equivalent gasoline-powered motorcycle. Also, the maintenance on El Chopper ET consists of periodically filling battery water and adjusting the chain!