RidingSide view of electronicsClose-up view of electronicsMotor mount and chain
LocationMontreal, Quebec Canada map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1980 Kawasaki KDX175
Found the barely running bike and a
extra frame and lots of spare parts for
300$. In retrospect, I should have
gotten something already street-legal.

I was unable to get it registered, even
with lights, flashers and horn as the
DMV here refuses to even look at a
custom bike built from an off-road
frame. I should have checked first...
MotorMars ME0709 Series Wound DC
Drivetrain11 tooth front sprocket
52 tooth rear sprocket (original)

I'm using #520 chain, same as the
original bike, but I had to get a
longer one because the motor sits
slightly forward of the original engine
output shaft.

The motor sprocket I purchased was #50
(suitable #520 sprockets are impossible
to find), but I machined the face of it
to reduce the thickness to fit the #520
chain, which is 1/8" thinner, but
otherwise identical.
ControllerAlltrax AXE7234
Batteries6 Enerwatt WP38-12, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, AGM
System Voltage72 Volts
Charger HWC1B Series 72V/8A
WebPage /> hwc1b-72v-fslash-8a.htm
The charger efficiency is around 93%.
HeaterA good coat and a pair of gloves for
colder days.
InstrumentationCycle Analyst
WebPage
Top Speed50 MPH (80 KPH)
I hit 80 km/h (50 mph) on a flat stretch
in ideal conditions (full charge, no
wind).
AccelerationVery decent.
Range15 Miles (24 Kilometers)
With some conservative use of the
throttle (35 km/h avg and no hard
accelerations), I have achieved 26 km
(15 miles) with the bike.

Some stats on one a typical full-range
run:
24.28 km, 17.31 Ah, 1130.5 Wh, 46.6
Wh/km, 303.3 Amax, 46.2 Vmin, 35.1 km/h
avg, 41min 27sec riding time, 1210 Wh
used by charger.
Watt Hours/Mile100 Wh/Mile
This is approximate from my tests so far
which tend to be stop and go. It should be
slightly less in real riding conditions.
EV Miles
Current:160 Miles (257 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity1 adult
Curb Weight340 Pounds (154 Kilograms)
The weight distribution is pretty good at
180lbs back / 160lbs front.

Original motorcycle weight (with all
fluids) was 247lbs.
TiresUsing street tires instead of the original
dirt tires. The bike is destined for road
use only (too heavy for proper off-road
use) and the slicker road tires provide
much better efficiency.
Conversion TimeAround 5 months of calendar time (over the
winter) and about 100 hours of actual work
time. Research (reading and surfing) is on
top of that and difficult to quantify.
Conversion Cost3400$ (canadian).

Chassis Kawasaki KDX 175cc 1980 (350$)
Road tires (100$)
New plastic fenders (100$)
Contact key (15$)
Mirrors (22$)
Fabrication (metal, bolts, paint)
(240$)

Mars Electric ME0709 8hp/19hp (570$)
Alltrax AXE7234 (530$)
Contactorr Albright SW180L 72V
200A/1000A (95$)
Magura Twist pot handle (55$)
300A fuse (40$)
Wiring (300$)
Sprocket 11 tooth #50 (7/8in. bore with
3/16in. key) (30$)
Batteries (550$)
Chargeur 72V (200$)
Cycle Analyst (215$)

code by jerry