Alright, so I’ve been meaning to share this for a while. You know how I get these crazy ideas, right? Well, this time it was an e motocross bike. Yeah, electric. I got tired of the noise from my old gas guzzler, and frankly, the neighbors were probably tired of it too. Plus, the thought of silent power ripping through trails? Awesome.
Getting Started – The Dream and The Junk
First off, I didn’t just go out and buy a kit. Where’s the fun in that? I had this old motocross frame lying around in the garage, gathering dust. It was from a bike I thrashed years ago. Perfect candidate, I thought. So, the first step was dragging that thing out and stripping it down. Man, it was rougher than I remembered. Rust, bent bits, the works. Lots of cleaning, some banging things back into shape. That took a good weekend.
The Heart of the Beast – Motor and Batteries
Next up, the electric bits. This was the part I was most excited and nervous about. I spent ages online, looking at motors, controllers, and batteries. So many options! I eventually settled on a decent-sized hub motor. Seemed easier to install than a mid-drive for a first-timer like me. Then the batteries… oh boy, the batteries. Went for a lithium pack, a bit pricey, but I wanted good range and power. Waiting for all that stuff to arrive felt like forever.
- Motor selection: Had to be powerful enough but not too crazy.
- Battery pack: Balance between weight, power, and how much I wanted to spend.
- Controller: The brain, had to match the motor and battery.
Putting It All Together – The “Fun” Part
Once all the boxes started showing up, it was like Christmas. But then came the actual assembly. This is where things got interesting. Trying to fit that hub motor into the old swingarm? Let’s just say it involved a bit of… persuasion. And some custom brackets I had to cobble together. My welding skills are, uh, “developing,” so those brackets aren’t the prettiest, but they’re strong!
Wiring was another adventure. So. Many. Wires. I must have checked the diagrams a hundred times. Connecting the controller, throttle, battery, motor… I was super careful here. One wrong connection and poof, magic smoke, right? I took my sweet time, triple-checking everything. There were a few moments where I just had to step away and grab a coffee before my brain fried.
The First Sparks (Hopefully Not Literally)
After what felt like an eternity, it was time for the first power-up. Honestly, I was expecting a bang or at least a spark. Flipped the switch, and… nothing. My heart sank. Checked all the connections again. Found a loose one on the controller. Tightened it up, took a deep breath, and tried again. This time, the display lit up! Success! Then, I gingerly twisted the throttle. The wheel spun! I probably looked like a madman cheering in my garage, but who cares?
Hitting the Dirt (Gently at First)
Okay, so it powered on. But would it actually move me? I rolled it outside, put on my helmet (safety first, even in the driveway), and hopped on. It felt weird, no engine vibration, no noise. Just a slight hum. Twisted the throttle, and whoa! That instant torque is something else. It actually moved! My first ride was just up and down the street, grinning like an idiot. The neighbors probably thought I’d finally lost it.
Since then, I’ve taken it on some light trails. It’s a blast. Still got some tweaking to do – the suspension needs some love, and I might play with the gearing a bit. But turning that old, forgotten frame into a silent trail ripper? Totally worth all the skinned knuckles and head-scratching moments. It’s my own creation, and that feels pretty good. Still can’t believe it actually works as well as it does!