Author Topic: Electric conversion  (Read 640 times)

Offline g4s

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
  • 1986 K75S black
Electric conversion
« on: March 18, 2025, 05:02:37 AM »
Hi y'all, at the risk of being run off the site... I am thinking of converting my K 75 to electric. I live off grid and have upgraded the system and have acres of surplus power.
I am meeting lots of resistance to this idea which tells me I am on the right track (if a not too well beaten one.)
Is there a thread on this site relating to this?
I am going to get an engineer to do it here in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
I would be grateful for any advice.
Chur.

Offline AtLarge

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 152
  • Not too many bikes. Garage too small.
Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2025, 08:35:25 AM »
Shouldn’t be any reason to be against another form of motor-vation. 🙂 You might check out Marshall Hewitt on IG. He has some conversion experience.
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  • 1994 K1100RS
1973 Honda CL70-K3, 1975 Kawasaki 350 F9-C, 1994 BMW K1100RS, 2023 Honda CRF300L Rally ABS

Online The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2025, 08:40:48 AM »
Sounds like an interesting idea, but in the time I've been hanging around K Brick forums I haven't seen anyone build an electric bike out of one.  The wildest I have seen was someone who put a turbo diesel in his bike.

You might be better served by seeking out electric conversion information directly.  But definitely, when you begin the conversion, start a thread here to document your project.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline sooprvylyn

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 297
  • How else can I customize this thing?
Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2025, 09:15:14 AM »
I have seen exactly 1 electric k bike. It was on one of the Facebook k bike groups. Here is a writeup on the bike, and the dudes name is in the article in case you want to track him down

https://www.bikeexif.com/bmw-k100-electric-conversion
  • Austin TX
  • '93 k1100rs last 7 of vin-6495569
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Offline g4s

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 12
  • 1986 K75S black
Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2025, 10:40:10 PM »
 4265249878
Cheers folks for yr replies.
One of the engineers I reached out to came back with grim news. New Zealand's Land Transport Safety Authority has rules about exceeding the GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass?) for modified motorbikes.
Bit the end just an obstruction.
The K100 sooprvylyn referred to us flash. I'm less worried about looks just so long as it works.


Offline Chaos

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  • Mars needs women!
Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2025, 10:43:49 PM »
Ural had a 1 off factory E conversion, rave reviews but haven't heard much of it lately.  It used the Zero electric motorcycle battery and motor, might give you some ideas https://www.imz-ural.com/electric
  • sw ohio
1987 K75S    VIN 0231
Original owner, Original litter
200,000 miles (plus or minus) and 5 paint jobs
sold 6/23
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Offline frankenduck

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Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2025, 08:33:22 PM »
You already own a hybrid. K bikes burn both gas and oil.
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
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Offline Ingo

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 84
Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2025, 08:42:50 PM »
For a while mine was electric, but very short range (about 5 miles, just far enough to be a pain), until I figured out that the alternators rectifier had died, she ran purely off battery....
  • Colorado Springs
  • 1992 K1100LT
You can't have everything; where would you put it?!

Offline Kaos

  • Vlad the Extraxtor
  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 120
Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2025, 05:24:21 AM »
Shouldn’t be any reason to be against another form of motor-vation. 🙂 You might check out Marshall Hewitt on IG. He has some conversion experience.

Indeed there are a few people that have done it, marshall hewit being the one with the biggest range on a single charge (160 miles if I recall correctly and a decreased top speed at 120 kmph).
I think he started pre-orders for them as well, converting 5 at this moment.

Dont let your dreams be memes.
Also post the progress and process here.
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Offline natalena

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
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Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2025, 12:56:23 PM »
Whichever direction you want, please keep the 4-pin as an homage to bricks of yore.
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Online Laitch

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Re: Electric conversion
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2025, 01:18:09 PM »
 :laughing4-giggles:
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  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

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