Thanks for the comments fellas. As some of you noticed, I got a little virtual press, which is great. The only thing is that the write-ups were mostly in eco-blogs and the stated goal of Juicer is to convert the worst eco-offenders to the idea that ebikes can be cool. I'm talking about the hot-rod/monster truck/Harley set. To convert them I would have to go into the lion's den for a sneak attack to their snake-brains. If I could get them to like the bike before they realized it was electric, I'd have 'em for good. So, I entered Juicer 48 into the Easyriders bike contest at their Anaheim show. Fortunately the entry form was short and the rules were non-existent so my application didn't bounce. For motor-type I wrote "Briggs and Stratton" and for motor-size I wrote 48. Juicer was on display at Hollywood Electrics over the holidays, so this past Wednesday, three days before the show, I got Harlan to help me load it into the Thing. (Harlan, I know you're on this board- show yourself. PING!)
There were a couple of changes I wanted to make so it would blend better with the hoard of gas-bikes that would surely be there. I thought I should disguise the batteries and wiring a bit better or there'd be a good chance they wouldn't let it in the door. So I scooped out the packs while still in the car which made the rest of the bike light enough for me to lift out myself.
My first idea I had to change the color of the batteries was to wrap them with this heat-shrink wrap I bought from a hobby-store that they use for RC model airplane skin. I thought better of it when I read that the glue melting temp was far higher than the safe temp of the Headways. Fortunately I found something called "Funky Film" at an art store that was both metallic looking and peel-off adhesive. So I bought a stack of copper-colored sheets of that and cut them down, and while Doris Day watched, wrapped the outside cells one-by-one.
Mmmm, much better. Next to the wiring. I still had the braided expansion wrap variety pack from the Juicer 36 build. I went ahead and threaded the bigger red wires and BMS ribbon through that and used short sections of heat-shrink tubing to finish the ends.
Yeah. I always liked the way the contactor looks like a carb-bowl, and now the wires look like hoses. The pot's on now! We might actually pull off the ruse long enough to get in the door.
I got my roadie/cameraman, Abel to help me reload the Thing and we pushed off early yesterday for Anaheim. Our arrival timing was good; about a half hour before setup closes. I rode Juicer partway up the ramp (because I'm lazy) and then pushed it the rest of the way so as not to arouse suspicion. When we got in line I got a little nervous. Other competitors were scrutinizing the bike but nobody said anything to us. Then I gave a lady my name and paperwork, she asked me to push the bike in front of a curtain for a photo (I gave a thumbs-up and my best yellow-toothed smile) and then we were in. Another fellah led us to my space where other bikes in the "People's Choice" competition were already set-up. He gave me an easel with our competitor number on it, but unlike everybody else's, it was absent of the details I'd provided...curious. Anyway, I figured the best thing now was to make myself scarce, until the doors opened to the public, in case they changed their minds.
People flooded in at 10am and they were just the motley mix you'd expect. There were HOG club riders, regular Joe's and full-on outlaw biker gangsters flying their colors. The bikes on display were 95% Harleys. Shockingly, there wasn't even a single Indian. Also no old bikes, just a couple of flat-heads in chopper-frames. Anyway the show would go on for another ten hours so there was little to do besides wander around with a screwdriver in your hand until it was late enough to switch to beer.
Periodical recon missions told me that interest in the Juicer was high. Most folks figured out it was electric in under a minute, but only at close proximity. A few were really exited about it and let me know. Jesus, you think I might have a chance at winning this thing? Man, still hours do go before they close the polls. Drinking early can even make an Irishman sleepy. That bench looks soft...
"And the winner of the People's Choice award is...Dave Twomey with his Juicer board-track racer tribute! Dave are you there?" My heart was racing as I climbed onto the stage. My legs felt like jelly, but the applause buoyed me and I made it to the stage where the trophy bimbo gave me the golden prize. I lip-locked her for the camera, dipping her low like that VJ Day photo. The presenter shook my hand and asked me what inspired my bike. I grabbed the mic from him and said, "Well Bob, my goal was to show your readership that ebikes can be cool. They don't have to pollute our air and ears anymore. Now it is actually cool to ride an electric motorcycle. What you are witnessing today is a WATERSHED MOMENT! The tide of reckless disregard for our planet has turned today, just now, on this stage. Do not fear the future, friends! You can have your rad bikes AND give your children a habitable planet! Follow me into the brave, new reality that is our shared future. A future where Bubbah and Poindexter can ride side-by-side as brothers! LONG LIVE THE NEW CRUISER-CULTURE!" With that I threw down the mic. The feedback squeal was drowned out by the cheering masses. I made a quick assessment and decided that a stage-dive was go. I leapt into the crowd and was held aloft, by gloved hands over a frenzy of rowdy bikers that churned like waggling bees in a crowded hive. Then I felt someone taking my cellphone out of my pocket...then my wallet. Somehow, I didn't mind. In that moment I didn't need them anymore- I felt lighter without them. In fact, so light that I started to float towards the ceiling...
"Dude, dude. Wake-up. You missed the Awards."
"Whaaat? Did I win?"
"Naw, they gave it to some shiny Harley."
"Balzac!"