Juicer II, the Etek build
- Thread starter Juicerman
- Start date
waynebergman
100 kW
Very nice bike. This is a very inspiring build. I would like to do something similar for my next build. This site is so amazing, its great to see all the cool stuff being made.
granolaboy
100 W
Awesome job! The bare cells looks fantastic...I'm guessing there are 8 cells in each pack?
Gorgeous!!!
Gorgeous!!!
Lock
100 MW
Posted to autobloggreen... congratulations!
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/1...bicycle-gets-its-gumption-from-v-twin-batter/
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/1...bicycle-gets-its-gumption-from-v-twin-batter/
Brentis
10 kW
Lock beat me to it.
But I second it. Congrats on the autoblog green article.
Both of your "retro" builds have inspired me.
Keep up the good work.
But I second it. Congrats on the autoblog green article.
Both of your "retro" builds have inspired me.
Keep up the good work.
Garrick_s
100 W
WOW - Beautiful blend of old school and new school.
I love it!!!
I love it!!!
Juicerman
1 W
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2013
- Messages
- 59
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!"
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!"
valsislav
100 W
Great story!
And the Juicer ~ she looks amazing.
And the Juicer ~ she looks amazing.
dodjob
1 kW
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2010
- Messages
- 320
Nice story and of course NICE bike 
I was quite often on a German forum for "bicycle" pimper where they make their own frame... use wide rims ...etc
They had to create a special section for e-custom bikes and fight nearly dailly for keeping it clean because non-electric "bikers" are trolling like pigs on ebikes threads because "an ebike is for fatty" an "ebike is cheating"...etc
This sucks...hard
I don't know how it is know.. and honestly.. I don't care
I drive a custom ebike which is nearly finish now. And for me I ONLY got real compliments and I trully think that with this approach the ebike world will gain his letters.
Ok I do also think that with a certain "liveforphysics" we will also gain them ^^
Gruß,
H.
I was quite often on a German forum for "bicycle" pimper where they make their own frame... use wide rims ...etc
They had to create a special section for e-custom bikes and fight nearly dailly for keeping it clean because non-electric "bikers" are trolling like pigs on ebikes threads because "an ebike is for fatty" an "ebike is cheating"...etc
This sucks...hard
I don't know how it is know.. and honestly.. I don't care
I drive a custom ebike which is nearly finish now. And for me I ONLY got real compliments and I trully think that with this approach the ebike world will gain his letters.
Ok I do also think that with a certain "liveforphysics" we will also gain them ^^
Gruß,
H.
Lock
100 MW
+1valsislav said:
grindz145
1 MW
It's creative design minds like yours that are going to take ebikes to the next level. It's so awesome to see your custom, highly tasteful ebike, next to chrome harleys....
Lock
100 MW
grindz145 said:
...and speculate how the voting might have gone if the bike was displayed next to Harleys like this:
mabman
100 W
An old friend of mine holds the distinction of having the only motorized bicycle featured in Easy Rider magazine, his Sachs 2 stroke motorwheel powered "Chopper From Hell".
IMHO your Juicer should be featured also. Nicely done and a good philosophy in regards to why it is what it is and how it is built because that is what makes it really work. Good luck and keep up the good work.
IMHO your Juicer should be featured also. Nicely done and a good philosophy in regards to why it is what it is and how it is built because that is what makes it really work. Good luck and keep up the good work.
SHiFT
100 W
Yep, pretty awesome.
http://www.gizmag.com/juicer-old-timey-electric-bicycles/21045/
Hopefully you get some good business out of the positive press.
http://www.gizmag.com/juicer-old-timey-electric-bicycles/21045/
Hopefully you get some good business out of the positive press.
biohazardman
100 kW
I like the improvements looks great. Thanks for taking the time to post and for the nice pics and info.
chopper_elec
100 W
Mate what can I say... I instantly took a huge liking to your bike the second that almost 3d style image was bestowed into my retinas.
I read every word and every reply to this thread and found it hugely facinating. To be honest I did read your motorcycle show story and think you had won, the dream story was so convincing haha Maybe next time round you'll win. The quality and workmanship is top notch. I wish I could do something like that one day.
I read every word and every reply to this thread and found it hugely facinating. To be honest I did read your motorcycle show story and think you had won, the dream story was so convincing haha Maybe next time round you'll win. The quality and workmanship is top notch. I wish I could do something like that one day.
Juicerman
1 W
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2013
- Messages
- 59
Thanks, everybody for the comments! Your encouragement and support is the wind in my sails.
I was also very flattered that Juicer II was invited to the 2012 Car Classic at Art Center in Pasadena. The theme was "Inspired Design." It was a huge thrill, lining up between some very rare vintage conveyances. Syd Mead, the Blade-Runner designer was there. And since it was in LA and had something to do with cars, that "comedian" from the Tonite Show showed up in a jet-powered car (I guess he didn't want to attract attention).
I was also very flattered that Juicer II was invited to the 2012 Car Classic at Art Center in Pasadena. The theme was "Inspired Design." It was a huge thrill, lining up between some very rare vintage conveyances. Syd Mead, the Blade-Runner designer was there. And since it was in LA and had something to do with cars, that "comedian" from the Tonite Show showed up in a jet-powered car (I guess he didn't want to attract attention).
CogHog
100 W
I really like the work you did on your bike. I was looking out my kitchen window and saw this lady pull up next to the dumpster and her son took this Specialized out of the trunk and put it next to the dumpster. With a few additions I was able to hide most of the wires in the oil can. I am doing a new can (wood/lexan) this weekend that will have the back side of it covered and fake copper painted tubes to cover the wires out of the controller. Then pictures for promo's then sell it and do another one. Cheers
