Is This The Sketchiest, Most Out Of Control DIY Electric Minibike?
When a buddy shows up at your door with the best, sketchiest bike you've ever seen, what do you do? To make it even better, what if they tell you that you're welcome to thrash it around and ride it if you just put it back together? And it's totally in pieces, and taking up space in a couple of boxes?
Obviously you can't say no, right? Right. To make things even better, what if this hypothetical build comes with not one but two different possible powerplants: One relatively sane one that makes the equivalent of around 9.3 horsepower, and another one that makes between 23 and 24 horsepower?
You obviously have to try them both, right? Once again, right. And now, you know the basic plot of the most recent video from the guys over at Cars and Cameras[1].
The thing is, though, you have to see this bike that they put together to fully appreciate just how special it is. We're not talking "special" in terms of pricy performance bling and oodles of carbon fiber, either. No; we're talking "special" as in "the bodywork is made of Domino's boxes, discarded mozzarella stick cartons, hopes, and dreams."
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When finished, the full build weighs around 100 pounds, so the power-to-weight ratio is pretty nuts.
The guy who showed up at C&C's[2] door regularly races this little minibike, and while we don't ever learn what the rider's exact weight is, it's a pretty safe bet that it's well under 200 pounds. Meanwhile, the C&C guys consist of one guy who's around 200 pounds, and another who's also a bit less. In both cases, though, the stronger motor basically just wants to wheelie the entire time.
Add the rider weight to the 100-pound weight of the bike, and even then it's clear that the 24-hp equivalent motor is still producing impressive power-to-weight. The good news is, even though the bodywork is literally made of recycled cardboard, important things like the swingarms into which the electric motors are mounted are fully welded metal units. So, you know, strength where it counts.
This super-janky machine has a mountain bike front fork and shock setup, as well as a bicycle front wheel. It's chain-driven, and the 24 hp version gets a super fancy, nice DID gold chain to try to ensure reliable power delivery. When it's put together, it looks both terrifying and awesome.
Is it the fastest outright? Probably not. Is it the funnest?
That's subjective. Either way, it'll be competing in the next round of C&C's Mini Mayhem, so watchers of the channel will probably see more soon. Would you ride this bike if you could?
Or would you rather use the Domino's x Stranger Things Mind Ordering App advertised on the side of this bike, get yourself some pizza, and watch the insanity from the sidelines?
Let us know in the comments.
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References
- ^ Cars and Cameras (www.rideapart.com)
- ^ C&C's (www.rideapart.com)