Simply over a decade in the past, Bruno Forcella had the nutty concept to construct a chopper with an electrical drivetrain. The minimalistic hardtail evoked myriad reactions, starting from intrigued to downright vexed. However Bruno was undeterred—so he’s simply constructed one other electrical chopper, with much more options than the final.
Primarily based in Switzerland, Bruno is {an electrical} engineer who builds bikes beneath the moniker Sine Cycles. Like most artisans, Bruno had a head stuffed with concepts after constructing his first battery-powered chopper. So he resolved to make this one higher in each manner, ambitiously nicknaming it ‘King Present.’
Bruno’s first construct used a repurposed Cleveland Cyclewerks Heist chassis as its basis, however he had one thing extra formidable in thoughts for King Present. This time, he constructed the body from scratch.
The design is impossibly elegant, with an uncovered spine that splits on the seat and flows seamlessly into the softail-style swingarm. The cantilevered rear association makes use of a pair of Progressive Suspension shocks, tucked in beneath the saddle, however nonetheless very a lot seen.
Typical forks do obligation up entrance, held in place by {custom} yokes. The lowers characteristic a intelligent hidden axle system, which makes for an excellent sano entrance finish. Distinction minimize 21F/18R wheels are wrapped in Metzeler Marathon Extremely rubber, with J.Juan brakes dealing with stopping duties.
The ABS-equipped brakes are from a 2016-model Zero FX, which additionally donated its electrical drivetrain. Its three-phase motor is nice for 43.4 hp and 96 Nm of torque, with a prime pace of 125 km/h (77.7 mph). Energy is shipped to the again wheel through a clutchless belt drive, with pulleys that Bruno designed and fabricated himself.
The Zero motor seems good wedged into Bruno’s handmade body, but it surely’s the proprietary Sine Cycles battery housing that actually ties all the pieces collectively. An evolution of his earlier design, it sports activities a retro-futuristic design that’s echoed within the handmade heatsink that’s wrapped across the motor.
Bruno admits that the battery’s compact dimension has an impact on the bike’s vary, but it surely’s a compromise he’s prepared to make. “The vary of 100 km (62 miles) is okay for my private wants,” he says, “equivalent to commuting to work or going for a easy journey across the close by lake, abandoning shocked folks of their vehicles and on the aspect of the highway.”
Perched above the fashionable battery enclosure is a pair of handmade fiberglass covers, which cover the controller and different necessary digital bits. The hole between the ‘tank’ and battery provides visible lightness to the construct, whereas Bruno’s obsessively neat wiring retains issues uncluttered.
A solo saddle sits additional again, mounted on a pair of barrel springs so as to add a contact extra consolation. Modified aftermarket fenders sit fore and aft, mounted on custom-made brackets.
The cockpit sports activities a set of LSL handlebars and clamps, fitted with Motogadget grips, push buttonsand bar-end flip alerts. The Zero’s digital sprint has been repurposed and now sits simply behind the bars. The headlight makes use of a Harley-Davidson lens, retrofitted in an aluminum bucket that echoes the finned particulars discovered elsewhere on the bike.
The tail finish of the bike wears a pair of three-in-one LED taillights, mounted on to the rear fender, and a side-mounted license plate bracket. The foot controls are a cocktail of aftermarket and custom-made components.
Aiming for simplicity and timeless model, Bruno commissioned a shiny black, gray, and white livery from Fabrizio Passani. Between its flawless traces and tasteful finishes, King Present makes a powerful case for a svelte electrical chopper.
If somebody had been to place this into manufacturing, we’d actually be tickled.
Sine Cycles | Fb | Instagram | Pictures by HRF/Motographer
