Vet builds lightweight electric motorcycle in his spare time

TO the untrained eye, the above model could pass for a children’s balance bike.

In actual fact, it’s something far more sophisticated; an all-electric motorcycle capable of speeds up to 60mph.

Atlanta-based veterinary orthopaedic surgeon Alan Cross designed and built the ExoDyne in his garage. With a boxy frame housing 48 lithium polymer batteries (which are restricted to make a combined 200 A), and an 11 kW EnerTrac motor built into the rear hub, the bike is the latest in a long line of Cross’s ‘projects’, which include electric drift trikes and steam punk floor lamps.

Did we mention that the vet boasts an engineering degree and a host of self-taught metalworking and fabrication skills?

SIlodrome reports that Cross’ latest toy took him nine months of evenings and weekends to complete, with a little help when it came to the seat and powder-coating.

It features forks from a 2005 Suzuki RMZ 250 and the headstock and rear swingarm of a 1995 Suzuki RM 125. The rest of the structure was hand-crafted by Cross, while hardware was sourced from various manufacturers. To keep weight down to just 112kg, he used a mix of titanium, aluminium and carbon fibre components.  

A small CycleAnalyst displays mph, amps and other essential information.

Now for the downside. Despite its ability to go fast, the ExoDyne is unlikely to get far, with a range of only 20mph. But with no wind protection, and small wheels, the model is hardly a long-distance tourer.