The Future of Electric Motorcycles
While some remain sceptical about the future of electric motorcycles, individuals like Adam Kay are enthusiastic about its potential. As the founder of Untitled Motorcycles in London, Adam is known for his petrol-powered customs. However, he’s also intrigued by the possibilities of electric drivetrains for customization. In this article, we explore Adam’s latest project, humorously named “Death to Petrol.”
Exploring New Motorcycle Design Horizons with Adam Kay
Adam Kay challenges conventional motorcycle design principles, asking questions like, “Can the basic rules for designing a motorcycle be ripped up?” He delves into topics such as rider position, the absence of a traditional fuel tank, foot peg placement, road presence, and the balance between speed and noise. This innovative thinking led to the creation of the ‘DTP‘ electric Supermoto concept.
From Sketch to Reality: The Birth of Death To Petrol
Inspired by a mountain bike frame he rode over two decades ago, Adam envisioned a similar aesthetic for the Death To Petrol design. His vision was for a tubular chassis that boldly displayed the motor, battery, and controller without hiding anything behind panels. Adam collaborated with product designer Jack Lennie, leading to fully developed CAD drawings.
Crafting the Frame and Components
The frame construction of ‘DTP’ was entrusted to Mike at Survivor Customs, using 50 mm tubing and a custom swingarm with a braced mono-shock design. The minimalist design includes only a boxed section up top to hold the seat. The forks, yokes, and rear shock were sourced from a KTM 390 Duke, and 17″ SM Pro wheels were paired with Dunlop Mutant rubber and ISR brakes.
Powering Up: Sur-Ron Electric Motor
Adam turned to Sur-Ron, an electric bike manufacturer, for the motor, purchasing an experimental motor from them. The Sur-Ron motor, along with a new battery and controller, drives the rear wheel through a chain drive system. An adjustable base plate allows for chain tension adjustments.
Wiring and Control Systems
Paul Taplin played a pivotal role in wiring up the ‘DTP’ project, completing the initial setup in under a day. Future plans involve creating a slimmer wiring loom centered around a Motogadget controller. The handlebars feature Renthal bars with Biltwell Inc. grips and custom switch housings doubling as brake lever clamps.
Attention to Detail: Lighting and Finishing
The ‘DTP’ design incorporates a twin LED headlight from Durite at the front and LED taillights from Alchemy parts embedded in the frame’s rear. Discreet Motogadget LED turn signals are mounted on frame tabs. Glenn Moger added a touch of leather to the supermoto-style seat, while Aurum Finishing handled the powder-coating.
Form Meets Function: ‘DTP’ Performance and Range
The ‘DTP’ excels in terms of visual appeal, departing from traditional motorcycle design to create a quirky yet aggressive appearance. In terms of performance and range, Adam emphasizes that this is primarily designed for short-range urban use. With a limited top speed of 50 mph, the focus is on quick acceleration and urban fun, rather than long countryside rides.
The Future of ‘DTP’
While the specific numbers are not final, as ‘DTP’ is currently a prototype, Adam plans to produce a small run of these bikes after more testing and refinement. The target curb weight for the production model is set to be under 155 lbs.
