A Hodaka for Modern Times? (Electric Motorcycle)
[Before you get excited, no this is not about the Hodaka name being resurrected - that's not it.]
If you're not familiar with Hodaka, feast your eyes on the Ace 90 and imagine you're wanting a nice little trail bike for a nice little price in the late 60's or early 70's.
If you're not familiar with Hodaka, feast your eyes on the Ace 90 and imagine you're wanting a nice little trail bike for a nice little price in the late 60's or early 70's.
Love those chrome tanks and red frames!
The Hodakas were very simple, very tough, and very affordable little scramblers that were a little ahead of their time. And like a lot of the electric bikes and motorcycles we see these days, they were conceived and designed on this side of the planet and manufactured in Asia. (In this case, it was Oregon/Japan.) For a while there they were the market. But then the big four Japanese motorcycle companies stepped up their game and made it much harder for Hodaka to compete. But, man, were they something for a while!
Over the years, I've kept my eyes open for a Hodaka to convert to electric, but I haven't run across one. (Probably a good thing.) I've also kept my eyes open to see if one of the new breed of electric cycle entrepreneurs decided to create a motorcycle similar in spirit to the old Hodakas.
I think I may have found it. The Fly Free Smart Desert Scrambler:
Do you think he's wearing a wet suit under the leather jacket?
Two models of the Desert Scrambler will be offered - one with 50 mile range and 40 mph top speed, another with 100 mile range and 50 mph top speed. Pre-orders should begin soon, but details are sketchy at this point in time. You can join the mailing list at their website or learn more on FB and Instagram.
Lots of cool stuff for the modern scramblerista
Love the modular motor design
and the removable modular battery
Camo for you blend -in types
The FlyFree Smart Desert (learn more at EVNerds)
So there you have it - a modest scrambler designed on the West Coast and built in Asia. I wonder if we can talk them into offering one with a red frame and a chome-plated "tank". We will have to see what pricing is, but I'm pretty excited to see bikes like this come to market. The more practical and appealing green transportation becomes, the sooner we can all start the healing.
May you be well!
PS. Here's a little more Hodaka fun for you.
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