El Chopper
A Custom Electric Motorcycle You Build From Plans

After admiring El Chopper’s classic styling, you’ll find it a truly pleasant surprise to sit down into the comfortable riding position, grab a handful of throttle (0-30 mph in five seconds), and cruise around town in eerie silence, and with easy handling. The looks alone that you’ll get from kids to yuppies to hard-core bikers will be worth the price of admission!
         El Chopper combines the latest electric vehicle technology with a totally new approach to lightweight transportation. El Chopper combines rugged off-road bicycle wheels, brakes, and suspension with a high-power electric vehicle motor, controller and inexpensive, readily available batteries to achieve a very long-range, high-performance, 30-mph-class machine. El Chopper is designed to accommodate Harley-Davidson seats, tanks, and other accessories to personalize your machine with off-the-shelf parts. The unique, single-shock rear suspension, Harley seat, and off-the-shelf front forks provide pure comfort for around-town cruising. An assortment of battery, gearing, and cargo-carrying options are possible to adjust to your individual needs.
        This class of vehicle typically does not require a motorcycle drivers license, and is easy to register, insure, and ride (check your local state regulations).
         El Chopper’s design evolved from several generations of electric scooter predecessors that were tested and improved through extensive electric vehicle racing.
        Technical information is included in this Builder's Guide to give the reader a sense of why  El Chopper is built the way it is, and how to customize El Chopper for a variety of uses.  An introduction to vehicle dynamics and electric vehicle technology is also included.  This give the reader a basic understanding of electric vehicles, and how to apply electric vehicle components. 
         You can build El Chopper in your garage for about $1,000!  Building El Chopper is primarily a frame building and assembly project. If you have done simple steel welding, you’ll find that the frame is very easy to build using materials from your local hardware store. If you do not have welding skills or access to welding equipment, you can have the frame built by taking the frame drawings and Builder’s Guide to a local welding shop. 
         Most of the components for El Chopper are available at local hardware, discount, auto, and bicycle stores, and your local Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealer. The motor, controller, throttle, chain, and sprockets are available from mail-order/web electric vehicle component suppliers and go-cart suppliers.
         The design accommodates a variety of motor, controller, and battery options. Sources for hard-to-find and critical parts are listed in the Vendor List section of the plans.
         Harley-Davidson parts may be purchased from your local H-D dealer or after-market parts dealers. Many of these parts (tanks, seats, pegs, mirrors, etc.) will bolt right onto El Chopper. 
         El Chopper has a unique single-shock rear suspension design that, along with a standard mountain bike front fork, provides a comfortable around-town ride. The single-shock rear suspension incorporates a mountain bike’s rear shock, spring, and pivot bushings to keep the parts cost down by using off-the-shelf components.  
         El Chopper’s low saddle height (23”) and adjustable foot peg position accommodate riders from 4’9” to 6’7” tall.