The One Motorcycle Show is an annual exhibition of a certain breed of customized bikes, and as attendees stomped the unexpected snow from their footwear and filed into the Yale Union Laundry Building in downtown Portland, OR last month for the fifth edition of this two-wheeled-centered circus, one machine prompted more quizzical cocking of the head than perhaps any other: the "Baker" from Works Electric.
While it had many of the same elements as its chopper kin in attendance – springer forks with generous rake, a hard-tail frame, heightened handlebars – it seemed to be missing a few things. Something exhaust pipe-like, for instance. Or anything resembling a V-twin. There wasn't even a gas cap to gander on the hand-crafted, aluminum bodywork. That's because this particular expression of road-going freedom doesn't need any of that stuff. It relies on a bank of batteries and an electric motor within its bosom to bring bugs to the teeth of its rider.
Works Electric is, of course, best known for taking the toy out of stand-up scooters and inserting enough awesome to create beastly urban-commute assault vehicles. That continues to be the case and, in fact, the company has a couple new models coming out later this summer that we'll tell you more about soon. The introduction of motorcycles into the mix, though, is something a bit different from that effort.
Co-founder Brad Baker has been building electric motorcycles for some time now, and so it just seemed natural to bring that activity under the Works Electric marquee. Unlike its scooters though, each bike is a custom build, designed around the desires of buyers.
The company can just as easily, though, construct for clients a street tracker or road racer-style machine. Anything, really. They can come with DC or AC drivetrains with output up to 120 hp and 140 mph top speeds. Prices range between $20,000 to $35,000, and each comes jam packed with love and sweat, but no gears.
If you couldn't make it to The One for the "Baker" debut we've got you covered. Check out the gallery above for more than a glimpse through the crowd of something shiny. Better than that, see what the Portland crowd couldn't by scrolling below for video of the bike in electric easy rider action.
While it had many of the same elements as its chopper kin in attendance – springer forks with generous rake, a hard-tail frame, heightened handlebars – it seemed to be missing a few things. Something exhaust pipe-like, for instance. Or anything resembling a V-twin. There wasn't even a gas cap to gander on the hand-crafted, aluminum bodywork. That's because this particular expression of road-going freedom doesn't need any of that stuff. It relies on a bank of batteries and an electric motor within its bosom to bring bugs to the teeth of its rider.
Works Electric is, of course, best known for taking the toy out of stand-up scooters and inserting enough awesome to create beastly urban-commute assault vehicles. That continues to be the case and, in fact, the company has a couple new models coming out later this summer that we'll tell you more about soon. The introduction of motorcycles into the mix, though, is something a bit different from that effort.
Co-founder Brad Baker has been building electric motorcycles for some time now, and so it just seemed natural to bring that activity under the Works Electric marquee. Unlike its scooters though, each bike is a custom build, designed around the desires of buyers.
For example, the "Baker" – every bike is given its own name – follows the iconic chopper formula and is built around a black (with red and purple metal flake) tig-welded frame. It's equipped with a ram air-cooled AC induction motor that puts out 70 horsepower, 85 pound-feet of torque, and is said to top out at 110 miles per hour. This 380-pound bike draws its electrons from a 6.12-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery pack and can travel about 60 mixed miles on a charge. Filling it back up from empty is accomplished in six hours using the on-board 1.1-kW charger. The price tag? About $25,000.The price tag? About $25,000
The company can just as easily, though, construct for clients a street tracker or road racer-style machine. Anything, really. They can come with DC or AC drivetrains with output up to 120 hp and 140 mph top speeds. Prices range between $20,000 to $35,000, and each comes jam packed with love and sweat, but no gears.
If you couldn't make it to The One for the "Baker" debut we've got you covered. Check out the gallery above for more than a glimpse through the crowd of something shiny. Better than that, see what the Portland crowd couldn't by scrolling below for video of the bike in electric easy rider action.
Featured Gallery Works Electric Chopper
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