Are you looking for the world’s quietest minibike or pit bike? Look no further, this 1973 Auranthetic Charger EV Minibike is it! This small and silent battery-powered bike is listed on eBay with a current (no pun intended) bid of $720 and over two days left on the auction. It can be found in Fort Washington, Maryland, but you probably don’t want to try to ride this one home.
This little battery-powered minibike weighs much more than I do, 210 pounds, with the batteries installed. The throttle isn’t what you’d expect it to be as with a gas-powered motorcycle. This one has two speeds, the first small twist/click starts you out on the first, slower speed (they’re both slow, really). Another twist/click and you’re in “high” gear, which is only 25-30 mph with its 1 hp motor, but that’s apparently fast enough that this is actually street-legal! Is it street safe? Probably not, but I’m not sure if any motorcycle is really street safe these days with so many distracted drivers out there. This mini bike is made for what the seller says he uses it for, tooling around flea markets and at car shows, or just heading to the store a few blocks away. The seller says that it “will run nicely all weekend on a full charge, with 2 speeds, 12 volts, and 24 volts.”
Even though it weighs 210 pounds, you’d probably still want to lock it up on your neighborhood grocery store, coffee shop, or hardware store runs. It’ll take a couple of beefy guys to lift it into the back of a pickup, but I wouldn’t put that past anyone. This particular example seems to be listed on a couple of different sites, and one of them says that they just got it a few days ago for $300 so I’m not really sure what’s going on with it, which is scary since I’m the high bidder. Although, in talking with the seller they’re very much on the up and up. I have no clue what I would use this for, but it’s wacky enough that I want it. Does this weird little battery-powered minibike give anyone else a charge?
Oh, yes! This is the perfect pit bike for LeMons races!
good fun until you try to lean it into a corner and drag something like the pegs, side stand, motor or battery box. is the left side handlebar mounted lever for the clutch or brake? i’m not riding it but still a great find.
Jim,
Here’s a video of the seller riding this unusual bike. It looks like there’s a decent amount of clearance, and he’s a big guy.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6ZCYuEOrE7DUUw3SU01OEgyaTVtNVlOOWdfZTJabDREV1pr/view?usp=sharing
yes the lean angle does look much better in the video. thank you.
I’d look into today’s modern battery technology and swap it out. Probably increase run time and drop 50 pounds from the weight.
I like it. Good luck with the auction.
I knew a guy in 1972-73 that had one of these. He rode it at least five miles a day commuting to school. He plugged it in when he got there and rode it all winter. He looked kind of odd wearing his garbage bags rain suit.
It was very quiet, but not too fast. Quite a few times I passed him while driving my 1962 Chrysler 300, 383 with three on the floor, while he was riding in the bike lane saving the planet.
Cool find, but as with all electric vehicles, the batteries are the achilles heal. I knew someone with an electric garden tractor, but again, same thing. It was too heavy and battery range was not enough, then it took like 2 days to charge the batteries. I’d think this would be good indoors, like a factory or warehouse, but not on the road.
love the fact that they kept the fuel tank style
I find your puns on current and charge re-volting! You do seem amped up on it though! Your resistance is low when finding these jems.
Have a fara-day!
Sold, for $965.60 to some tall, skinny lunkhead in Minnesota..
So have you taken it for a ride yet?
I have the frame, gas tank, and seat. Does anyone know how to get parts?
there is one on craigslist now in sacramento.
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/mcy/d/auranthetic-charger-electric/6404914220.html