Potato-potato no more.
Jason Momoa was a classic car and motorcycle enthusiast even before he appeared in Fast X, but he’s no purist.
The Hollywood superstar likes to have his vehicles restored and modified (restomodded) with modern powertrains and tech, and he’s just had a few century-old bikes brought far into the 21st century.
Momoa worked with electric drive conversion specialist Electrogenic to turn three of his 1920s Harley-Davidsons into plug-in hybrids.
The company has developed a rear wheel with a hub motor that can be swapped in and powered by removable batteries stored in panniers. The wheel still has a sprocket that allows it to be powered by either the original internal combustion engine, the electric motor or both simultaneously.
The motor is supplied by Maeving and rated at 15 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque, which is a bit less power and much more torque than the gas engines provide. The batteries each have 2.7 kWh of storage and are good for about 50 miles of riding between charges.
Along with providing silent propulsion on demand, the electric drivetrains work even if the engines won’t start so they are a good backup for the ancient bikes.
Electrogenic converted a 1921 Model FD, a 1924 Model JD and a 1927 Model JD for Momoa, along with two of his Land Rover trucks, which are featured on the new season of his HBO travel show “On The Roam.”
The bikes aren’t one-offs, however. Electrogenic sells a Harley-Davidson FD/JD hybrid conversion kit, that can be installed at home by anyone handy with a bike for $19,500. It is offered in several wheel sizes and entire system adds about 75 pounds and the wheel is equipped with a hydraulic disc brake. The owner can also ship an original wheel to have it equipped with the electric drivetrain.
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