What’s the hardest part of converting a classic motorcycle to electric" You might think it’s sourcing an appropriate drivetrain, or wedging it into a chassis designed for an internal combustion engine. Sure, those are all notable challenges?but the real trick, is pulling it off without ruining the bike’s vintage aesthetic.
Amateur bike builder Danny Mantyla has it all figured it out. He’s just treated this 1967 Honda CA160 Dream to an electric motor swap. And he’s done it so well, that it arguably looks even cooler than it used to.

“One night I was showing my wife a picture of a Yamaha XS650 and a red Honda CA160,? Danny tells us, ?and I asked her which one she liked best. She said the Honda, but only if it was black. That night I woke up in my sleep and started looking at Craigslist for no particular reason.? ?And then I found it! A black Honda CA160. I bought it the very next day for $500.?

Thanks to a decade spent sitting in a barn, the Dream’s engine was completely seized. A busted engine, and a stamped frame good for hiding wires, are good ingredients for an electric conversion. But Danny had more than one reason for the swap.
?I wanted my wife to be able to ride a motorcycle alongside me, but she doesn’t know how or want to learn how to use a manual transmission,? he explains. ?She is also really sensitive to the smell of gasoline and exhaust fumes, and she hates loud motorcycles with a burning passion. So thi...