無WEI21 ELECTRIC BICYCLE
YEAR
SPRING 2021
MATERIAL
CHROMOLY TUBINGS, SHEET ALUMINUM & BICYCLE COMPONENTS
The goal of this project is to create a full-size electric bicycle frame that took inspiration from both classic steel road bikes and modern downhill bikes in 12 weeks. For the astatic of the bicycle, the goal is to create a retro-modern e-bike that integrates both more modern components and classic bicycle parts.
Testing the bike's electric drive
WEEK 1
Mood Board
Concept Sketches
The Design Drivers of My Envisioned Electric Bicycle are:
•Cyberpunk
•Wasteland Design
•Retro
WEEK 2
Rough Model
WEEK 3
Modified Model
WEEK 4
Welding Jig
First Week of Welding Practice @DeathMetalWerks
WEEK 8
Welding Front Triangle
WEEK 10
Welding Pivot Point & Suspension Pivot Arms
WEEK 11
Welding Swing Arm (Seat Stay & Chain Stay)
WEEK 12
Disc Brake Mount & Suspension Mount
WEEK 13
Braze-On Supports
WEEK 17
Braze-On Cable Guide & Water Bottle Bosses
WEEK 18
Sheet Aluminum Battery Housing Fabrication
WEEK 19
Full Bike Assembly & Wiring
WEEK 20
Frame paint design
With the 3D model of the frameset I created, I used keyshot and played around with different colors, in the end, I settled on the design shown below.
WEEK 21
Sand Blasting & Priming Frameset
WEEK 22
Frame Painting
WEEK 22
I used Rust-Oleum galaxy blue color shift spray can and it created a fantastic result
WEEK 23
Applying Vinyl Decals & Clear Coat
WEEK 25
Final Assembly
I brought my finished bike to Firefly in Boston, one of the most famous custom bike-building companies in the world, to ask for their feedback and learn from their experience. Firefly test-rode my bike and told me, 'The geometry looks a little weird at first, but man, the bike rides like a cloud!'
Thank you for your time checking out my whole process on this bike.
In the end, I want to express my deepest appreciation to Scott and Kyle @DeathMetalWerks. Without them, none of this would have been possible. They not only taught me how to weld but also introduced me to the real world of fabrication, showing me how things truly work beyond the bubble created by school.
A huge thanks to Jack Zhou, a super talented illustrator, for creating all the illustrations on the bike.
A massive thank you to Max @PrattFramework, who guided me through the entire process and patiently answered all my silly questions.
Big thanks to the Rhode Island School of Design Industrial Design Metal Shop for allowing me to continue working on the bike throughout the summer.
As I reflect on this journey, I am incredibly grateful for everyone who supported me, provided guidance, and critiqued my work. This bike has its flaws, but the experience has been invaluable. I’ve learned so much throughout the process, and it has been truly priceless for me as both a designer and a maker.