Motorcycles

Hanebrink Hustler X5 electric bike has top speed of over 80 mph, 200+ mile range

Hanebrink Hustler X5 electric bike has top speed of over 80 mph, 200+ mile range
Hanebrink has unveiled the Hustler X5 electric bike, a competition class street racer capable of speeds over 80 mph and with a range in excess of 200 miles
Hanebrink has unveiled the Hustler X5 electric bike, a competition class street racer capable of speeds over 80 mph and with a range in excess of 200 miles
View 8 Images
The Hanebrink Hustler X5 features inverted triple clamp coil/hydraulic front forks with seven inches of travel and monocoque swing arm rear suspension with air adjustable hydraulic shocks
1/8
The Hanebrink Hustler X5 features inverted triple clamp coil/hydraulic front forks with seven inches of travel and monocoque swing arm rear suspension with air adjustable hydraulic shocks
The 20 x 8 x 8-inch rear wheel has a tubeless fat tire while the 120/80 x 14 front wheel gets a Moto GP tire
2/8
The 20 x 8 x 8-inch rear wheel has a tubeless fat tire while the 120/80 x 14 front wheel gets a Moto GP tire
The bike's aerodynamic design is said to greatly improve speed, range, safety and comfort, and also provides convenient compartments for storage
3/8
The bike's aerodynamic design is said to greatly improve speed, range, safety and comfort, and also provides convenient compartments for storage
Hanebrink has unveiled the Hustler X5 electric bike, a competition class street racer capable of speeds over 80 mph and with a range in excess of 200 miles
4/8
Hanebrink has unveiled the Hustler X5 electric bike, a competition class street racer capable of speeds over 80 mph and with a range in excess of 200 miles
The bike features a Crystalyte 5303 Mid Motor and 14-speed transmission
5/8
The bike features a Crystalyte 5303 Mid Motor and 14-speed transmission
The eye-catching Hanebrink Hustler X5 electric bike
6/8
The eye-catching Hanebrink Hustler X5 electric bike
The bike has operable pedals and can be pedaled, with the belly pan of the fairing removed
7/8
The bike has operable pedals and can be pedaled, with the belly pan of the fairing removed
Close up of the Hustler X5's pedals
8/8
Close up of the Hustler X5's pedals
View gallery - 8 images

In addition to providing excellent traction on slippery slopes and sandy dunes, the chunky tires of Hanebrink pedal-electric bikes have also become something of a trademark look for the company. Change is in the air though, as signified by the launch of a new website and the addition of a new model to the family. The Hustler X5 electric street bike has the look of a small motorcycle and is capable of speeds in excess of 80 mph (128 km/h), yet also sports some pedals hidden behind the removable lower portion of the fairing.

CEO and Hustler X5's designer Dan Hanebrink told us that his latest creation is "a very capable street electric two-wheeler, able to keep up with and ahead of normal car traffic on city streets and highways. Massive battery capacity, and advanced electronics allow the rider to select power modes for any jurisdiction or situation."

The bike features a Crystalyte 5303 Mid Motor and 14-speed transmission
The bike features a Crystalyte 5303 Mid Motor and 14-speed transmission

The 120-pound (54-kg) X5 has a dual suspension monocoque chassis with 6061-T6 aircraft-grade seamless aluminum tubing and a watertight sheet aluminum box section that houses the four Li-ion Nickel Manganese Cobalt liquid-cooled AllCell batteries.

Hanebrink says that the battery pack can provide a 200+ mile (321 km) range and a top speed of over 80 mph in competition mode. The battery packs and controllers are custom made to suit the needs of the individual customer.

The bike features a Crystalyte 5303 Mid Motor, 14-speed transmission, inverted triple clamp coil/hydraulic front forks with seven inches (177 mm) of travel and monocoque swing arm rear suspension with air adjustable hydraulic shocks. The bike's creator states that, "optional adjustable offset triple clamp forks allow the rider to adjust for corner entry reaction from very quick to very stable, or anywhere in between."

There's Avid hydraulic disc braking at the rear and Brembo four piston hydraulic disc brakes to the front, and the 20 x 8 x 8-inch rear wheel has a tubeless fat tire while the 120/80 x 14 front wheel gets a Moto GP tire.

"The aero design of the bodywork greatly benefit speed, range, safety, and comfort, and provides convenient compartments to carry needed items," claims Hanebrink. "The bike has operable pedals, and can be pedaled, with the belly pan of the fairing removed. Pedaling does, however, reduce the range and speed (efficiency) of the bike (in a pedaling position, the increased aero drag more than cancels out the benefit of pedaling)."

The bike has operable pedals and can be pedaled, with the belly pan of the fairing removed
The bike has operable pedals and can be pedaled, with the belly pan of the fairing removed

Despite the sharp-looking edges in the photo above, we're assured that there's no conflict between the rider's legs and the fairing when the lower part is detached with a coin (via six Dzus quarter-turn captive fasteners) and removed for pedal mode.

On the question of the X5's street legal status, Hanebrink told us that "the benefit of a legal electric bicycle is, of course, that it does not require registration, drivers license, or special motorcycle permit, etc. and can be operated where motorcycles are not permitted (National Forest, BLM land, and so on). The owner can register it as a motorcycle, if desired, and benefit from applicable tax rebates."

"There are two operating modes – Legal and Competition. The fact that a vehicle is capable of higher speeds does not in any way imply that the operator intends to break the law. Look at any car or motorcycle on the road today, some of which can exceed 200 mph. The rider may choose pedaling, or full fairing. Both are legal. The law does not require the rider to pedal, only that the pedals be operable."

Pricing starts at US$16,940 and customers ordering now can expect delivery by the end of March 2013. Each model is built in consultation with the buyer, where custom options like different colors and LED lighting/turn indicators can be selected.

Product page: Hustler X5

View gallery - 8 images
6 comments
6 comments
Michael Crumpton
$16K for a bike that looks like you are a clown riding a 2/3 scale model? I don't even know what to say.
Pikeman
How far can it go at 80 MPH?
awilensky
All these electric crotch rockets, and not ONE touring or standard comfortable bike. None. Cheap scooters, overpriced electric scooters, and bad scooters. Crotch Rocket electrics. No wonder most of these ventures dont last two years.
Phillip Noe
Who are they kidding? It looks like a toy, a $17,000 toy that few adults with that kind of money will pay! I'm STILL waiting for the long-range electric bike built for the typical rider. This isn't it.
Bruce H. Anderson
I would suspect that pedalling this unit would not be very pleasant or effectual based on the rider position.
Ron Sindric
WOW. You have to start somewhere. This IS the future. I guess that if a person is a clown themselves everything looks like a clown-car !