Freesound Customs Transforms BMW R 65 Into Electric Motorcycle
by AutoExpert | 18 August, 2021
The boxer engine of BMW provides one of the most distinctive motorcycle sensations. There is nothing quite like a Bavarian flat-twin, from the thrum of the opposite pistons to the gearbox clamp to the direct power supply of the shaft drive. Electric motors may not be as emotional as a boxer, but the custom BMW R 65 electric motorbike – The Change Of Season – was created by Freesound Customs in Italy to comprise both worlds.
The concept was first shown at the Verona 2020 Motor Bike Expo. The basic components, though, remained with a hollowed-out R 65 Boxer from the early eighties which now houses a 15kW (20-hp) high-performance electric motor.
Freesound's Season Change project likewise has a battery of 72V, but only 20 minutes of full-send enjoyment is provided.
The crew maintained the boxer's clutch and five-speed gearbox intact given the recent electricity mill and power supply. The engineers turned the outboard cylinders 180 degrees without an exhaust system and repositioned the exhaust ports onto auxiliary light mounts. While a Honda CBR600RR back shock is the classic cradle frame of a BMW R 45, it delivers more reaction.
Freesound also brought a new front end along with Harley-Davidson and Ducati OE parts. The makers finalized the Frankenstein creation with a swing arm taken from the BMW R100 GS. Change of Season has a motif of aeronautics that pays homage to the Bavarian brand. The back wheel looks like a three-speed aircraft propeller with a chromium finish. The tail portion also imitates a turbine, particularly when the circular taillight under braking flashes.
The pragmatic frontal blade enhances aerodynamics and has a cut-out in the cockpit design immediately above the bar. While the team likes a polished aluminum treatment, the three-stripe patterns also shift directly to the M performance line of BMW. Change of Season R 65 may not reproduce the boxer engine sensations, but in the modern era of clean emissions, it is a wonderful approach for the clean look of the BMW.
