Rock music and motorcycles have had a very close relationship over the decades. In fact, many motorcycle models have directly influenced this musical genre from the 1960s to the present. But there are also cases in which the link is reversed, that is, motorcycles that are inspired by music.
One of those cases is the Electric Ladyland that you can see in the images. The German Jürgen Becker, a specialist when it comes to custom motorcycles, is the person behind this curious project. His goal was to combine his passions for rock and motorcycles into a unique piece that would capture the essence and electrifying energy of the music of that musical genre.
The name of the last studio album by electric guitar legend Jimi Hendrix with his band 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience', released in 1968, was christened Electric Ladyland. This album establishes a clear connection between electric guitars and electric motors. For his part, Becker regards this album as emblematic of the vibrant rock-and-roll era and has sought to bring it into the world of two wheels.
To do this, he has taken as a base a 1955 Minsk M1A, a post-war Russian replica of the legendary German DKW RT 125 that was in production between the 1930s and 1950s. The particular unit, which has been renamed Electric Ladyland and on which the electrical transformation has been carried out, was abandoned once the German Democratic Republic came to an end.
This peculiar creation maintains the chassis and bodywork of the Minsk M1A of almost 70 years ago, including the telescopic fork, the single seat with springs and the rigid rear end. It also retains the original rudimentary 19-inch wheels and the drum brake that it was equipped with at the time, although the latter has been reconditioned to offer greater safety on the road.
Jürgen Becker hasn't changed the worn-out look of the retro motorcycle, but has transformed it into an electric one by stripping out the original 2-stroke single-cylinder engine and replacing it with a 10 kW electric motor produced by Revolt. The new motor has been installed on the right side of the rear wheel and is connected to it.
A 45 Ah lithium-ion battery powers the system. Said battery is integrated in a casing specifically designed by Becker himself and made of metal that has an appearance that does not clash at all with the general aesthetics of the motorcycle. After modifications, this customized vehicle is capable of a top speed of 100 km/h.
Some modern elements have also been integrated into its construction, such as the blue backlit Daytona speedometer and battery indicator. A relevant detail in terms of design has been to place all the electronics inside the fuel tank so as not to alter the classic appearance of the motorcycle.
As a climax, it should be noted that the Electric Ladyland has a connector to connect an electric guitar to the vehicle. To remember the music of Jimi Hendrix that has inspired the creator of this retro electric motorcycle, all you have to do is take a look at the video that accompanies this article.
