80s-Style Electric: Black Tea Bonfire

Electric Runabout from Munich’s Loose Screw… 

Viktor of Black Tea Motorbikes designed, developed, and assembled his first prototype while still a university student. He originally intended to build what would be an e-bike without pedals, but it soon became clear he had an electric motorcycle on his hands.

Fast forward a few years, and Black Tea Motorbikes has two models: Bonfire and Wildfire. The Bonfire has a peak output of up to 15 kW (~20 bhp), a maximum speed of 115 km/h (71 mph), a range of 95 km (60 miles), weighs less than 200 lbs, and charges in about 4 hours.

Our buddy Enrico of Munich’s Loose Screw — whose street-legal Yamaha MX360 two-stroke we recently featured — wanted something a bit less testy for covering short distances around the urban jungle.

“I wanted a small narrow bike for the city. A daily commuter with the option of being able to easily pack things like a laptop, cell phone, or small items from the supermarket.”

Street-Legal Smoker: Yamaha MX360

 

Starting with a 2022 Bonfire, he replaced the tank with a modified KTM Pony unit whose interior has been enlarged and covered in black light paint that glows from a set of UV LEDs — perfect for night rides.

The front and rear fenders, belly guard, bolt-on rear loop, and custom side panels were developed in-house. One side panel was designed for a removable bag, the other for holding a rain jacket or beach towel.

Ralf and Sylvana from Sattlerei SAM did up the custom seat, while Viktoria from Vaim.me laid down the 80s inspired paint.

“It’s kind of like a bicycle but without the pedaling. It’s ideal for getting through traffic quickly and easily in the city. Small and light enough to squeeze through every gap but also fast enough to get away easily at traffic lights.”

It’s also the perfect mount for Reload.Land, Berlin’s electric motorcycle festival, which is hosting a “Silent Ride” in Paris this week (June 28).

“With a rideout with over 100 bikes that is so quiet that you can talk to the person next to you while riding, even without a headset.” -Enrico

Below is our full interview Enrico about the build, along with more photos from Gusti Auer (www.augustauer.com). 

Builder Interview

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

It’s a Black Tea Bonfire from 2022. Blacktea is a small brand from Munich that builds electric motorcycles.

• Why was this bike built?

I wanted a bike with which I could cover short distances in the city easily and quickly without having to use one of the old carburetor motorcycles. I built it primarily for myself and the way I would have liked the Black Tea bike to be.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

I wanted a small narrow bike for the city. A daily commuter with the option of being able to easily pack things like a laptop, cell phone, or small items from the supermarket.

The paintjob was again a collaboration with Viktoria from Vaim.me, with whom we actually do all the elaborate paint jobs. We both had the feeling that all the electric bikes were missing the 80s. I think she managed that very well.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

• The tank was replaced by a rebuilt tank from a KTM Pony where the inner compartment was enlarged and painted with black light so that it glows at night through the UV LEDs inside. (Actually a completely pointless gimmick. Hahaha.)
• Front and rear mudguards designed in-house
• Lamp conversion to Koso Thunderbolt
• Seat custom-made by Sattlerei SAM from Munich
• Side panels with one side designed for a removable bag and the other for storing a bath towel, rain jacket or the like
• Underride guard
• Bolt-on loop to match the angular design of the bike.
• Indicators and rear light on Kellermann Atto
• Almost all parts (except seat and tank) have been developed to fit plug & play on every Blacktea Bonaire.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

Not, not really. Just call it the ebike.

• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?

I had one of the very first models. So think it had 5-8KW and weights 100kg.

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

It’s kind of like a bicycle but without the pedaling. It’s ideal for getting through traffic quickly and easily in the city. Small and light enough to squeeze through every gap but also fast enough to get away easily at traffic lights. Doesn’t have the power of one of the big electric motorcycles but for what it’s made for it’s ideal.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

I think the combination of tank and seat is very successful. But it wouldn’t be half as good without the unusual color scheme.

 

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

• I think I’ve already mentioned this a lot, but thanks go to Viktoria from Vaim.me for the great job with the paintwork.
• Ralf and Sylvana from Sattlerei SAM for the seat
• And of course Viktor from Blacktea for the collaboration on the project.

Reload.Land for giving the electric scene, both stock and custom, a platform and thus always putting on a unique event with full dedication. With a rideout with over 100 bikes that is so quiet that you can talk to the person next to you while riding, even without a headset.

Follow the Builder

Builder: LooseScrew: loosescrew.de | @loose__screw
Bike: www.blackteamotorbikes.com
Paint: Vaim.me
Seat: Sattlerei SAM: sattlerei-sam.de | @sattlereisam
Photography: Gusti Auer: www.augustauer.com

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