SURGE Electric Motorcycles: Student-Built Electric Motorcycle Project
Our first project is an electric motorcycle build based on a Honda CBR600RR. Starting from a stripped-down frame, our team has designed a custom lithium-ion battery pack, subframe, motor mounting system, drivetrain, and low-voltage electrical architecture in-house. Much of the core hardware has been fabricated and integrated, and the remaining work is focused on final manufacturing, assembly, and system integration.
We’ve done this on a tight budget and with limited resources, which makes this campaign about finishing the bike properly with quality engineering. The goal is to take the project to a complete, well-engineered motorcycle that we can safely test, ride, and learn from, while setting a strong foundation for future builds.
As a new organization, SURGE is still building long-term corporate sponsorship relationships, and receives very limited funding from the university. So far, most of this project has been pushed forward through tight budgets, with a lot of time in the shop. While we’ve had encouraging conversations with industry partners, the reality has been “finish the bike first, then we’ll talk.”
This campaign is what allows us to get there. Finishing this motorcycle is critical not just for the project itself, but for the future of the team. A completed, well-engineered bike gives us something real to show — to sponsors, to industry engineers, and to new members — and helps us turn SURGE into a sustainable, hands-on engineering organization. We’re a team of mechanical, electrical, and software-minded engineers who want to build serious hardware, learn from it, and grow the club into something sustainable.
The funds raised will be used across parts, materials, tools, and testing, some directly to finish the current bike, and some to support our transition into more advanced future projects.
We greatly appreciate your support, and if you’re interested in following our progress or staying connected as the team grows, we’d love to keep in touch. You can find build updates, photos, and more information about SURGE at the links below.
All estimates are approximate, and actual expenditures may vary as the build progresses.
If we do not meet our goal, we will use the funds raised to finish as much of the current motorcycle as possible, prioritizing safety-critical components and the core systems needed to complete and test the bike. Progress may be slower, but we’ll keep building and pushing the project forward with the resources available. Additional funds will allow us to complete the current bike more thoroughly and invest in testing, tools, and infrastructure that set us up for future custom electric superbike builds. Exceeding our goal directly accelerates SURGE’s transition from a first build into a sustainable, long-term engineering team.
Contact Information:
Email Contact: sidm@berkeley.edu
$25
SURGE Supporter
Support the build and be recognized as part of it. Your name will be listed on the SURGE website as a supporter of our first electric motorcycle project.
$100
SURGE Insider
Get behind-the-scenes access to the build. Supporters at this level will receive semesterly insider updates with progress photos, design decisions, and integration notes as the bike comes together.
$500
SURGE Founders Circle
See the bike in person when it’s complete. You’ll be invited to a private SURGE bike preview on campus and recognized as a top supporter of our first build.
