“It goes without saying that the desire to accomplish the task with more confidence, to avoid wasting time and labour, and to spare our experimental animals as much as possible, made us strictly observe all the precautions taken by surgeons in respect to their patients.” - Ivan Pavlov

A parallel often drawn in my mind as I watch the workshop at Shandoka, is this reflected truth between our relationship with mechanical power and the famous Pavlov's dog experiment in the late 19th century. Ivan Pavlov's revolutionary work demonstrated how conditioned responses could be cultivated over time. He trained dogs to associate the sound of a bell with the anticipation of food, which made them salivate upon hearing the bell, even when the food was removed from the equation.

This powerful demonstration of conditioning parallels our human journey into mechanophilia - the pure unwavering love of mechanical things. Over several decades, we have been psychologically conditioned to associate the powerful roar of a combustion engine with our own personal command of mechanical power. This intricate association began over a hundred years ago when we substituted our reliable, grass-eating (solar powered) equine companions with mechanical horses -- vehicles for transportation of people and stuff that offered superior speed and utility but required more upkeep and a certain liquid fuel to make them go.

This conditioning process expanded unabated for more than a century, deeply ingraining in us a connection between the rumbling symphony of a combustion engine and the raw, unbridled power at our disposal. It's an association so deeply fixated in our psyches that the rhythmic pulsations of the engine can make our hearts dance to their beats. The mere thought of this intoxicating roar is often enough to evoke a visceral sense of excitement and anticipation: much like the Pavlovian response, some of us humans actually drool at the sound of a finely tuned engine (myself included).

This mental and emotional link between the percussive thumping of an engine and raw power sparked an unprecedented surge of creativity, particularly surrounding the mechanical beast known as the piston engine. The explosion of creativity has given birth to an impressive array of motorcycles, each a unique manifestation of human ingenuity, aesthetics, and desire for speed and power.

Motorcycle rallies are dynamic places where this overflow of creativity takes physical form. A seasoned mechanic can learn a lot about a builder's skill and attention to detail merely by listening to the sound of the machine. The engine's auditory signature is an undeniable testimony to the builder's proficiency - regardless of the motorcycle's aesthetics, if it produces a subpar sound, its performance is likely to follow suit. Even those machines that don't run usually have a captivating tale to tell, adding richness to the patchwork quilt of the motorcycle community.

These builders you meet at a rally are some of the most intellectually curious and creatively inclined folks you will ever encounter. The process of transforming a basic thought into a tangible reality, sketching that idea from the canvas of our minds and crafting it with our hands using bare materials, is arguably one of the most distinctly human activities we engage in. The successful execution of this process, culminating in a functioning machine that can transport us through the world, requires a level of insight, creativity, and technical understanding that few people possess in our modern times.

While many electric motorcycle builders resort to mimicry and camouflage in an attempt to gain acceptance from a traditional biker scene they struggle to comprehend fully, the team at Shandoka is on a different path. We are leveraging our technical strengths and embracing the ethos of traditional craftsmanship, all the while paying homage to the artistry involved in metalworking, mechanical creativity, and comprehensive design visioning. Our ultimate goal is to create an indisputably badass electric motorcycle that stands proudly on its own mettle.

In our quest to forge a new path in motorcycle design, we believe it's crucial not to confine our electric drive technology to a form that was conceived and perfected from the physical demands of a different technology. Our objective is to create a distinctive image for our creations, to build machines that bear their own unique integrity, without completely uprooting the expectations and sensibilities of the existing motorcycle community.

So, as we embark on this thrilling journey to tame once more the beast we ride, arm yourself with your favorite wrenches and strap those gloves on tight - we're in for an unforgettable ride.

V-Twin Vern

Resident Grumbler at Shandoka

If you're thinking about riding an electric motorcycle after reading this... how about ringing our bell? Follow This Link and place a reservation for a full custom build or the Ninja 250 package and take the first step to retrain your inner Pavlov.

Our personal shopper will help you with the rest.

P.S. Watch the video below to see some of the first rides.

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