In July, an engineering student in Florida was seen showcasing an electric motorcycle he had built almost completely out of recycled wood.
Reed Curry said he built the bike because he was having transportation issues; he needed a way to get to and from school, as he had no car. Turning wood and his needs into a remarkable innovation, Curry handcrafted a fully functional, all-electronic wooden motorcycle he calls the “wooden horse”.
Using cedar, oak wood, and other materials from his local Home Depot, Curry said he has been riding the bike for more than a year now. His viral motorcycle comes with a 2000-watt motor, hydraulic brakes, and has a top speed of 35 MPH, according to this report.
“This bike isn’t a masterpiece, it’s not even my main project—it’s just my daily commute. I’ve been riding on this rig for over a year, it’s still a work in progress, and I didn’t make this with the intention of blowing up,” Curry shared on Instagram. “When I say ‘I’m just a guy’, I’m no genius! Anything you see that’s good in me came from God! Please understand this. Thank you for all the support.”
A TikTok video by William Langston helped Curry’s invention reach a wider audience. The two met when Curry approached Langston to make inquiries about recycled wood.
“I was disassembling pallets when Reed approached me looking for wood,” Langston told Storyful. “We began talking about how he built his wooden e-bike out of necessity.”
In the TikTok video filmed by Langston, Curry is seen displaying his incredible invention while explaining that the bike is only to help him get around.
After the video went viral, Langston created a GoFundMe to help Curry purchase a new vehicle.
“I’m still in school, so I can’t turn this into a full business just yet. I went to school so I can build, but I ended up just getting swamped with math. I wish I could just build all day, but there are priorities and people I’m accountable to,” Curry wrote on Instagram.
“Thank you so much for supporting me to get this truck, I can’t express how much that’ll help me with future projects. If I get a cheap truck, I’ll put the rest of the money into developing the next bike (if I’m allowed to do that). I will be making version 2.0, so stay tuned!”
Curry is now among several young people in Black communities creating innovative solutions to fulfil a need or help make the world a better place. They have all managed to thrive and succeed even in the face of hurdles including lack of support to fund their ideas due to years of racial discrimination.
The video below shows Curry displaying his viral invention:
