72v Monday Motorbikes Anza: A Detroit-Built Café Racer That Absolutely Rips
July 2, 2023
The Monday Motorbikes Anza already has that clean 1980s café racer silhouette that makes me do a double-take every time I walk past it. But stock vibes weren’t the goal here.
I wanted a fast, city-usable electric “moped-style” build that still looks right—nothing too sci-fi, nothing too bulky—just a classic frame with serious power and the kind of smoothness that makes you look for excuses to take the long way home.
So I teamed up with Detroit Moped Works and built a 72v Anza that’s equal parts style project and real-world ripper.
A quick word on the build philosophy
This wasn’t about chasing a spec sheet. It was about feel.
I wanted:
Strong acceleration that doesn’t feel twitchy
Stability at higher speed
Brakes that actually match the power
Lighting that makes the bike usable after dark
A finished look that keeps the Anza’s café racer vibe
The Anza’s frame layout gave us room to hide a lot of what usually makes DIY high-voltage builds look messy. That ended up being one of the biggest wins of the whole project.
The 72v swap: where the character change happens
The biggest transformation came from swapping the stock motor to a much more powerful brushless hub motor kit.
On the street, the difference isn’t subtle. The bike goes from “fun electric runabout” to “hold on, this is legit.” Even in the lowest power mode, it jumps up to speed fast enough that I immediately started thinking about traction, brake feel, and how bumpy Detroit alleys really are.
Because the upgraded motor adds significant torque (and a lot of weight), we added custom steel torque arms made at the shop. That’s not an optional detail in my mind—once you start pushing real power through a hub motor, you want the rear end secured like you mean it.
Controller + packaging: keeping the bike clean
We installed a 72v sine wave controller, and the thing I appreciated most wasn’t the power—it was the smoothness.
Power delivery feels controlled instead of choppy, which matters a lot when the bike is capable of genuinely high speeds. It also includes three ride modes (Eco, Normal, Sport), and they actually feel different. I spent time in the low setting first and it was already quick. Normal ramps things up hard. Sport is where it starts feeling like you built something you should probably respect.
The physical size of the controller and all the wiring is real, but the Anza’s faux tank area does an amazing job of hiding the chaos. Once it’s buttoned up, the bike keeps that stock café racer profile instead of looking like a science fair project.
Battery fitment: the real-world struggle that matters
Battery fit is everything on builds like this.
We mounted a 72v battery in the frame using a bike bag solution, then covered and cleaned up the look with custom laser-cut panels (wrapped to match the bike). Up close, you can tell it’s a DIY solution. From normal viewing distance, it looks surprisingly cohesive—and it keeps the frame area from screaming “battery bag strapped to bike.”
Practical note: the first battery option we tried was too tall, so we switched to a pack that fit the frame space better. That’s the reality of conversions—measurements on paper aren’t the same as making it work cleanly in the real world.
Moto tires: the upgrade I’d do again immediately
With this much power, bicycle tires would’ve been the wrong move.
We swapped to Shinko 244 dual sport motorcycle tires with moto tubes, and the bike immediately felt more planted. The grip and durability are exactly what I want for rough streets, debris, and the occasional sketchy patch of pavement.
The handling benefit surprised me most when pushing speed: the bike tracked confidently and didn’t feel nervous the way some lightweight e-moto builds can.
Brakes that match the pace
Fast bikes are only fun if you trust the stop.
We upgraded the rear to a Magura MT5 4-piston setup with a 180mm rotor. The braking feel is controlled and confidence-inspiring—especially important once you realize how quickly this Anza can get up to speed.
I also wired in a motor cut-off tied to braking so I couldn’t accidentally throttle while on the brakes. That’s one of those small details that makes a high-power build feel safer and more refined.
Lighting + 12v step-down: usability after dark
To make the bike night-ride capable, I installed a 72v-to-12v step-down converter and powered:
An LED headlight bar
Frame/strip lighting
An LED tail light
The result isn’t just “cool”—it’s practical. You’re visible, you can see where you’re going, and the bike looks right at night without going overboard.
Ergonomics: bars, pedals, and the little stuff
The stock bars put me in a low stance that looks cool but gets old fast when the speeds climb.
We swapped to Puch-style Maxi handlebars, and the riding position instantly felt more comfortable and more in control. At speed, that upright leverage matters.
I also added a few styling touches that fit the build:
Gold chain for visual pop
Vintage-inspired (Vespa-style) pedals
None of that makes it faster, but it makes the bike feel more like a finished object instead of a collection of parts.
First ride in Detroit: fast, smooth, and way more stable than I expected
The first real rip told me everything.
Even in the lowest mode, it surged to the low 20s mph in basically no distance. Normal mode hits hard—mid 30s mph showed up fast. When I finally opened it up, I saw speeds into the 50+ mph range during testing.
What stood out most:
Acceleration is strong, but smooth (sine wave controller earns its keep)
The bike feels stable at speed with the moto tires
The hardtail chassis is more comfortable than I expected, especially on decent pavement
You feel the road—there’s no hiding that—but it never felt out of control
The Anza frame handled the power without feeling sketchy. It genuinely feels like a solid platform for a high-voltage build if you respect the torque and build it responsibly.
What We Like
Wild performance jump with the 72v setup
Smooth power delivery that’s easy to modulate
Shinko moto tires make the bike feel planted and durable
Brake upgrade feels appropriate for the speeds
The faux tank hides wiring and keeps the classic café look
Lighting upgrade makes it a legit night rider
Things To Consider
This is real speed. It demands real judgment, real safety gear, and a careful setup
The bigger motor adds noticeable weight, especially at the rear
Packaging a battery cleanly takes trial-and-error (fitment isn’t always straightforward)
DIY aesthetics are always a balance; the custom side panels help a lot, but it’s not factory
Pedal assist hardware was installed, but without a display it didn’t appear to function as-is
Final Thoughts
This 72v Monday Anza build turned into one of those projects that feels better than the plan.
It kept the vintage café racer vibe I love about the Anza, but now it has the kind of acceleration and top-end that makes it feel like a completely different class of machine. More importantly, it’s not just fast—it’s fun and composed, with braking and tire choices that make the speed feel usable instead of scary.
If you’re looking for a platform that can be built into something genuinely exciting without losing its style, the Anza absolutely delivers—especially with a thoughtful 72v setup and the right supporting mods.
Links
Detroit Moped Works: https://detroitmopedworks.com/
Monday Anza: https://detroitmopedworks.com/product/monday-motorbikes-anza-2022
Shinko Fat Tire Pack: https://detroitmopedworks.com/product/shinko-fat-tire-pack
NBPower 72v Motor + Controller Kit: https://amzn.to/3NWQ8WU
Power Lithium 72V Neptune Battery: https://powerfullithium.com/products/72v-neptune-battery-for-ariel-x-class
Battery Bike Bag: https://amzn.to/43oivlD
Cinch Straps: https://amzn.to/3XwiZop
Magura MT5 Rear Brake: https://amzn.to/3PE2xQQ
180mm Brake Rotor: https://amzn.to/448s9dc
72v to 12v Stepdown: https://amzn.to/3JImPVw
Headlight Bar: https://amzn.to/3XwiZop
Headlight Brackets: https://amzn.to/3PItdjs
LED Tail Light: https://amzn.to/3K3I5Wf
LED Strip Lights: https://amzn.to/3Nzw4su
Light Switch: https://amzn.to/3NzMG3g
8 AWG Power Cables: https://amzn.to/43oivlD
Black Gloss Vinyl: https://amzn.to/3PItm6u
Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
Veeape Electric Air Pump: https://amzn.to/3LPLTf9
Lamicall Bike Phone Mount: https://amzn.to/3LXmD6O
Onvian Wireless Bike Alarm: https://amzn.to/42KUgyE
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/