An Indiana college student succeeded in building a solar-powered motorcycle - and he's already working on a sequel with a longer range and more power.

The 1978 Suzuki belonging to Tony Danger Coiro, a physics major at Purdue University, hits top speed at 45 miles per hour and 24-miles-worth of distance. Not bad for a $50 initial investment, followed by $2,500-worth of redesigning and retrofitting.

"The riding experience is surreal," the junior said, according to Purdue University News Service. "I get instant, silent, constant acceleration that outpaces urban traffic. It's like riding a magic carpet."

He and two friends established the Purdue Electric Vehicles Club, and his next project already is underway. He's designing a 100-horsepower motorcycle capable of traveling as far as 100 miles per charge. He aspires to have this next bike exceed 100 miles per hour, drawing even more of its energy from the sun.

"I've learned a lot building this first bike, and now I'm ready to make a game-changer," Coiro said.