ultimate motorbikes

[WiK1d]

Yeah I've received many different explanations of counter steering over the past few months, only one was actually correct and made sense.

On a side note, Buell is closing down. That kinda sucks.

Edit: Missed the CSS part, and, hell yes.

[SykomantiS]

CSS part? Am confuzzled And it sucks about Buell, I thought they were gonna develop and race some or other superbike?

[WiK1d]

Hands up everyone who wants to attend California Superbike School?

There

[SykomantiS]

*slaps forehead* Never saw that one coming

[SykomantiS]

William Woods has designed the “Fallout” as a rather interesting way to pay a tribute to the classic chopper. The reason why we’re saying that is pretty obvious: the thing looks like a streetfighter from the future rather than a chopper. While we have nothing against the designer’s approach, we can’t help noticing how this futuristic motorcycle concept looks like it could become reality right now.

[WiK1d]

DO NOT WANT!

[SykomantiS]

Why not?

[WiK1d]

I don't like the street fighter look

[SykomantiS]

Full fairing type? I used to be like that (till I got my first 750 that was 'n naked 2nd hand that needed some tlc)

[WiK1d]

Well, not entirely. Some nakeds look good, but I don't like streetfighter head lights. The front suspension is cool and whatnot, but is it as responsive and stable as a standard one?

[SykomantiS]

Well, afaik it's actually better- in the sense that you can brake really really hard really late into a turn and pretty far leaned over. There was an article in (either or both) the BikeSA or SuperBike way back when the Bimota Tesi 3D made the news. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but it offers significant advantages specifically in that area.

Also, the headlights remind me of Transformers it's win.

[GreyWolf]

how does that thing steer?

[SykomantiS]

Hub-center steering (HCS) is one of several different types of front end suspension/steering mechanisms used in motorcycles. Hub-center steering is characterized by a swingarm that extends from the bottom of the engine/frame to the centre of the front wheel instead of two forks.

The advantages of using a hub-center steering system instead of a more conventional motorcycle fork are that hub-center steering separates the steering, braking, and suspension functions.

With a fork the braking forces are put through the suspension, a situation that leads to the suspension being compressed, using up a large amount of suspension travel which makes dealing with bumps and other road irregularities extremely difficult. As the forks dive the steering geometry of the bike also changes making the bike more nervous, and inversely on acceleration becomes more lazy. Also, having the steering working through the forks causes problems with stiction, decreasing the effectiveness of the suspension. The length of the typical motorcycle fork means that they act as large levers about the headstock requiring the forks, the headstock, and the frame to be very robust adding to the bike's weight. This change in geometry can actually be a benefit in motorcycles that are used specifically for dirt, such as motocross bikes and the like, in that when a rider enters a corner on the brakes, thus shortening the fork length and decreasing the head angle, he/she can use this change to give him/her sharper corner precision that would not be otherwise possible in a hub-center steering system.

Hub-center steering systems use an arm, or arms, on bearings to allow upward wheel deflection, meaning that there is no stiction, even under braking. Braking forces can be redirected horizontally along these arms (or tie rods) away from the vertical suspension forces, and can even be put to good use to counteract weight shift. Finally, the arms typically form some form of parallelogram which maintains steering geometry over the full range of wheel travel, allowing agility and consistency of steering that forks currently cannot get close to attaining. The hub center steering's achilles heel, however, has been steering feel. Complex linkages tend to be involved in the steering process, and this can lead to slack, vague, or inconsistent handlebar movement across its range.

[SykomantiS]

Gearing Commander

I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it looks solid enough. Either way, it's really interesting

[DarkStar]

[WiK1d]

Gay video, cool bike! 4 cylinder 125? Awesome.

[SykomantiS]

I'm no fan of Yamaha, but damn, that thing looks like fun

[WiK1d]

I'm no fan of Yamaha, but damn, that thing looks like fun

Pretty much a death trap in anything but an open field, but yeah, friggen sweet!

Oh, and, pics of my previous trackday:

[SykomantiS]

Imona go ahead and guess that they re-geared the cr*p out of that thing- it would only be logical to give more acceleration on something like that.

[WiK1d]

Probably yeah, I know I won't like to be going 250+ on dirt.

[SykomantiS]

BMW Concept 6

Fascination, Supremacy and Riding Comfort with Six Cylinders.

Munich. Six-cylinder power units have always had particular appeal, offering not only supreme smoothness and refinement, but also superior power and performance as well as a truly emotional driving - or, in this case, riding - experience. A further point is that the typical sound of a straight-six almost like a turbine is absolutely incomparable, with straight-six power units at BMW having stood for fascinating engine technology in BMW cars for more than seven decades.

[WiK1d]

Doesn't look like it will go around corners very well though. Looks bad a$$ I must say.

Here's a Video clip of it:



And this video is specially for you Syko:



KTM also released a bonkers looking 125 SM

[SykomantiS]

Friggin awesome vid Wik! thanks

[GreyWolf]

@ Wik1d :Am fascinated by your statement about the BMW cornering, how can you tell from just 1 pic?

[WiK1d]

@ Wik1d :Am fascinated by your statement about the BMW cornering, how can you tell from just 1 pic?

Long wheelbase and a big, fat engine?