Single-sided front swingarm could steer the way to better motorcycle handling

The advantages for hub centre steering are best seen by changing not just the geometry of the front end, but the whole concept of how to build a motorcycle. One of the inherent advantages of this type of front end that has only rarely been seen is the ability to make the frontal shapes that are optimised for low frontal area, drag and improved aerodynamics.

At the present moment `modern` motorcycles represent a level of advance somewhat akin to the early air racers of the late twenties. Massively powerful engines, but all the aerodynamics of a house brick.

This is nowhere near innovative, as even this has been before. What is really needed is a fresh approach to motorcycle design - why not take advantage of the single-sided systems front and rear to put the pivot point for the rear swingarm where the front is, and vice versa? All the benefits of long wheelbase, none of the demerits. Why not seat the rider in a semi-reclined position, back braced and hip positioned in the ideal ergonomic relationship, as defined by billions of dollars of research into high-g fighter jets? This would also enable a much more aerodynamic bodywork package. Performance is no use in this modern, fuel-scarce age unless it comes with massively improved fuel consumption. Drag increases as a square of the speed. So to go faster you need to reduce drag. Lower drag means less fuel need be carried for a given range. Fuel represents a major element of mass centralisation and weight distribution in a modern sporting motorcycle. Reduce the fuel load and you make a lighter bike, which accelerates faster. A longer swingarm would enable reduced lift under acceleration, which would enable the bike to accelerate faster, as would 2wd, easily implemented in a single sided front end The HCS permits all this, and som much more, yet this designer does nothing- absolutely nothing - to take advantage of these other elements.

This isn't innovation, it's a shameful waste of computing resouces.

snave

- December 3, 2008 @ 02:12 am PST

What I disagree with in the article is this statement:

"buyers, however, have generally resisted change to the trusty forked front end. BMW's telelever front suspension has been the only commercially successful alternative in recent years - and possibly mainly because its workings hide behind the bikes' bodywork and the system looks pretty much like a set of forks."

As if we're just too stupid to recognise progress. Noooo. IMO It's the because designs so far have not proven thier merit in terms of performance, cost and complexity when compared conventional forks. Not to mention if the performance was trully superior; race teams would be using them.

Much like essentially all current alternative energy automobiles...

Jim

- December 3, 2008 @ 08:12 am PST

Finally - a "modern motorcycle". I'm still riding a 1979 sport bike and I love it but this might be reason enough to buy something more modern. I'm not at all happy with the crouched riding position, and forget reclined seating, I'll gladly stay with my current setup - my level seat allows me pelenty of options from sitting up to crouched forward - freedom to move around, I'm not shoved up against the tank by a highly sloped seat and I don't drive on a race track. All that aside, I like this - while it isn't novel (there have been several front swingarm designs proposed) it is certainly innovative in execution.

Bring it on - maybe Ducatti will build one.

Gruid

- December 4, 2008 @ 12:12 pm PST