Strange bike

[John Hopkins]

Most of you will have seen this and I can't see how it would ever go over a speed bump, but what do you think of it?

http://www.amusingplanet.com/2009/01/motorcycle-without-spoke-wheels.html

John

[Grav]

That bike is a few years old now, John. It was the cause of a bit of a tiff between Mike Brown, it's builder and another custom bike builder Billy Lane over who actually built the first hubless wheeled bike. Mr Brown won that argument I believe. It's had a new coat of paint by the looks of it and looks better than ever.

[John Hopkins]

It looks like engineering for the sake of it.

Maybe it is bulletproof and I am wrong about it but how do you think it would have stood up to a long run over variable terrain.

I don't mean as rough as Long way down, but say a trip to Poland.

I think it's something to be admired at a show or rally.

but what do the rest of you think?

John

[Sir Ewok]

The leading edge of the tyre would hit the (Speed) bump first and the forks would lift before grounding. However on rough terrain it would be a different story as the bumps are more varied in height and length. It would be OK for long distance touring in the US or any modern road system , so that leaves GB out.....

[Grav]

It's built for American highway cruising, John. Long straights with wide sweeping bends are a doddle on that bike.

It was an exercise in doing something unique in a market that was in need of a set of jump leads on it's knackers. It turned heads, stopped folks dead in their tracks and led to an explosion of creativity from people it inspired. The custom bike world is a far better place because of it.:)

[John Hopkins]

That's true, it certainly is different and I like to look at it.

But I wouldn't want to own it.

The new Vmax is too radical for me.

John

[Nik]

It looks like engineering for the sake of it.

Maybe it is bulletproof and I am wrong about it but how do you think it would have stood up to a long run over variable terrain.

I don't mean as rough as Long way down, but say a trip to Poland.

I think it's something to be admired at a show or rally.

Of course it is, John, the majority of custom bikes in this country only really get ridden to shows and rallies - very few of 'em rack up serious mileage. :)

[Beano]

I agree it is a show "wonder". :eek:
It doesnt sit well with me that bikes are trailered in for custom shows.
I would still love to see these wonderful creations in a seperate show.
My Mini is my other passion and the London to Brighton stopped people trailering in cars for the "show and shine" and "mod" section, and all entrants had to take part in the run itself.
My own opinion.....either its a bike or an ornament.:D

[richh]

Of course it is, John, the majority of custom bikes in this country only really get ridden to shows and rallies - very few of 'em rack up serious mileage. :)
A large percentage of customs entered in major shows are not ridden to the show .A percentage of these dont appear to run !
If you were at the prize giving at the bulldog you'll know what I mean .
The present scene harks back to the seventies when extavagance and impracticality ruled .
I love all the styles but do appreciate a bike/trike that looks as though its been ridden .Too many bikes appearing in magazines with tyre pips intact !!!!:eek:

[matthewmosse]

very interesting to look at, very interesting engineering. Like John says, I wouldn't want to own one though. Inpractical in the extreme, at least on our roads. Personally I'd agree that bikes that actually get ridden should be judged as a seperate entity. I'm not nesisarrily dead against show wonders as some good ideas get aired, I just have a belief that form over function can end up producing ornaments that are a waste of good engines.

[John Hopkins]

Please don't get me wrong, I think it is wonderful engineering and if people didn't build bikes like this we would have nothing except production line bikes to look at.

I just wondered what the rest of you thought.

If I had just won the lottery I still wouldn't want to own it after all I didn't build it so I couldn't boast about it.

I just can't really see a practical use for it.

It gets under my skin and baffles me, It's a work of art and almost an optical illusion.

Well done to the artist, what will you do for an encore?

John

[4_stroke]

It looks like engineering for the sake of it.
John

Yup a lot of customs are

The hubless bike uses the bearing system developed for the gimble mount used in a helicopter main rotor.

if you want odd shit check this one out...

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q214/THUMPERRRR/WEIRD%20BIKES%20ALBUM/Jesse_Jame_Aero_BikeSmall.jpg

Not the first time an aircraft radial has been put in a bike but these guys are crazy.

Lots of mad stuff out there that's for sure

[dixie]

its a bit like trail bikes and "long way down " bmw type bikes ,,,, the majority of the owners never ever ride em off the tarmac... some of them big trail bike got massive tanks and alloy box panniers for days int sahara,,, most of them never go further than the local supermarket..i happen to think if thats what floats peoples boats then its no big deal to me just cos its "not my scene" ive built ground up custom bikes that aint fully practical in all aspects of the open road and terrain..but hey,,, i really enjoyed buiding em and makin them come to life....being creative and imaginative with ideas ... trying to push boundaries ... thinkin of things that aint been done before ..etc..being individual as possible..its the same old story really... in the seventies the regular statement was..."Looks good with them long forks ,but i bet it dont handle very well"..DOH !!!... if its got two wheels and it creates entertainment then that will do me ....... the hubless bike has caused me several minutes of my time to look at ...it entertained me .. it educated me... it inspires me...:thumbu:

[John Hopkins]

I have to keep going back for another look.

I can see how the rear wheel might roll, those spikes hold the inner rim to the frame support, the outer rim holding the tyre rotates around it and if that is right it has to be driven by a friction roller pressed against the hidden part of the tyre. But is that what it does?

Mind you I am still baffled by the viaducts and twelve foot high doors on public buildings.

John

[4_stroke]

if that is right it has to be driven by a friction roller pressed against the hidden part of the tyre. But is that what it does?John

Yes it uses a friction drive from the transmission to the back tyre under what would have been the oil tank. The brake is on the friction roller so lots of scope for doom.

Billy Lane's version uses a chain. Looks butt-ugly. You can see why the friction drive was used.

http://www.lichterphoto.com/webgal-bike/m030305-lane/images/M030305-Lane-18n.jpg

[Nik]

Too many bikes appearing in magazines with tyre pips intact !!!!:eek:

Some tyre pips are dead 'ard, mate, the Future Bike's back wheel still has tyre pips and that's been to Sweden and and done about 3000 miles for so far this year and the bugger's are still there! :eek: :D

[John Hopkins]

Some tyre pips are dead 'ard, mate, the Future Bike's back wheel still has tyre pips and that's been to Sweden and and done about 3000 miles for so far this year and the bugger's are still there! :eek: :D

You're supposed to lean it a little bit as you take the curves nik! :D

John

[Nik]

You're supposed to lean it a little bit as you take the curves nik! :D

John

Mate, look how much ground clearance it's got - Valentino feckin' Rossi couldn't lean it far enough to get all the tyre pips! :D

Mind you, Bikergreg had a fair go the other day in Milton Keynes ... :eek: :D

[Grav]

Nik, we all know you can lean it so far that you simply have to have a lie down..... :D

[lowrider]

I do recall seeing the TV prog when that bike was built.
Couldn't get my head around it then and still cannot:confused:

[brad the bastard]

the wheel runs on bearing mounts, 4 off, and the bearings are around £5000 each!

[Blue]

A large percentage of customs entered in major shows are not ridden to the show .A percentage of these dont appear to run !
If you were at the prize giving at the bulldog you'll know what I mean .


Everything that won at the Bulldog this year was a runner. Unless you know different of course.

[shaggy696969]

Some of the Best "Show wonders" I've seen definitely racked up the mileage , In particular those strange breed at No Nonsense Choppers (http://www.nononsensechoppers.com/) Weesiss and her Clan. Well made and ridden hard. Hat is well and truly tipped in their direction.

[Grav]

I concur. :cool:

[Beano]

Love the bars on the "Black Pearl" ! :eek: