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Last week we collectively drooled over the Confederate Fighter Motorcycle, a $US110,000 titanium, aluminium and carbon beast that claims speeds of 300kph. This week it appeared on The Today Show. And while we don't want to ruin the punchline for anyone, let's just say that no one peels out with the bike...though Merideth Viera is every bit as frisky as usual.
The term "third wheel" used to identify something extraneous, but in the case of Brudelli's three-wheelin' Leanster motorbike-three-wheeler off-road hybrid, it means 50% more fun. If the Leanster looks familiar, you may be thinking of Piaggio's scooter-platform MP3 leaning machine. The Piaggio is nice on paved roads; the Brudelli is built for getting dirty all over.
Stash it under the belly of the plane for an Indiana-Jones-style getaway once you hit the landing strip, of course. The good folks at MotoPod will mod your light aircraft with one of their aerodynamic moto-carriers, and give you a customised folding motorcycle to cram inside of it for around US$10k. Sure it'll shave a few knots off of your cruising speed, but when you mount up with a hot blonde (or tiny Asian sidekick) and ride off on your foldable mini-Hog, you'll know you made the right choice. And judging from the demo video, the MotoPOD looks like it could also serve as an effective canoe, nicely rounding out the land-sea-air transportation trifecta for which every adventuring anthropologist strives.
For DIYers with a lot more technical know-how than cash, an Instructables user has put up a really interesting tutorial on building an electric motorcycle using just US$3000. The vehicle has a 110kph top speed, but can only go about 16km before it needs to be recharged. It's great for a quick trip to the store, if you don't make any unexpected stops along the way. With gas prices being what they are, you should probably try to make it so everything you would normally need to get to is less than 16km away anyhow. [Instructables via Uberreview]
In the big book of ideas that sound better than they probably are, you will find the Rocketshield canopy for sportbikes. Obviously, the device is intended for people who are looking to turn their sportbike into a viable daily commuter, but the whole damn thing just seems a bit unnatural and dangerous if you ask me. On the plus side, it does attach using stock mounting points, so no modifications to the bike are necessary to install it. At this point, Rocketshields can be custom designed to fit your needs, but a deal is currently in the works to mass produce the canopy (most likely for Kawasaki bikes). [Rocketshields via the Kneeslider via Hell for Leather]
I suppose it goes without saying, but the design team at Non-Object took all of the things we have learned about making motorcycles and threw it in the trash, pooped in the trash, then lit the can on fire when they came up with the "nUCLEUS"concept bike. Outside of the obvious design features, this "square against air" electric motorcycle includes a hydraulic system that lowers the body to the ground when idle and then raises it up when in motion—but all I can think of when I look at it is the word "drag." Again, this bike is only a concept, so don't expect to see it on the street anytime soon. [Yanko Design]
Sometimes a bike is just a bike... there's no photoshopping going on here, guys. This is Uno, of course, a segway/motorcycle mashup shown publicly for the first time at the recent Toronto National Motorbike show. Technically it has two wheels, but they're right next to each other and it does balance on them under its own power.
Traditional motorcycles are OK, but this is the future. We need future things. And the US$82,350 glass/kevlar/carbon/steel MonoTracer bike certainly feels like it's from the Utopian, roundmobile world to come. Featuring a fully enclosed cabin for less drag and less pebbles in the face, the MonoTracer's 130hp BMW engine goes 0-100 in 5.6 seconds and hits speeds up to 250kph. We're not exactly sure what you'll do at stoplights, but apparently there are little training wheels that pop out for parking...a solution that's admittedly not much more suave than toppling over at every stop.
There's a new Instructables page up that shows you how to mod your regular motorbike into an eco-warrior electric cycle. You'll be able to hit a top speed of 112kph after shelling out US$3000 to complete the project. Thankfully, you'll probably make the money back in saved fuel in approximately a days use. The machine pictured above is a mid-mod bike. Sure, the 72v motor is held in place by rope, but it isn't properly finished yet, so give the modder a break. If you have the time, spare cash, a bike that's looking at you with contempt and the technical know how, give it a shot and then send us a video of the finished article. Hit the link if you're tough enough. [Instructables via Hack n Mod]
Yes, this homemade electric motorcycle gets the gas price equivalent of 127 km per litre. Yes, its speeds hit 65kph within its modest 24 km range. And yes, the engine runs silently with zero vibration. But don't blame the auto companies. They work really hard. And besides, with their limited resources, how can they be expected to compete with one guy who has limited mechanical training buying all of his parts on Craigslist? [hellforleather via bbgadgets]
Last week we collectively drooled over the 