Strange Motorcycle Obsession

[angib]

Most of you know that my interest is in design, but I do have a 'build' project too, so I thought I'd show you guys how relatively normal it is to have a teardrop obsession - the shocking alternative is a FF (feet forward) motorcycle obsession like this:



The ComforTmax web page

In case you all tell me that:
- it doesn't look like a Harley at all,
- where's all the chrome?
- it can't be safe to ride with your feet there,
I should point out that the idea is to make a safer, more comfortable, faster and more manoeuvrable two-wheel vehicle - making it look like all the motorised bicycles on the roads was not the objective!

Lecture over.

Andrew

[Arne]

feet forward has been kicked around for years but never caught on... not sure why, I think I could like it quite well...... since one of the first things I always put on my cycles is a back rest, and these look like the ultimate cycle for comfort and weather protection...

http://www.motobykz.co.uk/Quasar.htm

[asianflava]

Nice Scooter, I don't think they offer the Tmax here. It is different than the Tmax that I have http://www.traxxas.com/products/nitro/tmaxx/trx_tmaxx_over.htm
The closest thing we have is either the Majesty or the Honda Reflex and Silver Wing. My uncle has a Reflex, which replaced his Helix. Rode his Helix from New York city to Key West.

[TomS]

Wow, a recumbent motorcycle. I've never seen one before.

Recumbent bicycles are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. bicycle industry. Recumbents have some distincr advantages.

- Comfort. The seat is much easier on your bum.
- You see more scenery. Your head isn't pointed down at the road.
- If you crash you tend exit the bike feet-first as opposed to head first.
- Better aerodynamics. Recumbent bicycles fly down hills due to reduced drag.

But, they also have distinct disadvantages.

- It's much harder to look over your shoulder to see what's behind you.
- You sit lower so you're less visable in trafic.
- They're a lot slower on the climbs. You can't stand on the pedals for extra power

[Arne]

Tom another disadvantage comes from one of the pluses... the seat. On an upright bicycle, you can only push till you lift off the seat... so your weight is the safety valve...

On a recumbent, the rider has to keep in mind their back is against a wall and it is easy to push hard enough, often enough, to cause knee pain...

And you are also right they do not climb hills as well.... until you get used to them and develop the right muscle groups...... gone is slow pedaling and pushing hard on a hill.... now you have to 'spin' at a relatively high speed, around 100-120 rpm in a lower gear.......

At 65, I just avoid hills.... but the seat is the best part... no more ..... well, no more of THAT pain....... and I can walk when I get off.... great for 10-20 mile rides and looking around...

[ceebe]

i'll stick with my enfield bullet
"untainted by technology"

[Arne]

One of the several reasons I sold my 96 gold wing was it had gotten to be too much like a little car. It weighed a ton (well, half a ton), had cb radio, cassette player (I guess the new ones play cd's), cruise control, etc..... just way too much.. the simplicity was gone.

Now I have a honda silver wing scooter that does pretty much everything I want, at about half the weight with none of the frillls... but I do like the cvt, a scooter equivalent of an automatic transmission...

10......

[angib]

http://www.motobykz.co.uk/Quasar.htm

The green Quasar on that page was mine! Here are my page on the Quasar and a FF motorcycle site.

Andrew

[Arne]

Andrew, are you a friend of Ian Kew?

[Joanne]

<snip>

In case you all tell me that:
- it doesn't look like a Harley at all,

Lecture over.

Andrew

I like my Harley Road King. Did an 850 mile trip through northern Arizona a couple of weekends ago. It's certainly no sport bike, but the twisties were a lot of fun.

Joanne

[ceebe]

gee, the only 2 cylinder antique tractor i know about is a John Deere