Forest Fab
Not a new design (we tinkered at school with a similar design, but with the linkages higher up) but the execution looks rather fantastic!
I'm just wondering how long it takes to remove the front wheel though?
And positioning the brake calipers at the bottom does nothing. The force exerted by the calipers on the disc create a torque around the front wheel axle, which translates to a braking force at the tyre contact patch with the ground. So please put them on the uprights :-)
All the best with Moto2, I will actually watch it when this bike is ready.
ioneyes
Love your bike reviews Loz, great splash of Aussie humour always.
I had to re-read the article to make sure, I don't think you commented on the new mounting position for the brake callipers that this fantastic new suspension development appears to allow.
Right down low, go go go .......lowering the overall centre of gravity particularly where rubber meets road. I see they have the same great design feature transferred to the rear end as well.
If it rides as well as they claim it will revolutionise motorcycle design and we'll say F to the fork other than low end cheapies.
There is no substitute for great design, it looks highly possible MotoInno (great name, wish I had thought of it) are riding a winner and its just a great F'ing (F to the fork) bonus that their concept bike looks Freakin' amazing.
Imagine a torquey electric motor and high end next gen battery/ultra-capacitor tech sitting amidships and you have my dream bike.
Thanks for the great reviews mate.
Peter Kelly
There's an old adage that says 'good design looks right' and I think it's demonstrated here perfectly.
The 'Hub-centre' steered bike looks a hideous monstrosity, whereas this new design looks balanced and spectacular. I'm not a motorcyclist, or even a fan, but I can see that this is going to cause major waves in the industry.
The designers deserve to reap a considerable reward if my perception is correct.
KirkHarrington
I'm not a fan of the brake caliper location. If they leave it in that position it's vulnerable being ripped from it's carrier in the event of an accident. Overall, I like the concept but tire changes do not look straight forward. If you are in a race situation and need a tire change that could be an issue. It's certainly an issue in endurance racing. I suppose that Moto2 is a good test bed. Looking forward to the follow up.
tress_972@hotmail.fr
Nice concept, similar to the french concept GECO (http://www.progecomoto.fr/) started around 10 years ago by Eric OFFENSTADT.
Bob Stuart
Brake dive is mostly due to weight transfer, as illustrated by a stoppie. Telescopic forks make it worse by having deceleration add to the motion by partly compressing the forks. To eliminate it, you have to make the wheel move forward as much as it moves up, which feels harsh on bumps. The old F1 Cooper was very quick off the line because it used similar principles to minimize squat on acceleration.
ThomasJackson
So what happens when this bike is in a corner with 5 bikes running telescopic forks?
BillHarmen
I'm no expert and I realize this is a prototype. But the bike's size seems very small compared to what the rider looks like in size. It looks as if it would be uncomfortable on any long ride. Or is it that the rider is 6' 4/5" at 230/40 lbs?
chidrbmt
Great write up,as always. Loz,you're the best biker journalist out there. Just don't tell the boss that.:-) A second gained every corner-wow! Always wondered why it took a 100 years to come up with something better than the antiquated junk forks. Usually it's the small,independent guys that think outside of the box. Looks cool too!
steveraxx
Given the propensity of negative comments, stating from the beginning this is an observation.
Stating the obvious, there is not similarity, racing to riding in the everyday world.
For starters, racing teams will spare no expense in gaining a win. Formula One once used brake calipers which were highly effective, even though there cost was amazingly expensive. Were the calipers not made of material that was highly cancerous. There use would have continued. So, racers spare no expense.
Production vehicles though, well being driven on the street is a far harsher environment. Whilst this design appears to have solved a multitude of issues. The amount of pivot points is amazing. Each pivot point represents a very expensive cost to manufacture. Also, the reason there is no slop in the system is also due to the newness of said pivot-points. What will happen to such a design in the real world? A world full of grit, and rain. Imagine the cost or replacement. The prohibitive cost, assuming this design ever gained mass appeal may well render this design to the same boutique standard as Biomoto.