Al'turn'ative Tuesday

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This week's alternative front-end comes from Aprilia and uses yet another Hossack-derivative. This bike is intense. Check out the mass centralization and details of this hotrod

The Aprilia Mille is an impressive machine, so I can't imagine what this bike would be like using a 90-degree supertwin. It has so many cool bits (finally a repli-racer great for riding and admiring in the garage) ..forget the RSV4, bring this to market. It could help bring alternative front suspensions to mass markets in addition to BMW.

John Britten lives on....

Morphine

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When you are in the mood for Morphine, there's no music quite like it...

If you are new to this band, check out the incredible example of Mark Sandman's innovative sound (2-string bass with a slide) here

related band

Al'turn'ative Tuesday

This week's entry comes from David Mucci.

David has a couple creative concepts in his design: integrated top clamp & headlight bracket (which would make room for wicked intakes for the airbox) and the anti-dive bracing on the lower sides of the forks....

Simply 'Dashing'....

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Motorcycle dashes/gauges don't make or break a design, but a cleanly designed dash is part of the complete package. The attention to detail separates the classics from the rest. Tiny, digital gauges help clean up the sloppy factory look, but gauges, just like lights, can be an opportunity to display creativity and integrate the sum of the parts.

This is one of the best motorcycle dash/gauges I've seen. A toast of Blanton's to the Yamaha designer for this simple & instantly timeless design. This is from the supercool bench-seat, v-twin Sakura concept. (check out the key).

The thin, side-profile is a crucial element to the overall design. The dash appears to be missing the odometer and tripmeter, but instead of the descriptions for km/hr and the rpm, they could use a very small and arc'd digital display, one on top of the central console and the other on the bottom (don't have to be able to see them while riding, unless that is some weird DOT stipulation)

One picture within the above link gives the impression that the back of this dash doubles as the horn.

Hopefully the aftermarket will offer something like this....

click for larger image

The Confederate Hellcat's & Wraith's dash is a close second (below). Converse to the above dash, the stout depth to this unit is key to its form:

Simple, but powerful, just like a good air-cooled twin-cylinder motorbike

Related link

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Joe Strummer

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man, I miss Joe Strummer...

Al'turn'ative Tuesday

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In the spirit of the historic TTxGP electric race this weekend (where the teams are back-to-the-future in a hurry with 'digital' superbikes), this week's alternative front-end is an idea akin to Jules Verne-type of travel....

Maglev Motorcycle Suspension (MMS):

Electromagnetic Suspension technology is applied to the front-end of an electric motorcycle. The bikes are not intended to run on stationary tracks like maglev trains use (that would not be fun), however, the motorcycle front "forks" act as the track. These "rails" contain similar electro-magnetized coils (much smaller and lighter) that work in conjunction with properties in the wheel that repel each other. The motorcycle's front-end ultimately levitates around the front wheel on a cushion of air (no change in trail. no dive. zero unsprung weight when levitated).

Vertical suspension while leaned over is also theoretically programmable.

Patent-pending...

photo from "How Stuff Works"

Best of luck to all the Electric teams & petrol teams this weekend on the Isle.

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BMW...The Ultimate Riding Machine Company?

What other motorcycle manufacturer offers the same level of diversity in engine configurations, suspension, and model range that BMW offers?

The boxer, various in-line 4's, parallel twins, & single cylinder motors are also found among Telelever, Duolever, Paralever, and telescopic front suspension systems. These are then constructed into models that range from road race-ready liter sportbikes to enduro racing. Impressive engineering prowess.

A nostalgic model added to the line-up using the awesome boxer-twin would complete the range. Accessorize the hell out of it with a sidecar rig, bags, trailer, etc.

related

Social Distortion

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This song by Mike Ness & Social Distortion doesn't get old and gets better as the volume goes up...

Social Distortion reminds me of Cole Foster and his inspiring work.  Nothing quite like the power of music to pull together memories, motivation, emotions, ideas, etc.

Click here for an interview from the Jalopy Journal. 

Cole Foster custom

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Al'turn'ative Tuesday

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This week's alternative design is from the informative and excellent site called, Bott Power.

I like this construction very much due to the trellis work and welding. This design also offers a connection point located right above the front wheel. Assume there is some other chromoly mix or composite material developed that is as rigid (vertically and torsionally) as steel tubes but offers more lateral flex, while being as light (or lighter) as steel..... This material could be attached at the top of the wheel and extend down to the axles, replacing the trellis steel tubes at the same location (the other steel tubes used to attached the suspension components would remain). When the bike is leaned over at race pace, the wheel would have "vertical' suspension due to this flexing capability while also keeping everything else rigidly in place.

Mac Moto

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super-charge this beauty with a rotrex

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