Triumphrat

Derswede

Sigh...someone else wants to "fix a problem" with a motorcycle...but an interesting concept.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...212825259.html

Two gyros??My bike rarely falls over...wonder how it would handle a high side or a low side?? Personally, the "Smart Car" comparison would kill any personal interest for me...the only smart car I want has the 'Busa engine in it, and I would not be able to keep tires on it anyway.

"More like a fighter jet...ok, where are my rudder peddles and my missile system.... now I'm interested....a pair of TOW missiles for "cager hunts". Hmmm......

Derswede

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Common sense is dead. The wake is tomorrow.

SlowPocono

Daniel Kim is obviously a very smart guy but I think that it's impossible for a $24,000 dollar, single passenger gizmo to be a viable and practical commuting solution.

How can a guy who's capable of building such a sophisticated electro-mechanical vehicle be so ignorant of a motorcycle's dynamics? "It's not like riding a motorcycle, where you the rider has to lean," says Kim. "It's more like piloting a fighter jet, where you turn and the plane banks."

spank86

It's exactly like a motorcycle. leaning is just for fun, on its own it does nothing.

I'd be more interested in seeing this technology as an alternative to a side stand and for low speed stuff, you could really freak people out if you had the money, just rocking up to a bike night and wandering off from your unsupported bike.

Stick it on a panigale and watch all the other ducati riders scream and run to save it!

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williamr

Ever tried riding through a slalom with your hands off the bars?

I can't do it either, but I can manage two or three cones by just leaning.

Or ever tried to take a curve without leaning?

That apart - if he's cracked the problem of a 200 mile range at sensible speeds from an eletric vehicle he's done something nobody else has managed to do. I don't think that he has. The pictures are all of the mock up. The working prototype was unfortunately 'unavailable'.

This guy's looking for investors. No point in him looking my way.

Calling it the C1 is unfortunate. Brits will remember the Sinclair C5 - a 2 wheeled electric car powered by a washing machine motor. It went into production with a blaze of publicity. And soon became a national joke.

Rob

ride4321

I'd ride/drive that thing in a heartbeat. Very cool.

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spank86

You can gently curve the bike by adjustment of weight but only to any significant extent because the bars move turning the wheel, weld the bars solid and you'd be stuffed.

As for taking a curve without leaning, you can even lean the opposite way if you like, it'll just mean the bike has to heel over a bit more for any given speed. Same as this thing will have to do.

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Derswede

Now THAT is funny!!
Derswede

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Common sense is dead. The wake is tomorrow.

BMK9251

You can buy a Fiat 500 here for $13,000 new and it seats 4 and probably uses the same amount of fuel impact.

zelatore

If he could get it down around $10K or less I think it might work. But in America it will be a massive job overcoming the fear of anything smaller than an Escalade being 'unsafe'. Plus, it looks like a motorcycle - the most unsafe mode of travel ever conceived of by man.

I'd say the range may be achievable with this thing compared to other electric cars since it's considerably smaller/lighter. But that's still up for debate.

It's interesting, and more power to him, but I give it a 1 in 10 chance of making it into full production.

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Don
'06 Speed Triple
'96 Adventurer Cafe Racer
and a bunch of other stuff
If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough - Mario Andretti

mglemans86

I have a 51 Matchless G80, It's an empty shell of a motor I made into a lamp. Starts every time and ticks over at 60 htz. pics tomorrow. I also have a I also have a 2 part valenced rear fender thats available

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"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."
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