Kawasaki Concours Forum

Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: Walker18 on July 25, 2012, 02:33:51 AM

Title: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: Walker18 on July 25, 2012, 02:33:51 AM
First one that I have seen on the road, pretty cool! Guess the luggage could just sit in the rim..
Hubless Motorcycle... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3a_ZKzYTpA#ws)
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: snarf on July 25, 2012, 05:09:36 AM
Neat, but I bet your internal organs are somewhere around your knees after a long ride.  No way could that bike give a smooth ride.
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: ZG on July 25, 2012, 10:37:53 AM
 :o 8)
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: just gone on July 25, 2012, 11:30:45 AM
.......so is it really hubless if the hubs are just extra huge and hollow?
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: snarf on July 25, 2012, 12:45:20 PM
.......so is it really hubless if the hubs are just extra huge and hollow?
ummmm, spokeless???
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: Elfmaze on July 25, 2012, 10:17:32 PM
I'm guessing it uses a friction drive on the rear tire? 
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: Walker18 on July 25, 2012, 11:17:05 PM
I'm guessing it uses a friction drive on the rear tire? 

"Hubless wheels work by fixing the rotating parts (brake ring, bearings, hubless rim) onto the outer side of a non-rotating inner ring that attaches to the motorcycle's swingarm or forks.
Advantages include decreased unsprung weight, reduced structural stress (no spokes to transmit forces through), increased braking leverage, more accurate steering, reduced vibration and a lower center of gravity. Hubless wheels also look bitchin', which, we're guessing is the main motivating factor in Amen's decision to use them."

http://jalopnik.com/5139465/hubless-monster-motorcycle-rolls-without-spokes (http://jalopnik.com/5139465/hubless-monster-motorcycle-rolls-without-spokes)
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: Elfmaze on July 26, 2012, 06:20:31 AM
Somehow looking at that design its hard to believe its not an engineering nightmare to just get it to work much less an advancement on what we currently have. 

But i'm not an engineer
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: T Cro ® on July 26, 2012, 06:39:27 AM
Somehow looking at that design its hard to believe its not an engineering nightmare to just get it to work much less an advancement on what we currently have. 

But i'm not an engineer

What's an engineering nightmare today could become commonplace in due time....

Least the seating "position" does look comfy though, not the stupidly twisted position demanded by some custom built bikes.

Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: Miss Silvera on July 26, 2012, 08:21:06 AM
.......so is it really hubless if the hubs are just extra huge and hollow?

Well the "wheel" is there and the "hubs" are missing....the hub being the "center" part that the spokes attach the wheel to
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: just gone on July 26, 2012, 02:44:19 PM
Well the "wheel" is there and the "hubs" are missing....the hub being the "center" part that the spokes attach the wheel to
You see a wheel? Where? Wheels rotate, that thing in the middle isn't rotating. Ya know, I guess you're right,
it's not a hub, it's a very large diameter hollow axle. Good call Miss S'!  :)
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: Miss Silvera on July 26, 2012, 04:02:33 PM
isnt that big round chrome thing a "wheel"   i can't tell but it seems to be going around???  heck  who really cares...can't afford one of them anyway! ::)

Hollow axle?  yeah maybe.... :o

watching again a couple times   you can see the tire going around and the "wheel/axle is stationary...

The FLUX Capicitor looks to be an early generation model too  :o :o
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: stevewfl on July 26, 2012, 04:12:20 PM
The ball cap on the rider says all I need to hear about the product.

Just sayn'  ;D

(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/sidecarcornering.jpg)
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: Outback_Jon on July 26, 2012, 06:36:24 PM
The ball cap on the rider says all I need to hear about the product.
That they value freedom, liberty, and personal choice?   :stirpot:
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: stevewfl on July 26, 2012, 08:34:19 PM
That they value freedom, liberty, and personal choice?   :stirpot:

I voted against helmet laws myself. If I bought a bike that slow I 'prolly wouldn't want someone forcing me to wear a lid either  :D
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: CigarSki® on July 26, 2012, 08:45:54 PM
My favorite part of the article relates to the "art" that is the bike.
"We're guessing the immense complication, need for extreme precision and high maintenance needs of the hubless design are the least of Amen's concerns, as this motorcycle wasn't designed to be ridden."  ;)
Title: Re: Hubless Motorcycle
Post by: Gsun on July 26, 2012, 09:32:11 PM
For those of us that don't get it, I found an example you can see. It's a bicycle, but same principle.