I've seen hubless bikes before, but this one's pretty well done:
http://jalopnik.com/5139465/hubless-monster-motorcycle-rolls-without-spokes (http://jalopnik.com/5139465/hubless-monster-motorcycle-rolls-without-spokes)
But in the case of choppers, I actually think I prefer a spoked look.
There was press about this about 4 months ago, it looked interesting but beyond that it's not my cup of tea: [puke]
"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." :-\
Don't let that get you down. No end of motorcycles are made to be ridden, but aren't. At least this one isn't pretending.
Quote from: Ducaholic on January 26, 2009, 03:01:55 PM
"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." :-\
That line made me laugh [laugh]
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 26, 2009, 03:07:29 PM
Don't let that get you down. No end of motorcycles are made to be ridden, but aren't. At least this one isn't pretending.
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
http://www.choppersinc.com (http://www.choppersinc.com) has been doing this for a while now.
(http://www.choppersinc.com/include/getimage.asp?file=%5Cbikes%5CLG_5256418_18_2006.jpg)
(http://www.choppersinc.com/include/getimage.asp?file=%5Cbikes%5CLG_4872622_14_2007.jpg)
(http://www.choppersinc.com/include/getimage.asp?file=%5Cbikes%5CLG_1487456_9_2006.jpg)
isn't the rear technically a hub? Just really big.
well...1st, he calls it a Monster and I see nothing Monster about it...nothing Ducati about even...
besides...anyone why rides that is taking a serious risk...because people will gawk and someone is going to steer into the bike and wreck it...
Quote from: zooom on January 26, 2009, 07:21:11 PM
well...1st, he calls it a Monster and I see nothing Monster about it...nothing Ducati about even...
besides...anyone why rides that is taking a serious risk...because people will gawk and someone is going to steer into the bike and wreck it...
With that logic I should start taking ugly chicks on the back :P
reminds me of Akira.
Quote from: redxblack on January 26, 2009, 09:27:49 PM
reminds me of Akira.
(http://www.justusdogs.com.au/upload/flex_img/27052008053152_01.jpg) ?
Quote from: redxblack on January 26, 2009, 09:27:49 PM
reminds me of Akira.
Nah.
(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/akira_bike_3d_03.jpg)
Well, I think the wheels are nifty.
The rest of the bike is pure shite, but the wheels... interesting.
We may see more of that sort of thing if electric vehicles become the norm. It's pretty hard to do regenerative braking on the front wheel of a bike without a design like that...
The wheels are interesting. I wanna know how the rear wheel is driven and where the brakes are & how they work.
JM
I wouldn't want to ride it, but still cool nonetheless.
If you ever watched any of the "Biker Build-Offs" on Discovery a few years ago... Amen and Choppers Inc. have fought over this issue and still can't come to terms with who built it first. Amen believes Billy Lane stole his concept and that was pretty much all he talked about. I guess he finally out did him since his design and engineering appear to be a little nicer than the Choppers Inc., but that said, I would take the Choppers Inc. over the Amen.
Oh, and Billy Lane is going to jail. [laugh]
Really interesting idea; really ugly bike.
Someone used to make something like that for bicycles. I tested it for a few weeks and found it to ride like shit and be loud as hell. I don't know if this is the same technology or not, but it's always nice to see people " think outside the box". The successes and failures of these ideas is what keeps things moving forward.
AFAIK, those bearings are heinously expensive, at least for a 'wheel bearing'.
Also, *very* difficult to mount properly, and effectively sealing them is quite a project as well.