If there was no rules, how could you make a bike that was faster than todays GP?

[fastwin]

I like the odd ball, out of the box thinking/engineering that go into engines like that. Like the oval piston four stroke Honda 500 GP bike lost in a world of 2 strokes. I still love the sound of an old CBX with a 6 into 1. Nothing on the street sounds like that any more. But I guess if they want to curb costs they need to keep the rules as "normal" as possible as far as engine design.

[ducatiz]

I like the odd ball, out of the box thinking/engineering that go into engines like that. Like the oval piston four stroke Honda 500 GP bike lost in a world of 2 strokes. I still love the sound of an old CBX with a 6 into 1. Nothing on the street sounds like that any more. But I guess if they want to curb costs they need to keep the rules as "normal" as possible as far as engine design.

Alternatively, tell them they can spend X million and make whatever they want.

[zarn02]

While I understand cost concerns, personally I view prototype racing as the one place to just go absolutely bananas.

"Your engine must displace under [xxxx]cc. Go with God."

[ManaloEA]

Something that I would think would be interesting to try is to have a chain and sprocket on both sides of the rear tire, and the driveshaft for the drive sprocket protruding on both sides of the engine. One would think that this adds extra weight, but then lighter drive components could be used. Also the swingarm and rear hub would not have to be over-engineered so much to handle the torsional force bias, therefore reducing weight. And alignment of drive components would be easier.

Another idea would be to have perimeter weighted rims. This would create a gyroscopic effect with the wheels, and possibly provide more straight line stability.

And yet another idea would be to run a refrigerant compression loop off the heat of the exhaust manifold to create an air-conditioning effect around the intake airbox to get a richer fuel-air mix.

[ducatiz]

Something that I would think would be interesting to try is to have a chain and sprocket on both sides of the rear tire, and the driveshaft for the drive sprocket protruding on both sides of the engine. One would think that this adds extra weight, but then lighter drive components could be used. Also the swingarm and rear hub would not have to be over-engineered so much to handle the torsional force bias, therefore reducing weight. And alignment of drive components would be easier.

Another idea would be to have perimeter weighted rims. This would create a gyroscopic effect with the wheels, and possibly provide more straight line stability.

And yet another idea would be to run a refrigerant compression loop off the heat of the exhaust manifold to create an air-conditioning effect around the intake airbox to get a richer fuel-air mix.

Man, you must have really good weed.

[Randy@StradaFab]

  Since the biggest problem seems to be grip, what about the track surface? You never hear about it but is anyone working on surface technology or are all tracks just plain old asphalt? Is there anything stickier?

[ducatiz]

  Since the biggest problem seems to be grip, what about the track surface? You never hear about it but is anyone working on surface technology or are all tracks just plain old asphalt? Is there anything stickier?

It has to be sticky enough to grip, but not-sticky enough to prevent drag. 

Use fly paper, it's pretty sticky.  Not not too good when it comes to drag.

[ManaloEA]

Man, you must have really good weed.

Hehe. Had a rough couple of days, sleep eludes me right now.

[Drunken Monkey]

Man, you must have really good weed.

Temperature control on the tires! Side to side, active suspension so the wheels could track over bumps vertically even when leaned over! Regenerative braking! Servo tiltable, gimbaled flywheel to keep the bikes from high-siding! Two-wheel steering! Only midget riders! Dogs and cats living together!

Man, this is starting to sound like a Dr. Bronner's label...

[sbrguy]

the funny thing is that whenever we talk about adding tech to the bikes someone always say "well why not just have robots ride them"

even with the advanced tc, fueling systems, quick shifters, better gearboxes, tires, etc...which mind you if you gave this stuff to someone 10 years ago they would think you brought it from a scifi show, and they would say "just have robots ride the bieks it will get too easy"

yet somehow even with all this stuff the riders, jlo and simocelli, both find ways to hiside themselves still, so you can't say that these bikes are rider proof to go fast, you still have to be able to ride the bikes to make them win.

case in point, stoner on the ducati, as shown by rossi not being able to ride the thing even close to victory.

as long as you still have humans riding these things, they will screw up even the best technology because the human will be the weakest point, and that is why we watch, to see which human is closest to being the best on the bike.  which if you think about it is what racing is about anyway.

[fastwin]

Dammit. You just make too much sense. You aren't helping matters at all.