Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


Self balancing powered two wheeler

Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> Biking News & Rumours Goto page 1, 2  Next
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 11:12 - 05 Nov 2011    Post subject: Self balancing powered two wheeler Reply with quote

Ok they're showing it for an enclosed electric bike, but I could see something like that coming to maybe cruisers and scooters at some point. Can't see the extra weight and complexity ever being justified on say a sport or off road bike as actually bikes are pretty good at staying up as it is.
(And yes, they show it 'working' well on a low friction surface - sticky tyres on a nice day and it probably won't do so well, never mind throwing an actual rider off, etc.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0m-cUxMcJw
Edit - skip to 45 seconds for the balancing bits.


Last edited by G on 13:18 - 05 Nov 2011; edited 1 time in total
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

anthony_r6
World Chat Champion



Joined: 31 Mar 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 13:17 - 05 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

How does it lean into turns if it's made to stay upright? I think it looks stupid too.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 13:19 - 05 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

It may actually use the gyro to help that too.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

TheSmiler
World Chat Champion



Joined: 14 Apr 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 16:43 - 05 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

So basically a squashed smart car, sheesh I would never buy one of them.
____________________
CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 19:15 - 05 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

I approve of the Heinleinianism, but is there a big market for people for people who drop their bikes enough to warrant this kind of techno-panacea?

Also, how big or fast a gyro do you need to bring a bike and rider up from a lowside?

It's interesting, but it seems like a psuedo-solution looking for a problem.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

felicity
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 13 Jul 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 19:37 - 05 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rogerborg wrote:
I approve of the Heinleinianism, but is there a big market for people for people who drop their bikes enough to warrant this kind of techno-panacea?


I don't think existing bike owners are the target market, but rather car drivers who'd like a bike but are worried about the safety issue. If it has the same range as a small electric car (150 miles), but with a smaller battery, it should be cheaper to run.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 21:11 - 05 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

I refer you to the BMW C1 for evidence about how lucrative that market is(n't).
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

felicity
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 13 Jul 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 23:21 - 05 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rogerborg wrote:
I refer you to the BMW C1 for evidence about how lucrative that market is(n't).


Yes, well. I never said it would be a success Razz

But then the C1 wasn't really any safer than a bike. If you could have a fully enclosed bike with car buzzwords like crumple zones, and no helmet requirement... with the increase in fuel prices, and electric vehicles being trendy, I could see it doing alright.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 01:25 - 06 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not much of a market - thus thinking in the scooter and cruiser genre it would be more of a 'gimmick' to get some more sales in - can see cruiser riders loving getting off their bike without putting the side stand down Smile.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

LordShaftesbu...
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 08:52 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seeing as how the doors prevent you from putting your feet down it would have to be self-balancing. Needs a style redesign and a proper engine though.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Wafer_Thin_Ham
Super Spammer



Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Karma :

PostPosted: 09:03 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Doug97 wrote:
Seeing as how the doors prevent you from putting your feet down it would have to be self-balancing.


It is self balancing. See bit about gyros.

Seems to be a two wheeled car rather than a bike to me. You can't filter on it, it's not much faster than a car. Has all the normal car type luxuries.
____________________
My Flickr
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

LordShaftesbu...
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 09:50 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big_Ham wrote:
Doug97 wrote:
Seeing as how the doors prevent you from putting your feet down it would have to be self-balancing.


It is self balancing.

Yes, it would have to be. (I did read the thread title).
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

keggyhander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 21:35 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

G wrote:
Not much of a market - thus thinking in the scooter and cruiser genre it would be more of a 'gimmick' to get some more sales in - can see cruiser riders loving getting off their bike without putting the side stand down Smile.


Ok I'll bite. That's two digs at cruisers in a thread totally irrelevant to them.

Perhaps it's the sportsbikes that need gyro-stabilisation considering it's them that keep getting binned by idiots.

Just because you're not good enough to ride a big cruiser, don't tar others with your own failings.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 22:01 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cruisers are built for, we are told, well 'cruising'. Not fast handling which will be compromised by a gyro spinning fast enough to hold a bike up, etc.

You do get some 'gimmicks' on sports bike, but I wouldn't expect it to be of this kind.

Cruisers however have a large range of aftermarket accessories that reduce performance as well as changing looks - while sports bikes accessories which change looks tend to be neutral performance wise.

I was actually thinking more of the sort of 'gimmick' along these lines - https://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3408/dsc032602wm.jpg

Go on, I'll bite right back...
Quote:
Just because you're not good enough to ride a big cruiser, don't tar others with your own failings.

In what what way am I not 'good enough' to ride a big cruiser?
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

keggyhander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 22:38 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

G wrote:
In what what way am I not 'good enough' to ride a big cruiser?


I have a memory of you saying you'd ridden some, and you couldn't ride them well. You blamed the bikes. They can be ridden well, just requires a different approach.

We got overtaken yesterday by two idiots on what looked like bandits. When I say "We", I mean me on a Yam cruiser, a mate on a v-rod, and a couple up front on a Boom trike. The trike went to overtake a car, the v-rod was going and I was signalling. The two idiots (who had been sitting on my quarter) over took the v-rod as he and the trike overtook the car. The 2nd idiot shit himself and cut right between the v-rod and the trike, causing the v-rod to slam on. He was lucky.

The point of all this is that these "Spirited riders" were rubbish. We caught them up. How can two cruisers and a trike catch a pair of bandits? By being better than them.

Earlier in the day I had a late model 'Blade in my mirrors. This was between Buxton and Matlock. Couldn't work out what was up. He was with us on the straights (50-60mph) but fell hopelessly back through the corners. I was hoping he'd pull alongside at some lights so I could ask him if everything was all right, but he turned off.

Oh, by the way, that picture isn't a cruiser. It's an extreme chop. It's meant to be ridden from the trailer to the show tent and no further. That said, it's equipped with an air-ride. When the ignition is turned on the suspension will rise, giving some ground clearance.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 23:13 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

No doubt I did criticise big cruisers for lacking power, ground clearance and grip.

I'd like to hear what was wrong with my approach, so I can try better next time.

Quote:
The point of all this is that these "Spirited riders" were rubbish. We caught them up. How can two cruisers and a trike catch a pair of bandits? By being better than them.

They don't sound like spirited riders. They sound incompetent.
I'm far from a fast rider on the road, but I found all aspects limiting to me. Incompetent riders aren't limited to cruisers, ya'know Smile*.

We have your description of events. I wonder if their description of events was that they were signalling first and got cut up by these other riders. Also you leave some confusion about how you caught them up, when it seems they were behind you.

And yes, am aware of the pictured bike, though I thought it was hydraulic. It was an example of the sort of customisations people like to do to cruisers.

* Yes, I know you'll fail to see the humour in this, but hey-ho, it's you 'attacking' me in my very own thread this time!

Also, it should be noted that I appreciate the v-road is relatively more capable - that it has caught up to maybe a 25 year old street bike in terms of riding ability.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

keggyhander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 23:32 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

G wrote:


We have your description of events. I wonder if their description of events was that they were signalling first and got cut up by these other riders. Also you leave some confusion about how you caught them up, when it seems they were behind you.

.


Trike was in front. V-rod and XV1600 behind. 2 "Bandits" come up behind me. Trike is with us so we overtake when trike does.
Trike overtakes car, v-rod follows, I do shoulder check as 2 bandits go for overtake, overtaking vehicles already committed to overtake. I don't pull out. First bandit overtakes car, Second bandit can't make it so slots in between trike and v-rod, causing v-rod to hammer brakes on, and me to shout "You CUNT!!!!"

Second bandit overtakes trike. 2 bandits fail to make much progress. Trike and 2 bikes (one of which has 12" ape hangers) then make better progress on single carriageway road than hooligans on bandits and promptly catch them.

Any better?
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 23:52 - 07 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd still like to hear where I'm going wrong riding cruisers Smile.

Ah that explains the 'caught up'. I can still see that the Bandit riders may have thought they had gone for the overtake and found these other bikes pulling out on them. But without some helmet camera footage from their point of view we'll never know what they could have seen, never mind how they actually saw it.

Oh and a bandit is far from the hooligan choice. When it first came out, it was seen as such to some degree (at least according to MCN), as it was certainly sportier than the naked bikes out at the time. However, it's stayed still while the other parts-bin nakeds have moved the game on significantly.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

keggyhander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 00:15 - 08 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

G wrote:
I'd still like to hear where I'm going wrong riding cruisers Smile.

Ah that explains the 'caught up'. I can still see that the Bandit riders may have thought they had gone for the overtake and found these other bikes pulling out on them. But without some helmet camera footage from their point of view we'll never know what they could have seen, never mind how they actually saw it.

Oh and a bandit is far from the hooligan choice. When it first came out, it was seen as such to some degree (at least according to MCN), as it was certainly sportier than the naked bikes out at the time. However, it's stayed still while the other parts-bin nakeds have moved the game on significantly.


About your riding cruisers, that's not something I can answer from here. The trike started the overtake first. No question about it. They just didn't anticipate it.

I said "Bandits". Could have been any Nakeds.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 00:30 - 08 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

So you can tell me it's a problem with my riding, but can't tell me what the problem is?
I'm confused as to how you would know about the problems with my riding in this case. Less confused that you can't explain it, actually Smile.

No question to you, but given the situation, I rather suspect they believe they started the overtake first. Not suggesting I can know the situation, just what seems a likely explanation.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

keggyhander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 00:47 - 08 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

G wrote:
So you can tell me it's a problem with my riding, but can't tell me what the problem is?
I'm confused as to how you would know about the problems with my riding in this case. Less confused that you can't explain it, actually Smile.

No question to you, but given the situation, I rather suspect they believe they started the overtake first. Not suggesting I can know the situation, just what seems a likely explanation.


The situation is clear to me.

You are prejudiced against cruisers. You had a bad experience riding them. You took the equivalent of a dodge charger and tried to ride it like the equivalent of a Lotus Elise. Then blamed the charger when you couldn't make it go round corners as good as the Elise.

You then immediately took up the prejudiced position that the cruiser riders had to be in the wrong and that the hooligans on straight bikes were in the right. WRONG! Overtaking a vehicle that's already overtaking something else is something that twats do. But no, you took an incident that I wouldn't have posted up if I was in the wrong, and tried to turn it round. I'm not at all surprised.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

G
The Voice of Reason



Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Karma :

PostPosted: 08:49 - 08 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Then blamed the charger when you couldn't make it go round corners as good as the Elise.
Well yes, that was one of my criticisms. But your analogy is a tad out.
In reality, if this were the situation, I'd try the dodge charger and find as well as the handling being worse, it was no more comfortable than the Elise, was actually slower in a straight line, had less peak power and less power throughout the rev range. To try and match the Elise's acceleration being driven in a relaxed manner you had to completely rag it. If you try and 'mess about' (say drifting etc) on the charger it's less likely to work than in the elise.
Of course, the big front mounted v8 in the charger means that's not reality and in fact it does manage to actually be 'better' than the elise in a variety of ways.

As for this situation you are now getting all up tight about - and I really don't see why you posting it in the first place would have any bearing on cruisers being good or not - I was just pointing out there are two sides to the storey and in my experience inevitably both sides think they are right.
I took trouble to make it clear that as I wasn't there; I wasn't offering an opinion on what happened, merely on what the other party was likely to have thought happened.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

keggyhander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 12:57 - 08 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

G wrote:
Of course, the big front mounted v8 in the charger means that's not reality and in fact it does manage to actually be 'better' than the elise in a variety of ways.


I don't get your point. My analogy was not intricate, especially at quarter to one in the morning. You raised the issue of comfort, implying (I think) that cruisers are less comfortable than sport bikes etc. That may be true for you, but I wouldn't disregard the millions who wouldn't touch a sports bike because they don't wan't aching wrists, knees, back and neck. Mick Doohan famously rode a large Harley when he wasn't on the track. Sure, you can get a sore arse on a cruiser. An alteration to the seat usually cures that if it crops up.

As I said before, just because YOU don't get on with them doesn't make them bad bikes. That would be like me saying a ZXR750 was a bad bike just because it was the most uncomfortable bike ever.

G wrote:
As for this situation you are now getting all up tight about - and I really don't see why you posting it in the first place would have any bearing on cruisers being good or not - I was just pointing out there are two sides to the storey and in my experience inevitably both sides think they are right.
I took trouble to make it clear that as I wasn't there; I wasn't offering an opinion on what happened, merely on what the other party was likely to have thought happened.


Your opinion on this was not only biased, but neither needed or wanted. I gave a situation where supposedly slow bikes got overtaken in a hooligan manner, only for these slow, shit-handling machines to make better progress and catch them. The trike was the reason we weren't filtering - He was with us. The hooligans didn't expect the trike to even attempt to overtake where it did. They weren't to know it had a 1.8 Ford zetec engine in a lightweight frame. They disregarded it and nearly caused a pile up. There really is no discussion.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

felicity
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 13 Jul 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 14:04 - 08 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting thread derailed into pointless argument? Check.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Karma :

PostPosted: 17:10 - 08 Nov 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

The folding, box carrying scooter thing would sell loke hot cakes in Amsterdam.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 14 years, 55 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> Biking News & Rumours All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 

Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.10 Sec - Server Load: 1.15 - MySQL Queries: 13 - Page Size: 135.86 Kb