I Need to find Motorcycle Chassis Engineers

clembke · L Plate Warrior Joined: 11 Jul 2015 Karma :

I am recruiting Chassis Engineers for Royal Enfield's new Bruntingthorpe Technical Centre. Now, motorcycle chassis design is a bit of a narrow field and candidates are not easy to come by. I have, I feel, been in contact with most available in Europe, but I figure there are more out there. Can anyone give me any suggestions where on the internet these engineers congregate?

Here are links to the job ads if you are wondering what it is all about
https://www.recruitmentinmotorsport.co.uk/job/chassis-engineers-6-vacancies-royal-enfield/
https://www.recruitmentinmotorsport.co.uk/job/senior-chassis-engineers-3-vacancies-royal-enfield/

Any assistance will be most appreciated.

Fisty · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :

Special Processed American Meat?
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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Wonko The Sane · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I would put forward the oppinion that the chassis design on Royal enfields is a long way from being their limiting factor. In fact, it is pretty sweet, nimble and the design was so far ahead of its time (a modular frame with the engine as a fully stressed member) when it was made, it's still up there with current tubular steel frames.

The problems such as they are are in material quality and execution ( with regard to tolerances and deviation from design)... And making an engine that comes anywhere close to pushing the limits of the chassis.
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clembke · L Plate Warrior Joined: 11 Jul 2015 Karma :

@Fisty: If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all.

It is a very exciting step for the UK Motorcycle industry that Royal Enfield is coming back to set up shop in Bruntingthorpe. It has been 60 years since they 'left'. Unfortunately due to the demise of the industry over the years the pool of qualified bike engineers in the UK has gone the same way. Hence the challenge I face.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

lihp · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Karma :

Fisty · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :

Sload · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Aug 2011 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

One thing I think RE are in danger of doing is in trying to become a modern motorcycle company making modern motorcycles.

Their unique selling point is exactly that they are NOT a modern motorcycle. What they were making until very recently was a 1950's motorcycle with full parts support. Nobody else does that.

What they're trying to make now is a fuel injected, unit construction "retro" bike. Lots of manufacturers make those. Get into that market and you will be judged alongside your peers and that's where enfield will be beaten by experience.

If RE made the same bullets they always have but missed out the poor finish and dubious reliability (which is all down to manufacturing standards rather than design). Perhaps even, with this new-found reliability, allowing a few more bhp in there (currently power and compression are low so cylinder heads and cranks don't self-destruct).

After all, you can tune a 500 bullet from up to 40bhp with off the shelf parts that do not fundamentally change the design of the motorcycle itself, just optimise the current design with better quality parts and tighter tolerances... Oh wow, is that an A2 motorcycle licence category we have now? And a brat chopper scene? And a motorcycle design with a modular construction frame that can be customised by simply bolting and unbolting parts?

If RE try to take on Triumph in the "modern retro bike" market, they'll loose. If they continue to make something noone else does, they'll have a unique selling point. If they make them better, they'll sell more of them.

Well, that or make my freaking V-twin already... People are so fed up waiting they've started doing it themselves.
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“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.

bamt · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2013 Karma :

I'm quite encouraged that the design (at least) is coming back to the UK - though I'd expect production to stay out in India for cost reasons.

It does make you wonder why they want a UK design centre though - it's probably fair to say that since the majority of our experienced people are no longer around to mentor new blood, then you could bring people up to speed in just about any industrialised country and coming to the UK is effectively just a marketing exercise rather than engineering sense.

I can see a well designed and built(!) modernised Enfield range doing well.

charlie74 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 03 Mar 2013 Karma :

RE returning to Uk shores is no different to the return of MG. from a marketing aspect designed or built in the UK still has an added value element too it,

kinda the reverse of people insta hating Chinese bikes, if its got a british "history it must be better

that said ANY increase in UK production/engineer abilities is a good thing IMHO.

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Bah just weld a couple scaffold poles together and boom you've got an old style cradle frame.
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