The shapeshifting motorcycle?

[Bob]

With more and more bikes being designed to be multi-tasking (Kawasaki Versys for example), then is the next major development a motorcycle that changes shape depending on which role it is being asked to fulfil?

If so, then renowned industrial designer Erik Brinkman may have come up with the solution – the Rbike. The bike shapeshifts to mimic each bike style, from Cruiser, Tourer, Commuter bike to Enduro.

The key to the R-Bike is the frame. The bike has a multi link suspension on front and rear and is designed around a single cylinder engine. The seat, footpegs, engine position and handlebars all adjust as the frame shifts giving the rider the correct riding position (and centre of gravity) for each style of bike.

For more information: http://www.erikbrinkman.com/rbike

[Smorg]

Hemi or Diesel? Smack that

[bugjuice]

doesn't really change shape tho, does it.. just goes higher.. really can't see 4 styles in that bike

[Steam]

Pretty cool. I can imagine some hideous frame flex though, it looks floppier than Hugh Hefner's privates after a 24-hour playboy mansion party.
But it comes in CAMO with a DIESEL! I"M IN!

[The Pastor]

Is it real or just a prototype?

[avgas]

doesn't really change shape tho, does it.. just goes higher.. really can't see 4 styles in that bike
Yep looks pretty gay when you put it to 'off road mode' too - like a Vincent black shadow thats hit a truck.
Why dont they just go back to old school and build bikes that were multipurpose, had a reliable motor, had off road suspension and semi knob tyres.
Pre 84's trail bikes were the key.
My TS was fantastic, especially when i polished her up and go to the Coroglen and park her next to all the harleys and triumphs - she looked the part in any instance.
Too much plastic fantastic in this world. Thats all

[Steam]

Is it real or just a prototype?

I saw only computer images on the website. Not even a working prototype yet, there's going to be a LOT of problems with that frame. Good luck to him though, looks like a backyard bodger trying to go big.

[Roj]

The idea sounds good but I don't know how well it will work, doesn't seem to be able to change the suspension enough for the offroad mode, the change in steering angle would certainly change the handling dramatically,

[Macktheknife]

What a fascinating idea! I would love to see one in working condition and assess its usefulness, besides which it could be cool.

[NordieBoy]

Sweet design, nice lines.
I hope he builds a working prototype.

[MollyHatchie]

The frame is a box-ladder design.
Very strong.
A testing shows no flex issues.

[MollyHatchie]

The bike as you see it is made of hundreds of individual parts each CAD to CNC precision. The only thing not added to the images are the diagonal frame struts. We are still playing with the "feel" so the struts are still in play.

[MollyHatchie]

The bike does not jjust go higher and lower, the peg positions, seat angle, handdlebars, engine position etc etc all change.

If you are wondering if it is needed ....

1. DOWN a Steep Hill
As you start a steep slow descend, you stretch your bike out a bit
with feet stretched on pointing downhill
and the seat much lower and you tuck your body rearward.

2. UP a Steep Hill
As you ascend the hill,
you start fairly stretchy and slowly scrunch as you go up
to let the ShapeShift pull-it up
and you need more tight control as you do those last few feet of climb.

3. Tight Squeeze
When the trail goes tight between trees you need squeeze it in a bit,
then stretch it back on the other side.

4. Sharp Curves
You approach a sharp curve and need a little more belly clearance
and you need a shorter more nimble wheelbase,
so you scrunch into the curve and stretch back out of the curve
pulling itself out of the curve..

5. Creek Crossing
You approach the creek and so you scrunch high
to keep the nostrils tucked high and dry behind the side-pods
that also keep splashes of water deflected from the intake and the rider,
and the tailpipe tilts down to keep water from backing up into it.
Then you stretch to let the ShapeShifting help pull up onto the other bank.

6. High Speed Cruising
You are riding in your most comfortable position
and you want or need to go smoother faster.
You are only a 10-inch wide frame, so if you stretch it out,
you have a longer faster more stable arrow in the wind.

7. High Speed Braking
You are stretched out and cruising the open road
and suddenly a deer pops up onto the road and just stands there.
So you clamp the binders full-on
and the bike frame slowly shortens as the bike slows,
because a shorter wheelbase stops quicker with better control.
Stopping benefits from a wheelbase best suited
for hard braking at that momenary speed,

8. Lock-n-Stretch over a Log
You kiss up to a log and plant the rear brake and then stretch
and in so doing "crawl" the bike.
The bike comes with a 21 inch front wheel to help in this option.

9. Pulling out of a Hole
There you are stuck in the mudhole. Seen it a thousand times.
Now you don't worry about pulling the bike out.
You can stretch to both spread out the weight
and use the stretch-crawl method of "inch-worming" your way out
using the frame's ShapeShifting.

10. In a SideSlide
The bike might want to scrunch a bit more
to help make the SideSlide easier to control.

11. If the Road gets Rough
The bike might want to raise up a bit
and shorten its wheelbase for better control.

12. When life Leaves you Short
The bike allows anyone to easily mount with the seat in the lowest position
and yet still have the flexibility to ride a high seat off-road.

[MollyHatchie]

What you see on the WebSite are not pictures, they are hundreds of parts assembled into the bike. Each part CNC ready.

[MollyHatchie]

Suspension goes from 4 inches to 8 inches.
The wheebase goes from 52-63 inches
The rake goes from 22-44 degrees
and the trail changes with the rake from 4 inches to 6 inches.
Distance between the hands and the butt do not change.

[DemonWolf]

Interesting.. Cheers MollyHatchie for the info. Let us know when your've got a working prototype.... =)

[NordieBoy]

Interesting.. Cheers MollyHatchie for the info. Let us know when your've got a working prototype.... =)

For us to test :D

[more_fasterer]

Very interesting. How would the chassis change on the fly? You'd need some pretty strong servo's to be able to move the chassis consistently and predictably while it's subjected to the variable stresses of a vehicle in motion.

[ErikBrinkman]

Time for a bit of an update ....
http://www.erikbrinkman.com/rbike

BTW- if you don't have QuickTime application in your computer,
you miss out on all the neat videos in the "Gallery".

The most important part of the bike is the drivetrain.
Merch is handling the 6 engines.
They are tops in making very very strong motors.

The drivetrain uses 3-inch helical-cut gears
(stainless steel with a near-diamond coating
.... 10 times slicker than Teflon)

It will be tested and ready to install by late 08.
The first bikes are for the Militaries and the Bike Shows,
We also promised 2 bikes for Warner Brothers and others in L.A.

Orange County Choppers show will be assembling one on TV.
(almost half the parts are Harley-World aftermarket parts,
so you will be able to service the bike at any Harley Dealer).


They will be built in New York and in Medicine Hat.

Public production will begin in 09.
Prices will begin just below $20k for a stripped budget bike
with a base $4k engine.
and up close to $120k for the highest possible quality and detail
and the $60k engine.


We are designing a "Build-a-Bike" section on the WebSite
where you can select almost every part on the bike
and adjust the price/feature balance to what you want.
You will have a choice of 6 engines and 3 transmissions.
There are 3 front wheel sizes and 2 rear wheel sizes.
There are 3 seat styles and 2 tank options. etc etc
until the bike is exactly what you want and can afford.

Then if you answer a marketing questionaire,
we will email you a poster sized hi-resolution picture
of the bike the way YOU designed it.

Soon we shall begin taking pre-orders
so you can save your place in line.
This is a couple of weeks away.
We have it functioning correctly.
Now it is a matter of the "look"
and then loading the hundreds of selections / options.

We promise that when updates occur,
they can be added any existing bike,
so that the purchase is a lifetime relationship.

Now, I know the idea of a ShapeShifter motorcycle
is a little out of the box .... just a little,
but the bike actually takes on the proportions
of the top bikes in each riding style category.
If any part of the frame were mounted or shaped 1/4 inch off,
the entire "puppet" would not work well.

There is much more to this than first meets the eye.
This is all about the frame, and not just about the bike as such.
We expect to license the frame to other makers in the future.
Adaptive-geometry makes for a safer bike,
and ultimately we want to see lots of them on the road,
whether ours our eventually someone elses version.

PS-
We shall also be activating the INVEST button
(hopefully by Monday Oct 22nd)
It will take you to an index where all the paperwork resides.

[NordieBoy]

Wow, so it may see the road finally.

:woohoo:

[H00dz]

looks like fun!!1

[P38]

Christ!!!!! thats one Butt Ugly bike

Looks like it needs a bloody good feed.

or maybe we should just put it out of it's misery:ar15:

[homer]

if its anything like the link i just viewed

look at it then it all goes to shit and shuts the internet explorer down
not a good start since ya havnt even seen one up close
looks to me like a bike that should have penny fathing wheels on it
Also if you try to do a more than one in anything you know it actually wont do anything well
:bs:

[imdying]

Is there like some sort of unwritten rule about concept bikes? 'Thou shalt be an ugly looking pig'.