Where to from here for motorcycles.

[skidMark]

Ok so bike for many years have been progressing and developing new things, better designs etc for bikes for many years.

Back in the day they were single cylinder no fancy stuff etc.

But i have found it is getting the same as cars, it has come to an age where the limits of design are being pushed to the limit.

At the current day a sports bike has from a company (im talking big boys toys here not 250's etc)...

The majority have:
USD forks (dont roast me over it just stating the fact, about 165-170 horsepower at the wheel., clip on handles etc etc... the list is endless.

Theres nothing radical going on for sports bikes, yeah a few more horsepower here and there, slight tweaks having tha latest suspension etc.

The manufacturers all seem to run with the same principles, having the things mentioned above and so on. and obviously you have you different engine types, i wonder if this whole world has in many ways come to this point, that all the redical new things we have discoverd, all the things we really need are being made, anything new that seems to come out is just a slight difference to an existing product, so where to from here?

Your views?

[homer]

well end of the day everything goes full circle
so think of what was say in 1980 - 1988 and perhaps in about 4 or 5 years you may see it come back . of course it will be more advanced , you know get rid of say the pro link type suspension and go back to twin rear shocks , i know they do that today , but what about it on a gsxr today , as i say more advanced though.

[Nagash]

Where to from here aye..

We're at the age of the apocolypse. Moving into more economic vehicles or finding differnet sources of fuel completely. Electricity, Hydrogen, whatever floats your boat..

I also reckon there's a fair bit to go in product reliability. Un-burstable tyres, those Rhino tyres man.. they were cool! Better brakes, better suspension, more adjustable settings to really customise each bike to the individual.

Small things like that.. I don't think engine size is going to change.. those Thou's are more then anyone could possibly want.. Less it's a Rocket. But Rocket's are somewhat ridiculous because they need all that power to lugg around it's own engine!

I think people are getting more into retro-bikes again aswell. Harley with the 'Dark' bikes that have come out recently, Bobbers and the like.


I really can't forsee any major upgrades that you could do to a motorbike, but then again. If I could I wouldn't be sitting on KB posting about it.. i'd be living the good life with some asians! Time shall tell..

One thing I really hope though is by the time i'm in my 40s and above (long way off) i'll still be able to ride. And petrol won't be so ridiculous to find. I love combustion engines and I don't think I'd settle for some quiet humming electric motor..

[homer]

you cant think of any major changes ?
hows about things like a fully adjustable suspension front and rear , push button from the dash and powered with a hydraulic pump run by the engine .
and thats just as you posted that off the top of my head

[Headbanger]

Wait until electric bikes are all the rage.

I expect to be able to buy an HD with a 1928 elevator motor stuffed in her ,No upside down forks back then lad, No fucking suspension at all, and only the girly men got a sprung seat.

[homer]

yeah true
if what i post was to happen you could sit on the bike , set the front height , the rear height and still adjust the damper and preload all from the button .
means if you went to the shop an dthe bikes seating is to tall to much lean forward , etc , you just push the button
practicly you could make most bikes fit you , not you fit to the bike

[Ducman]

In 1899, then Patent Commissioner, Charles H. Duell
reportedly announced that "everything that can be
invented has been invented."

[skidMark]

In 1899, then Patent Commissioner, Charles H. Duell
reportedly announced that "everything that can be
invented has been invented."

Bullshit then, but now you must truely wonder.

[Headbanger]

Pretty sure you can adjust the ride height of a Goldwing on the fly as it were.

God should bless himself for blessing us with Honda.

Little known fact, Jesus translated into Japanese is Honda.

[Forest]

I expect that all wheel drive will eventually become mainstream.

[munterk6]

Next step in the evolution of motorcycles will be wings and a propulsion system that emerge from the bodywork like Transformers!
You may chuckle...but think back to Star Trek, remember the Communicators, they looked amazing......and now 30 years later everyone has one.
The humble cellphone.

So I think Transformers is like the Star Trek of old. Wings and Propulsion!!:buggerd:

oh, and dont say Ive been smokin toooooo much, Ive cut it back to 2 j's a day lol !

[TOTO]

New Bikes are going to be Electric. Acceleration will be even faster as there is no moving parts except the wheels. No noise too, so people will pit custom speakers instead of custom pipes to be heard. Its gonna change in the next 25 years. Till then bikes are gonna become like cellphones. All changeble parts and panels. Its gonna be interesting future. I recon also an AquaBike will be invented at some point.

My 2c

[awayatc]

Bullshit then, but now you must truely wonder.

Ha ha, Sounds like you are getting old my friend, if you are starting to believe everything has already been invented........:clap:
Always some people who can think outside the circle...:)

[Kendog]

Electric all wheel drive with traction control and wheelie prevention.
Lean angel, traction and forward obstacle detection for auto adjusting brakes.
Suspension that is computer adjustable to suit the riders height and weight.
Body and bike force field type shielding for crash protection.

Nothing much left to invent I guess.

[Disco Dan]

In 1899, then Patent Commissioner, Charles H. Duell
reportedly announced that "everything that can be
invented has been invented."

Thats right, and they where going to close down the patent office!

Thing is though, was not much longer and they had a major scientific breakthrough and it all started up again...

We are nearing a ceiling in terms of current technology - it's happened a few times in history so far. Look at the boom after the invention of the semiconductor for example.

It will not be long before another breakthrough.

Personally I can see a shift away from electronic chips and moving towards biological computers. Literally organic 'brains'. It's already been thought off - anyone thats seen a few episodes of star trek would understand! LOL

[inlinefour]

Thats right, and they where going to close down the patent office!

Thing is though, was not much longer and they had a major scientific breakthrough and it all started up again...

We are nearing a ceiling in terms of current technology - it's happened a few times in history so far. Look at the boom after the invention of the semiconductor for example.

It will not be long before another breakthrough.

Personally I can see a shift away from electronic chips and moving towards biological computers. Literally organic 'brains'. It's already been thought off - anyone thats seen a few episodes of star trek would understand! LOL

For several years now an Arab country, cannot remember which one, has been developing a computer using live cells. They apparently have figured out how to make the work with the binary code. Throw thousands of live cells in and they reckon they should have a very quick PC. They said nothing about the cncept of cell regenivation or decay, but I was still interested in what was said anyway.

As far as motorcycles going, I think skiddy's full of it again. Of course they will improve and update with the strive to be lighter and faster. I think there are possibly new developments to come through in future and it would be close minded to say definitely not.

One thing I do know is that unless skiddy gets his life together seriously. His direction and that of the modern sportsbike, will never be the same. :nya:

[Gubb]

it has come to an age where the limits of design are being pushed to the limit.

Rubbish. Bet they thought the same thing in the 80's. Everything isd always evolving. in 20 years, there will be an invention, that, when we all cast our minds back think "how on earth did we survive without that"?

[RantyDave]

Theres nothing radical going on for sports bikes
Are you having a laugh? We're mere minutes away from 'traditional' ECU's, fly-by-wire and traction control finally being rolled together into an all in one 'smart-er' fuelling and ignition combo and you think there's nothing going on?

Failing that I'd offer the slipper clutch as a source of significant innovation still in the trickle down phase. By "still in" I mean "The Daytona doesn't have one yet".

Dave

[captain_andrey]

Things I'd be interested in are integrated HUD in helmets with all bike manufacturers adopting a common API for data communications to and from the bike. None of that clip on stuff that just displays a couple of numbers. I want FLIR camera, IR headlamps, Image Intensifiers, Image Magnifiers all projected onto the visor, constantly tracking my eyes and overlaying the images in the way I chose. I want GPS data, all the readouts from the engine/fuel systems.

Basically I want everything that an Apache pilot has minus the guns.

[Big Dave]

A number of bikes are already maximum speed governed by the manufacturer.

The governing will eventually be done by the state (Pun intended).

And it will get slower and slower till we all have small capacity rev boxes and then a sub culture of illegal anti-governing 'runner' forces will develop.

There you go - I just started a Science Fiction novel - haven't done one of them yet ;-)

[Forest]

I'd like to see adoption of the systems they use in electric locomotives.

In other words, a small but extremely efficient gas turbine drives a generator, which charges a bank of ultra-capacitors, which deliver power to electric motors, which drive the wheels.

[Stromble]

All Wheel Drive..... Hmm now that could take some engineering :)

[onearmedbandit]

All Wheel Drive..... Hmm now that could take some engineering :)

Already been done by Yamaha on a WR dirtbike (which did make it to public sale) and also experimented with an R1.

Linky (http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/Yamaha/WR-2trac/Page1.htm)

KTM are at it as well. (http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=892&fArticleId=2099027)

[Stromble]

Already been done by Yamaha on a WR dirtbike (which did make it to public sale) and also experimented with an R1.

Linky (http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/Yamaha/WR-2trac/Page1.htm)

KTM are at it as well. (http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=892&fArticleId=2099027)

Very cool, how much fun would that be!

[homer]

Pretty sure you can adjust the ride height of a Goldwing on the fly as it were.

God should bless himself for blessing us with Honda.

Little known fact, Jesus translated into Japanese is Honda.

so jesus , was ghey to

[Headbanger]

so jesus , was ghey to


Thats what all the signs point to, even without the Honda connection.

Little known fact, In Spanish Jesus means pole smoker.


Sad but true.

[homer]

haha i like it ,
take that all you carpenter believers

[Sanx]

As far as motorcycles going, I think skiddy's full of it again. Of course they will improve and update with the strive to be lighter and faster. I think there are possibly new developments to come through in future and it would be close minded to say definitely not.

One thing I do know is that unless skiddy gets his life together seriously. His direction and that of the modern sportsbike, will never be the same. :nya:

Oh give it a fucken rest. He asked an innocuous question, which had prompted a few good answer. There was absolutely no need to this kind of petty point-scoring.

[brown13]

[QUOTE=munterk6;1530411]Next step in the evolution of motorcycles will be wings and a propulsion system that emerge from the bodywork like Transformers!


I guess it is named after a bird:laugh:

[Motu]

And it will get slower and slower till we all have small capacity rev boxes and then a sub culture of illegal anti-governing 'runner' forces will develop.

There you go - I just started a Science Fiction novel - haven't done one of them yet ;-)


I have been to the future - I brought these back from my last trip to 2065,and am selling them now on TradeMe.Just on $1 reserve as I can't bring any fuel back with me...but I'm working on it.The guys riding them are real cool dudes,used to be astronauts when they were kids - but they are on the doll here as they can't get a job in NZ flying spaceships.

[Boob Johnson]

Things I'd be interested in are integrated HUD in helmets with all bike manufacturers adopting a common API for data communications to and from the bike. None of that clip on stuff that just displays a couple of numbers. I want FLIR camera, IR headlamps, Image Intensifiers, Image Magnifiers all projected onto the visor, constantly tracking my eyes and overlaying the images in the way I chose. I want GPS data, all the readouts from the engine/fuel systems.

Basically I want everything that an Apache pilot has minus the guns.
Capt Andrey for president of whatever he needs to be to get that done

That would be seriously cool :2thumbsup

[homer]

just imagine what the future of a gn 250 may be

[Conquiztador]

Future for bikes when everything already invented eh..

Perhaps not?

Here a few things I can think of:

- Able to lean bike but not wheels
- Front and rear wheel steer
- No chain or shaft as power transferred to front and rear wheel by magnetic drive
- Frame stretches as speed increases
- Rake changes with speed to change trail
- Proper windtunnel design to make rider stay fully dry
- Automatic gearbox for bikes becomes better then manual
- Automatic sensing and setting of suspension based on weight of rider and pillon
- Limiting of HP by electronic means so that learners can use any bike
- Gyro to stabilize bike at low speed (able to sit at lights w/o putting feet to ground)
- Petrol will become something old men tell their grand children about as all will use power cells.

And my favorite: When bike parked an anchor is automatically drilled in to ground (3 meter deep) to stop thieving scum!

[Forest]

just imagine what the future of a gn 250 may be

I'd say the future GN250 will be remarkably similar to the past.

The more things change, the more they stay to same.

[Headbanger]

The future of the GN?

Hasn't production ceased?

[imdying]

Next step in the evolution of motorcycles will be wings and a propulsion system that emerge from the bodywork like Transformers!
You may chuckle...but think back to Star Trek, remember the Communicators, they looked amazing......and now 30 years later everyone has one.
The humble cellphone.

So I think Transformers is like the Star Trek of old. Wings and Propulsion!!:buggerd:

oh, and dont say Ive been smokin toooooo much, Ive cut it back to 2 j's a day lol !

Yeah, they probably had a fuel source on Star Trek.

It doesn't matter anyway, 10 years and bikes will be ornaments. Ornaments forgotten and discarded by all but the very few... everyone else will be organising raiding parties on the neighbours vege patch as the trucks bringing food no longer run as the boats bringing oil no longer come to New Zealand.

Waste all your money on bikes as soon as you can, cause they're not going to be here forever.

[awayatc]

Yeah, they probably had a fuel source on Star Trek.

It doesn't matter anyway, 10 years and bikes will be ornaments. Ornaments forgotten and discarded by all but the very few... everyone else will be organising raiding parties on the neighbours vege patch as the trucks bringing food no longer run as the boats bringing oil no longer come to New Zealand.

Waste all your money on bikes as soon as you can, cause they're not going to be here forever.

Whatever it is your on.......could you pleaase pass it on:chase::banana::apint:

[pritch]

Back in the day the Brit bike mags used to run an occasional article on the bikes of the future. This was one of those recurring themes that magazines dredge up in the depths of a northern winter... I still have some dating back to the early sixties and the bikes we have look nothing like the illustrations whatsoever.

Some of the things predicted in this thread for the future are here already. You can buy a bike with suspension preload and damping adjustable electronically by a button on the handlebar now if you want one. And if you can afford it:whistle: Henry at Experience BMW will be delighted to sell you one.

As oil supplies start to dwindle there may be social pressures against the recreational use of an increasingly precious resource which could radically effect the industry.

Meantime make the most of what we have, the best bikes ever. Except for next year...

[ManDownUnder]

Read Tim Hanna's book about John Britten and his total ground up design of that bike.

As a gross overly simplified view, he looked at the bike from what it needed to do and started building components that did that job the best way. Materials - light but strong... Carbon fibre

Suspension - radical approaches to it by throwing away current/accept approaches to it and doing it the old way because it works better... but this time done with carbon fibre... etc

Mark - the question is a bloody good one - where to from here? Who knows. But the one thing I do know is these things have an "evolution/revolution" cycle. The existing approach gets refind through a process of evolution, little improvements here and there until one day a clever dick in the backroom says "hang on a minute - THIS way might work..."

They try it - it does. That's the reviolution (USD forks being an example). After that it's refine refine refine.... and another brilliant idea comes along.

[inlinefour]

Oh give it a fucken rest. He asked an innocuous question, which had prompted a few good answer. There was absolutely no need to this kind of petty point-scoring.

If you think Im "point scoring" your clearly delusional, just like suggesting that there will never be any new developments from the modern makers of sportsbikes. Has anyone thought about how much money goes into research and development each year? Anyone who thinks the motorcycle is at its peak has a few screws lose or missing. Just because it differs to your/others views please do not spit the dummy and if you do insist on it, please clean the floor as its friggin disgusting.:baby: :killingme

[scissorhands]

Hubless rim drive, hybrid powered with pedals, citroen like rubber band suspension, 30kg kerb weight superlight plastic framed econo peoples bikes free with every big mack and peoples party booklet with chinese phrasebook and virtual wife guide. Exceeding 50km/hr will be punishable by castration

[EJK]

Guess they'll stay with 3 cylinders :cool:

[Mikkel]

Things I'd be interested in are integrated HUD in helmets with all bike manufacturers adopting a common API for data communications to and from the bike. None of that clip on stuff that just displays a couple of numbers. I want FLIR camera, IR headlamps, Image Intensifiers, Image Magnifiers all projected onto the visor, constantly tracking my eyes and overlaying the images in the way I chose. I want GPS data, all the readouts from the engine/fuel systems.

Basically I want everything that an Apache pilot has minus the guns.

Why not the guns? :devil2: Get rid of those pesky cagers once and for all - HELLFIRE BABY!

On a more serious note, headlights that will track your line of sight would be handy in the twisties at night! :yes:


Read Tim Hanna's book about John Britten and his total ground up design of that bike.

As a gross overly simplified view, he looked at the bike from what it needed to do and started building components that did that job the best way. Materials - light but strong... Carbon fibre

Suspension - radical approaches to it by throwing away current/accept approaches to it and doing it the old way because it works better... but this time done with carbon fibre... etc

Indeed if you're wondering about what might happen in the evolution of motorcycles the Britten is a good case to study!
Suspension has been following the same basic design for years and years now. Eventually someone might be able to do something that'll work better and at an acceptable price.

As for propulsion - one of the things that may become viable for high-performance engines are electro-magnetically driven valves like the ones in F1 cars. Eventually they should get that sorted I suppose.
That said, depending upon what the prospects for the oil reserves are looking like I'd expect companies to relocate research funding from petrol engines to alternative types of propulsion.

There by not said that there isn't a lot of things that could still be improved upon with petrol engines - but when there's only an expected 5 years of petrol left it becomes a moot point.

Lots of room for development in the drivers aid segment as well (although some people frown upon these things).

[skidMark]

Are you having a laugh? We're mere minutes away from 'traditional' ECU's, fly-by-wire and traction control finally being rolled together into an all in one 'smart-er' fuelling and ignition combo and you think there's nothing going on?

Failing that I'd offer the slipper clutch as a source of significant innovation still in the trickle down phase. By "still in" I mean "The Daytona doesn't have one yet".

Dave


But these are all slight improvements to existing things, just tweaks here and there.

I think we have some to a time that yes something new can be invented and we go oo ahh, but nothing that would just leave jaws dropped, i think never again will we have the same type of reaction the television got when it came out etc.

[Gubb]

On a more serious note, headlights that will track your line of sight would be handy in the twisties at night! :yes:

Citroen trialled that in the 50's.


The first year of aerodynamic glass enclosing the DS's headlights, along with driving lights turned by the steering, was also the first year those features were outlawed in the US.

Source. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_DS)

[Mikkel]

Citroen trialled that in the 50's.

What can I say? They're french. They make cars (sort off).

On a bike it would be much more technical since the headstock doesn't turn (at least not a significant amount).

What I would propose is either a sensor on the bike that detects the direction the helmet is facing and directs the lights accordingly. Or a transmitter in the helmet itself.

[skidMark]

Future for bikes when everything already invented eh..

Perhaps not?

Here a few things I can think of:

- Able to lean bike but not wheels
- Front and rear wheel steer
- No chain or shaft as power transferred to front and rear wheel by magnetic drive
- Frame stretches as speed increases
- Rake changes with speed to change trail
- Proper windtunnel design to make rider stay fully dry
- Automatic gearbox for bikes becomes better then manual
- Automatic sensing and setting of suspension based on weight of rider and pillon
- Limiting of HP by electronic means so that learners can use any bike
- Gyro to stabilize bike at low speed (able to sit at lights w/o putting feet to ground)
- Petrol will become something old men tell their grand children about as all will use power cells.

And my favorite: When bike parked an anchor is automatically drilled in to ground (3 meter deep) to stop thieving scum!

So you are basically talking about an easy to ride bike, with all the fun taken out of it, automatic, are you mad.

Dear god, one of the things i love most about bikes is to hear that engine roar, have full control over it myself, auto.

I really cant imagine automatic r1's etc.

just sounds like taking the fun out of it really.

[Big Dog]

I don't know where they will go becuase market forces will dictate that not reality.
In a perfect world they will take it upon themselves to provide a stiffer frame that is the same weight or less without the same fragile reaction to stress.

And there will be a fuckwit sensor installed on the bikes CPU.
If your a fuckwit you will not be able to turn the bike on (unless the transponder detects you are on a racetrack).
If your a fuckwit a lot of the time you will only be able to use the bike with all the features enabled (eg in nana mode with the abs on etc)(unless the transponder detects you are on a racetrack).
If your riding ability exceeds your boasting and aspirations the full glory of the 250hp 100kg bike will be released.

Some people on this site will not need a visit from the plod to find themselves walking home....

[Big Dog]

So you are basically talking about an easy to ride bike, with all the fun taken out of it, automatic, are you mad.

Dear god, one of the things i love most about bikes is to hear that engine roar, have full control over it myself, auto.

I really cant imagine automatic r1's etc.

just sounds like taking the fun out of it really.

Nah he is describing the fuckwit mode for the R1. (see my above post)

[musicman]

What I would propose is either a sensor on the bike that detects the direction the helmet is facing and directs the lights accordingly. Or a transmitter in the helmet itself.

Headlamps (http://www.opticsplanet.net/headlamps.html)? :p

[AllanB]

The auto thing is starting already - Aprilia have a 750 and its getting good reviews plus it is a option on a Big US Yahama tourer. If you think about it the box should end up as good as the cars with trip-tronic. Foot change if you desire as per usual, push a switch and auto mode for town running etc.

I expect to see advances in materials used - someone must be playing with ceramics etc. I foresee the 'plastic' (for want of a better term) engine on its way.

Bind you I also foresee Governments stepping in and lowering outright HP.

[KS34]

This thread is similar to bike design and design in general. Some nay sayers the out in left-feild group and the evolution band. One thing all manufactures do is develop/evolve old technology (chains, sprockets, combustion engines etc) or cheap new technology (computers, sensors) until consumer and environmental pressures force them to break out the new expensive technology under raps at present. When I look at my bike (2006) apart from some fancy cheap computer stuff it is very basic, when enough pressure is placed on the manufacturers we will see big change but at the moment we get incremental updates it's cheaper and we still say WOW.

[inlinefour]

So you are basically talking about an easy to ride bike, with all the fun taken out of it, automatic, are you mad.

Dear god, one of the things i love most about bikes is to hear that engine roar, have full control over it myself, auto.

I really cant imagine automatic r1's etc.

just sounds like taking the fun out of it really.

I'd like to have a bike that I could ride as a paraplegic and one of the things needed would be an auto. You need to think outside what you think a motorcycle should be Mark as for there is a reason why the motorcycle comes in so many forms. I'd love a HONDA that could assist me to stop falling off it due to the lack of control I have to 81% of my body. My car is auto, but has the tiptronic option with the controls also at the steering wheel. Which is a friggin cool way to wind out the turbo. Being to do that on a bike ot a trike with the same engine as my car would be fucking cool for my needs.:rockon:

[inlinefour]

Nah he is describing the fuckwit mode for the R1. (see my above post)

Bwaaaaaaaaaahhaahahahahhahhahahhahhahaha!!!!!!!! Sounds like the different modes available on the new gixxers, every retard should be able to ride it despite their brain and penis size. That is until they bin it because they think they are good and have a bigger wanger! :killingme

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