Single sided swing arms?

**The_Dover** · 28th October 2005, 13:51

What do you guys reckon to them? I think they look very pretty but as an engineer I would think they're pretty hard on the wheel bearings?

**bugjuice** · 28th October 2005, 13:53

I've been told that single sided arms 'feel' better than conventional.. I guess they can't be too bad on bearings. Some bikes have used the design for years and years. If it was an issue on parts, they would have knocked it off by now..

can even convert a lot of bikes to SSA now.. cost a small country to do it

**inlinefour** · 28th October 2005, 13:55

Not having ever owned one, I don't have an opinion, except for the comment: if it was no good, then they would probably not do it.

**Lou Girardin** · 28th October 2005, 13:59

Can't see how they are hard on bearings. The stress forces work in the same plane as double sided arms.

**Brian d marge** · 28th October 2005, 14:11

Originally Posted by The_Dover

What do you guys reckon to them? I think they look very pretty but as an engineer I would think they're pretty hard on the wheel bearings?

they make getting the wheel off easier ,,,other than that ,,,,they do not survive the floatation test ...in order to get the same stiffness as a conventional swing arm, the Section Modulus has to be bigger ...that would be fine if the swing arm was made of thin walled aluminium ,,,but it aint ,,,its cast ...and heavy ....
On its defence ,,,the sprung weight is slightly less ( The weight around the wheel ...I always get these two mixed up ,,,,)
The Situation I see them fitting in ,,,is Non race bike ..( was going to say endurance ,,,but they use conventional S/arms ) as you can remove the wheel easily ...
The bearings would fare the same ( off the top does any one know the bearing number for the rear wheel,,,,,606...???) but the AXIL the bearings ride on would be having a hard time where it bolted into the swingarm ,,due to lack of support ....

Stephen

**kerryg** · 28th October 2005, 14:13

Ducati reverted to conventional swingarms on their recent bikes after flirting with S/S on the 916/748. Maybe tells you something, I'm not sure, but if they were that great surely they'd be in widespread use but only a coupla of bikes gottem now (VFR...anything else???). Look very trick though

**Ixion** · 28th October 2005, 14:13

Seem to work pretty well in just about every car on the road.

**sAsLEX** · 28th October 2005, 14:14

Nothing better, enginnering wise they would prob be heavier due to only having one arm to counter the lateral and torsion stresses( up and downy and side to sidey) , plus they look better and make changing wheels easyier?

**Cibby** · 28th October 2005, 14:14

i think they look like shit..

they probalby suck as well

lets all go to the pub and get tanked!!!! :hbd:

**jrandom** · 28th October 2005, 14:16

Originally Posted by Cibby Chick

lets all go to the pub and get tanked!!!! :hbd:

Galbraiths, 6pm.

I'll be kicking The Dover's arse and feeding him a pint after.

go on.

**vifferman** · 28th October 2005, 14:17

OK.

Single-sided swingarms were introduced by Elf-Honda for endurance racing. They're great for quick wheel changes, but nowadays are mostly for looks.

They're heavier than conventional swingarms for a given stiffness (or else not as stiff if light), and carry a lot more unsprung weight. Hop on a bike with SSSA after riding one with a conventional swingarm, and the first thing you'll notice is the swingarm thumping over small bumps and ripples: the unsprung weight at work.

They were originally fitted to Honda VFRs, but are currently also fitted to Triumphs and MV Agustas.

**zadok** · 28th October 2005, 14:18

My NTV did 119,000km without a problem with the bearings. The tyre shop loved replacing my rear tyres, as they were so easy to do. No chain, brakes etc to take off and replace.