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Post by robmarsh on Jan 24, 2018 6:36:37 GMT
Talking cricket I am about to sit down and watch South Africa play India at the "bullring" Wanderers today. I will be watching on TV but will enjoy it nonetheless. After India we will soften up Australia for you ChrisB/Jamie so you can give them a proper drubbing in the UK. I always enjoy the ashes series especially when the aussies get there arses handed back to them so here's hoping you guys can deliver in July. My latin teacher/cricket coach always said that the only true test series was England v Australia. He was english but still he has a point.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 19:56:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 19:58:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 19:59:27 GMT
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Post by chrisb on Jan 24, 2018 21:44:25 GMT
thank you Lucio, now that to me is where we should be looking for the future of engines!
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Post by mikael on Jan 25, 2018 13:13:49 GMT
A very original and creative inventor indeed, in addition to being a great racing driver.
Another idea of Dan Gurney, the Alligator motorcycle, where the main idea was to get the centre of gravity as low as possible, was interesting too.
(But it's interesting to note that mainstream motorcycle design somehow has gone the opposite way. Looking at modern MotoGP bikes, for example, they are now almost as "long-legged" as motocross bikes. It seems that what is important is to get as much mass as possible concentrated in the geometric centre, "at a point" as far as possible. This can be seen clearly on modern motocross bikes, where it's taken to the extreme.)
Description of the Alligator motorcycle on the All American Racers homepage: allamericanracers.com/alligator-motorcycle-dan-gurney-post/
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2018 14:50:19 GMT
A motorbike at speed is usually easier to balance dynamically if the cg of mass is relatively high.
At low speed, like in town, it’s the opposite: the lower the cg, the easier a motorbike is to handle, and perhaps that was the rationale behind the Alligator.
Such low seat also would probably limit its use on longer journeys, as sitting that low one would need an “iron butt” and especially, my experience on a low slung custom tells me, steel tendons in your legs…
Personally, as I don’t pretend I am a racer, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer lighter bikes.
The GS1200, for example, is a great bike, but with all the weight so high – especially the in the Adventure – right in front of your chest, the extremely tall seat and more than 270kg to shift around, there is not much use of it every day - unless riding Coast to Coast on the Interstates, in which case it would be a doodle.
On the other hand, the F800GSA, has its 24 litres tank under the seat, not in front of your chest as usual, and it rides beautifully also at low speeds (but the seat height is still huge, 890mm!! geez, what's wrong with BMW?).
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Post by chrisb on Jan 25, 2018 19:39:18 GMT
perfectly put Lucio, my previous bike was a Triumph Sprint ST1050 - which was great for twisties, quickies and traffic, but long straight journeys and my ageing body protested a bit too much - whilst now I have a Tiger1050 and it is ok on the twisties, the quickies and great for long journeys, but filtering, slow traffic not so good but manageable
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Post by Carl on Jan 25, 2018 20:07:51 GMT
I had a Honda 550-4 and a Suzuki GS550, both nicely balanced at all times except along the cow path I foolishly decided to ride in Big Sur. The dirt path suddenly developed steep sides and a narrow crown and I bent one of the Honda's turn signal stalks trying to turn around, hurting mainly my pride.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2018 20:53:44 GMT
I always liked the inline fours, particularly the Hondas, and their sound. If they would make again the Nighhawk (CB750), unlikely, I would have it in a heartbeat. Motorcycles have changed, now all the rage are the dual sports, so for example Honda has the Africa Twin, beautiful, as a response to the BMW's GS - in place of what once was the CB750 - but it's still too big and heavy for mixed use, commuting into London and travel.
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Post by Carl on Jan 26, 2018 1:17:57 GMT
I always liked the inline fours, particularly the Hondas, and their sound. If they would make again the Nighhawk (CB750), unlikely, I would have it in a heartbeat. Motorcycles have changed, now all the rage are the dual sports, so for example Honda has the Africa Twin, beautiful, as a response to the BMW's GS - in place of what once was the CB750 - but it's still too big and heavy for mixed use, commuting into London and travel. Lucio, I'm wary of twins because they aren't as naturally balanced. Nonetheless, when I was 18 I wanted a BSA 650 Lightning and would stare longingly at BSA print ads. At that time British motorcycles were considered best by many enthusiasts, but very shortly the Japanese caught and surpassed them all! I was always drawn to standard road bikes that had good power and handled beautifully and never wanted a cafe racer with clip-on handlebars. Compromise was the way. The Honda and Suzuki both had fantastic inline fours, great speed and the handling balance that comes with relative light weight (420 lbs wet for the GS550), Both were great motorcycles and the Suzuki was an absolute dream after I had air suspension front forks, aftermarket rear shocks and tuned headers fitted. I called her Suzi-Q, the fastest lady I ever went with.  Cheers, Carl |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2018 7:26:40 GMT
LOL Great post, Carl |
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Post by chrisb on Jan 26, 2018 8:07:50 GMT
brilliant Carl,
I've had Honda's and Suzuki's as well as 4 Triumphs, I've tried the twins and the boxers but and I know this is a personal choice I just love the triple's - really looking forward to Moto2 - that will be something special, but funny enough I think the most underrated bike was the Honda CBF1000 - it was great around town, manoeuvred well, was great on long journey's and had a great top-speed - my only thing was the rev-range -it was nothing or all- i do like torquey machines and the Triumphs really suit that
funny enough Carl am looking at buying a classic bike and it would probably be a BSA
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2018 11:18:56 GMT
It's somehow appropriate we're having a discussion - an OT, really - in the thread dedicated to Dan, whom everything I have been reading these last few days shows how a good engineer he really was.
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Post by mikael on Jan 26, 2018 15:20:03 GMT
I agree Lucio. It's possibly me who brought the thread off topic and I had second thoughts about including what I placed in brackets. But eventually I thought, it cannot be a bad thing to discuss his ideas. His ideas, like the motorcycle and the new engine, are such that you really cannot get them out of your head again, once you've read about them. They're that interesting.
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