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Re: Motorcycle front-end Geometry

To: "Henry Deaton" <hdeaton@verio.com>,
Subject: Re: Motorcycle front-end Geometry
From: "JAMES CANNON" <dr.piston@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 18:24:23 -0500
The front end pictured is basically an exagerrated girder found on many
sixties and early seventies choppers. They were also stock on some of the
indians. I had one on a 69 sportster and I don't think handlig is helped at
all with the radius you get between the frame neck and the actual fork. Good
luck with it.
                                                                        Jim
from Salem VA
-----Original Message-----
From: Henry Deaton <hdeaton@verio.com>
To: List Land Speed <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Date: Thursday, January 11, 2001 5:45 PM
Subject: Re: Motorcycle front-end Geometry


>The bike shown uses a draglink between the front forks and the handlebars.
>The main advantage I'm looking for is improved aerodynamics. Since the
>forks are solid, I can use streamlined tubing. I'm also hoping to keep the
>front of the bike lower than I could with standard forks. Ideally I'd use
>some kind of hub-center steering, so the Hossack is a compromise that
>should be more aerodynamic than telescopic forks and also simpler, easier,
>and less expensive to build than a hub-center front end.
>
>The design has some other advantages too, like maintaining the same rake
>and trail throughout the full range of travel and no dive when you brake,
>things that are more important to bikes that need to turn or brake for
corners.
>
>BTW, I had to ask about the steering too when I first saw this front end.
>
>Henry Deaton
>SF, CA
>
>
>
>
>At 04:18 PM 1/11/2001 -0600, Keith Turk wrote:
>>Henry... I am throwing this opinion out there based on nothing but my
>>concept of how to go fast and try and be semi reliable....
>>
>>I went to the Website and checked out the front end.... try as I might I
>>couldn't see how the steering was applied to the front end.... nor could I
>>see the real benefits from it over a simple triple clamp/ conventional
Folk
>>arrangement....
>>
>>I guess what I am trying to say is could you enlighten me as to the
>>advantages of a system this complicated....
>>
>>Keith ( big fan of the KISS principal )
>>
>>----------
>> > From: Clay, Dale <Dale.Clay@mdhelicopters.com>
>> > To: 'Henry Deaton' <hdeaton@verio.com>; List Land Speed
>><land-speed@autox.team.net>
>> > Subject: RE: Motorcycle Front-End Geometry
>> > Date: Thursday, January 11, 2001 4:01 PM
>> >
>> > Henry,
>> >
>> > I don't have much experience with "lay down" bikes but those numbers
are
>> > pretty close to what fuel bikes run and they're up around 230 for blown
>> > fours and 200 for twins.
>> >
>> > With the limited amount of travel required, I doubt you need as
>>complicated
>> > a suspension as that, but if you want to play with it ...
>> >
>> > Dale
>> >
>> > Hey Dick J. is that your 300K mile bemmer in the photo?
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Henry Deaton [mailto:hdeaton@verio.com]
>> > Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 2:44 PM
>> > To: List Land Speed
>> > Subject: Motorcycle Front-End Geometry
>> >
>> >
>> > I'm finally ready to start building my electric LSR bike. Here's what
>>I've
>> > got planned so far:
>> >
>> > Hossack-style front end, 1.5" travel:
>> > http://www.eurospares.com/tfoale/mmjpg/tfbmw.jpg
>> > solid rear end
>> > 3.5x17 front wheel, with a 120/60ZR17 tire
>> > 4.5x18 rear wheel, with a 160/60ZR18 tire
>> > wheelbase around 70" (bike needs to fit on my 4x8 trailer)
>> > weight without rider about 600 lbs, with rider around 760 lbs.
>> > Forklift motor
>> > CVT snowmobile transmission
>> > 270 lbs AGM batteries, 120 volts
>> >
>> > Speed should be in the 150 to 175 mph range? (well, ya gotta have a
goal,
>>
>> > right?)
>> >
>> > I was wondering if anyone on the list has any thoughts about front-end
>> > geometry. I'm thinking of using a front rake around 40 to 45 degrees,
and
>>
>> > about 8 to 10 inches of trail. That's what a guy that builds dragbike
>> > frames recommended to me.
>> >
>> > Any comments or questions would be appreciated. I've done some drag
>>racing
>> > with electric bikes in the past, but this LSR stuff is pretty new to
me.
>> > Mainly looking for tips on how to build a bike for straight-line
>>stability
>> > at El Mirage and Bonneville.
>> >
>> > BTW, only 115 days until El Mirage.
>> >
>> > Henry Deaton
>> > SF, CA

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