Comments on: Monotrack Experimental by Dan Hanebrink

By: Peg Leg Craig

Peg Leg Craig — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:44:36 +0000

I was a younger mechanic in the pits of Ontario and Riverside, watching, learning and lending a hand. Dan turned up with the “Monotrack Bike” at Ontario and blew the tech inspectors away, they really had a tough time with it at first. He did get it on the track and it sounded as different as it looked. As I recall it went well and turned plenty of heads, mine included.

By: B. Case

B. Case — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:24:56 +0000

No biggie, Tom. Like I said, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if it wasn’t for the Antarctic collaboration with Dan. I have always tried to do my best to mention the names of fellow contributors, as most innovations are rarely a one-man effort. Most times, the press feels contributor names complicate the story. No biggie, it happens.

All due respect to Dan and his tremendous body of work, I did get to see the Monotrack at a show last year. I think it was at the Vegas auction? I was looking for Dan but wasn’t sure if he was there. I stared at that thing for at least a half hour. Amazing piece of machinery.
The Wraith has been in production since September and is selling well. I have since left and am now doing freelance. Best wishes to all of your endeavors. -BC

By: Tom Sitton

Tom Sitton — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:51:00 +0000

Kneeslider, Dan Hanebrink told me about your webpage. Nice page! If you or anyone would like more info on Dan Hanebrinks Motorcycles / Bicycles go to his new web page http://www.america-board-trackers.com or http://www.hanebrinktechnologies.com or e-mail him at Dan@hanebrinktechnologies.com
As far as the Extreme terrian bike goes. I / we Big Bear Bikes / Team Hanebrink in 1995 held the first Extereme Terrain Snowbike Race in Big Bear Lake ,CA. Rob Carpenter Won. The Dune Bike was an Ice/Snow bike from the beginning. We live in the mountians and wanted to ride all year, Dan built the first ET in 1993. I remember putting screws in the tires for better traction. Dan designed the bike for the Ice and snow from the beginnig and after words we discovered that it was a great beach /sand bicycle. Case, keep up the great work. How is the Wraith doing? I hope well.
Thank you for your time.
Tom Sitton
Tom@hanebrinktechnologies.com
http://www.american-board-tracker.com

By: Case

Case — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 20:24:45 +0000

Yes, the motorcycle world is VERY small. Which is why the one’s who ARE in it have an obligation to help each other, as well as pave the way for other creative souls to join in. Especially for those who don’t have access to lots of money and expensive engineering software.

Although, these days practicllay anyone with Internet can pirate the same software Ferrari uses just to get their ideas hashed out. (DISCLAIMER: I am not condoning what I just wrote, that’s illegal silly!)

Having an innovation support site to encourage garage start-ups is something I would support. Kneeslider is the best forum that I know of who could offer this. I’d imagine that you’ll get plenty of responses and interesting concepts. Then you need a producer and some cameras, next it’s Kneeslider TV! Or at least maybe Podcasts. I know another designer who does weekly interviews with other design professionals and Podcast’s them for the world. These days it seems anyone can broadcast a show. I’m even putting some of our videos on YouTube, ’cause it’s just so easy to access so many people.

I’d like to see more companies offer design competitions. This is a great way to get noticed when you’re just starting out. I hear Confederate has even considered it. With the success of the MotoGP project at Savannah College of Art, it’s very well possible in the near future for us to enlist the help of teams of designers.

Maybe we’ll just throw out a challenge like, design us a fuel cell/hybrid motorcycle, to be used on the great American roadways, that gets excellent fuel economy, has progressive looks but not arbitrarily futuristic, all while retaining the essense, romance and alluring sound of an American internal combustion motor. Is it possible? Who knows, but if you have a concept please send it to bcase@confederate.com!

By: kneeslider

kneeslider — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 00:49:23 +0000

Now that is an interesting sidelight to the story! Thanks for adding the “where it all began” information. I just mentioned the ice bike in passing and my “research” on it was to point to the page describing the bike because I thought it was pretty neat and until I saw it on his site, I had never come across it before. I didn’t know it was just a wee bit controversial. Just shows what a small world the motorcycle business can be and until the Internet, dots like this would never connect.

As to the monotrack itself, like RH above who emailed and got no response from Hanebrink, I, too, emailed and got no response. I was actually sitting on this post for a while waiting for some more feedback and just decided to put this out as is, based on the info from his site.

And, Case, that really is a fascinating little “how you got here” story. Again, small world …