Comments on: Modular Motorcycles – A Path for Upgrades

By: coho

coho — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:08:05 +0000

What hoyt said.

By: hoyt

hoyt — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:53:42 +0000

cheaper isn’t the end game. Getting closer to THE bike you want without having to go to the one-off custom route is more of the end game.

By: Ry

Ry — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:14:05 +0000

Basically if you are into the custom bike scene , motorcycles are modular . You buy a basic frame , you buy a big shiny V twin of your choice, pick out the rest of the details and POOFFF! you have a modular motorcycle. The modular motor cycle idea is awesome but it has a long way to go before it becomes a cheaper way to purchase a motorcycle.

By: Wave

Wave — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:10:13 +0000

I think desktop computers are much better examples of upgradable modular design than digital cameras, but there are of course several problems facing the modularisation of motorcycles which computers have already resolved. The first big issue is that, for every part which you want to be modular, an independent standards committee of some kind must appoint a new system of standard connections. Imagine, for example, all exhaust flanges being the same on every bike. This would not be suitable for engines of different sizes, so a series of different sizes of exhaust flange would be needed. The motorcycle as a machine would be very difficult to make completely modular but I think that, if a manufacturer decided to make all it’s own parts interchangable and offer motorcycles built-to-order from the parts bin, it could be possible, albeit expensive.

One example of how modularisation (or parts sharing) can work in vehicle manufacture though, is Nissans from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. The engines, transmissions and differentials from most RWD Nissans in that period are completely interchangable. Whilst you could never order one from the factory, a few hours with the spanners and some factory parts could see a Skyline GTS-T engine and gearbox in a Silvia, or even a 1990s Skyline differential and IRS into a 240Z!

By: Mr. Tanshanomi

Mr. Tanshanomi — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:31:10 +0000

Motorcycles were actually rather modular, way back when. When bikes had tubular handlebars, you could easily swap your out for another bend you preferred. You could easily fit a Ceriani front end to just about any bike you wanted with just a new steering stem, and perhaps a couple of tapered rollers. In the age of drum brakesm a custom torque strap made from flat stock and perhaps a couple of spacers were all that was needed to fit just about any bike out there. Twin-shock rear ends ensured that swingarms could be easily fab’d or swapped. Heck, even old British bolt-on hardtails could be considered modular construction.

Perhaps those characteristics are part of why vintage cafe racers and resto-customs remain popular.