The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

JLSP305 – 300cc 5 cylinder Honda by Jean-Luc Borgetto

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How many of you know of the 125cc Honda 5 cylinder racer ridden by Luigi Taveri in 1966? It's a truly fascinating bit of engineering. Jean-Luc Borgetto, who we last wrote about way back when he built the JLS503, a 500cc 3 cylinder racer, inspired by the MV Agusta 500 GP bike, has built another beauty. His new bike, the JLSP305, takes inspiration from the 125cc 5 cylinder, … [Read more...]

What’s the Point of Model Years?

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Have you ever wondered why motor vehicles are sold by the model year? It's been going on for so long, no one seems to think much about it other than to wonder what the "new" models will have that's different from the "old" ones. Cars change sheet metal or plastic a little bit and put some spiffy new electronic gizmo in the dash, but motorcycles often do a lot less, commonly … [Read more...]

It’s Not Original – It’s Just Pieces of Something Else – Anyone Can Do That – OK Maybe Not

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Sitting in a college classroom many years ago, I was looking at an image. It was a very simple image of two common objects, a bicycle seat and handlebars. Nothing was hidden, you could plainly see the seat and handlebars, yet there, too, was what appeared to be a bull's head. It turns out, this was a well know bit of art work created in 1942 called, ... yes, "Bull's Head," by … [Read more...]

Grail Engine – a Clean Multi Fuel Two Stroke

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Just because 2 stroke engines were set aside in production vehicles, it doesn't mean development stopped, in recent years there has been increasing attention paid to these powerful and compact engines and the Grail Engine is an interesting example. It's a multi fuel, variable compression, highly efficient 2 stroke with built in supercharging and intercooling. The Grail … [Read more...]

Moto Guzzi Superbike Concept by Luca Bar

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Just poking around looking at designs and noticed this prototype for a Moto Guzzi superbike by Luca Bar. From the look of it, he's using the 8 valve 1200cc engine found in the Griso mounted in a frame of his own design with a girder front suspension. It looks to me like it would be a satisfying ride and it would give Moto Guzzi something to offer those folks looking for an … [Read more...]