The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

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...]

Wide Angle Distortion Free Rear View Mirror Eliminates Blind Spot

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The choice is simple, rear view mirrors are either flat or wide angle, but we're all familiar with the distorted image in the wide angle versions, those curved mirrors bend everything onto the convex surface. Then along comes Drexel University mathematics professor Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, who came up with an algorithm to precisely control the angle of light bouncing off of his … [Read more...]

3D Design Software Shows Even Free has a Cost

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In the latest Make magazine, they mention two 3D design programs available on the Internet, Tinkercad and 3dTin, both offered at the now very popular price of free. After I wrote about Autodesk Inventor Fusion a few weeks ago, also free for a limited time, I couldn't help but think, some of this free software could be very expensive and you should compare what "free" costs … [Read more...]

Gasoline Engines Make Bicycle Racing More Fun

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As soon as there were internal combustion engines, someone was looking at his bicycle and wondering how to fit the two together. In recent years, there have been quite a few builders making kits to transform bicycles into motorized commuters and some have built bikes emulating the style of those very early years. But, as long as you have wheels and an engine, the obvious next … [Read more...]