Remember the Brudeli 625L tilting trike? When we first covered the prototype over 2 years ago, it looked pretty neat, the 45 degree lean angles it’s capable of seemed like huge fun. Geir Brudeli, inventor of the trike, says they’ve been working on getting it approved for European roads and that hurdle is finally cleared so the Brudeli Leanster, as they’re now calling it, will be available for sale in Europe for your daily commute and whatever else you may have in mind. It will be presented at Intermot 2008, October 8-12.
Power for the Leanster is from a KTM 690 LC4 Single mated to a 6 speed transmission with 17 inch wheels all around. It weighs 525 pounds, 85 inches long on a 46 inch wheelbase. Seat height is almost 34 inches and top speed is 105 mph. Lean angle is limited to 45 degrees, which should be plenty for anyone. Price is $30,000.
The Piaggio MP3 introduced a lot of riders to the idea of a leaning trike but I think the Brudeli could raise the fun factor quite a few notches. Workmanship looks first rate and, look at those photos, tell me that doesn’t look like a hoot! Wet roads or gravel? No problem. Yep, pretty cool. Now, let’s see about getting it to the U.S.
Thanks for the tip, Dan!
Brudeli Press Release:
Brudeli Tech proudly presents our new Leanster, the Brudeli 654L, a unique new vehicle providing an extraordinary riding experience. The exclusive production model Brudeli 654L is available in very limited numbers and will be presented at Intermot 2008 (8th-12th October).
“Making 100 metre controlled powerslides at the local dirt track oval (speedway) is a quite unbeatable feeling. Especially when this is a street-legal vehicle that you actually came cruising with to the track.†says Geir Brudeli, the inventor of the Leanster and manager of Brudeli Tech. “Then just a few minutes later you could be at a go-kart track without any change of setup, leaning 45 degrees into corners with a control superior to that of a normal motorcycle. The Leanster suspension is 100% mechanical and leaves the rider in control. It is built with the goal of boosting the motorcycle experience.†Brudeli Tech believes their customers are going to use the 654L mainly for riding on normal roads, and this is what it is designed for.
The vehicle is best described as something in between a motorcycle and ATV-quad. It leans into corners like a motorcycle but, at the same time, has a lot of the stability of a sport quad. The idea was born on the Norwegian gravel and winter roads, but the Leanster has also proven to work extremely well on tarmac roads and go-kart tracks also. A lot of motorcyclists watch the dirt track races dreaming of being able to control a bike in the same way. The Brudeli 654L is a way of getting closer to that dream. The footboards stay parallel to the ground, while the rest of the vehicle, including the two front wheels, leans at an angle of up to 45 degrees. The two wheels in front also provide a shorter brake length. This is both about fun and safety.
The design of the new model was executed by Atle Stubberud of the company ‘Soon Design’ (www.soondesign.com). Atle Stubberud was also the key designer for the concept model from 2005. “This really is a dream project for a transportation designer. Nearly like a student project where you could start with a completely open mind. I have been involved since the idea was first formulated in 2001.†says Atle Stubberud.
Brudeli 654L is based on a KTM 690 Supermoto. The leanster will be street legal in Europe (TÃœV approved).
Price: The price will be about 21000 Euros (30000 USD) (ex. VAT and ex. Works Hokksund)
About the Company:
The company Brudeli Tech is currently owned by 12 Norwegian investors and partners and is completely independent from any of the large motorcycle manufacturers. The state owned “Innovation Norway†has been the most important partner in the business development, from the original idea until today. Innovation Norway’s mission is: “We give local ideas global opportunities.†Brudeli Tech is located at Eiker Næringspark, an industrial estate which was previously a concrete factory, but is today the home of several growing companies.
Technical facts:
ENGINE:
TYPE: KTM 690 LC4, Single cylinder, 4-stroke
VOLUME: 654.7 cc
POWER: 47kW/ 7,500 O/ min
TORQUE: 65 Nm / 6,550 O/ min
TRANSMISSION: 6 gear, dog clutch engagement
CHASSIS:
FRAME: Steel tubular frame
FRONT SUSPENSION: WP-4014 (rebound adjustment standard, additional high/low
speed compression adjustment is optional)
REAR SUSPENSION: WP-Monoshock with Pro-Lever red.
SUSPENSION TRAVEL: 180/210 mm (front/rear)
FRONT BRAKE: Special designed ISR calliper. Special design inside-out brake
discs, Ø325 mm discs
REAR BRAKE: Wilwood single piston / combined mechanical floating calliper,
brake disc Ø 240 mm
RIMS FRONT/REAR: 3.50 x17â€, Billet machined; Cast alu 5.00 x 17â€
TYRES FRONT/REAR: 120/70-17â€; 160/60-17â€
LEANING ANGLE: 45º max, adjustable
WIDTH: 1,250 mm
LENGTH/WHEEL BASE: 2,160 mm /1,510 mm
TOTAL HEIGHT: 1,170 mm (handlebar height) 1,380 (top of mirror)
GROUND CLEARANCE: 205 mm
SEAT HEIGHT: 860 mm
WEIGHT: 238 kg
TOP SPEED: 170 km/h
Link: Brudeli Tech AS
All photos: Rune Baashus
B*A*M*F says
I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people in the US to ride the Piaggio MP3. I loved it, which surprised me quite a bit. I think this layout has a lot of promise.
skadamo says
Never thought about a trike off road. Looks like fun, love that shot of it leaned out. Looks cooler than the MP3.
Alex says
21000 Euros… Yeah, this is gonna be selling like hot dogs…
Wave says
This looks like a really interesting concept and it would be fantastic to see it mass produced by a major manufacturer for about half the price. One of the first new forms of road transport this century!
B.Case says
Very cool. The videos of the thing in action are sweet too. And, it doesn’t look like a science project like other leaners I’ve seen. Simple chassis, simple engine, clean looks. I think these guys did a good job focusing on what was important.
-brian
jamesbowman says
I love the reverse trike leaning concept I think it truly offers the best comprimise between a car and motorcycle.
$30k really thats a shame because there is only about half as much worth of bike how can it cost so much to produce especially as it is not made of exotic light wieght materials like titanium, carbon fiber, magnesium etc…? Partially the low dollar value might be part of it. Anyway it looks like a blast to drive I watched all the videos on youtube. This is nicely done I would like to see lap times against a bike with similar power/wieght ratio.
As wave has already mentioned maybe some Japaneese manufacturer would by it out and make one for < $15k.
lostinoz says
“The footboards stay parallel to the ground”
Interesting… I would think that would take some getting used to, inside foot going up and outside foot going down when leaning into a turn. I’d love to test ride one, and see what it’s like but the CanAm spyder still has my vote for “next bike” this one looks a bit too much like a quad for my tastes as an everyday bike.
Phoebe says
I would love to take this thing for a spin…on the road and in some dirt!
VMX1000 says
This is pretty cool, but yeah, it’s way too expensive, and you can see why in the details. Outsourcing some of the work to asian countries might do the trick, but then again, that’s what everyone else in Norway are doing atm (that cursed oil industry), and it’s killing off all the once proud workshops in this country. The norwegian government has almost managed to kill all motorsport in general anyway, so it’s a wonder why anyone dares to spend money on a project like this to start with! For info; one 6 meter length of 16mm (2mm wt) seamless tubing (235 N/mm^2) costs around $137 if you are lucky enough to be allowed to buy any (they generally only sell to the industry…
Wol says
I’m surprised the price is as low as it is. This is coming from a first time manufacturer, first product / model to market with a very limited production run (read – hand made). There has probably been no return on all the investment so far and probably very little taken out of the company in terms of salaries. Compared to some one off hand made specials I think this is a very reasonable price. Do you really think that you would want to see your sweat and tears being made by a major bike manufacture?
Also note that it has already on Yamahas radar.
See the Tesseract
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/10/05/yamaha-tesseract-4-wheel-leaning-concept/
in the Kneeslider.
Looks like a 4 wheel Brudeli to me but enough to be different but over the top. One wheel should be enough at the back.
WOL.
chinook says
I haver been following the Brudeli since it was first announced a few years back. In the “3-wheel” section here on Kneeslider, they broke news on a Harley patent that looks damn-near identical to this bike. I wonder what the link is? Is someone going to court for copyright infringement?
moosehead says
The Harley patent is still an application AFAIK and has not been granted. It is for a hydraulicly actuated forced leaning system while this one is purely mechanical linkage based.
I like the idea of a leaning 3 wheeler. Better stability and handling than a 2 wheeler in bad conditions. Better braking because of the extra tires. More simple than the Can Am. Better if you ask me, because it does not need stability control to keep you from flipping it. Also, it does not want to throw you off like the Can Am does.
I liked the original fairing better. And the floorboards are totally unnecessary. And 523lb for something based on a single cylinder dirtbike seems a little heavy to me, especially for the price. If it is made of simple CrMo steel, it can be heavy and cheap. If it is made of titanium and aluminum or whatever it can be light and more expensive. But this one is heavy and expensive. That price. Egad!
When I am done building my CR 125 cafe race, I think I might build wifey a leaning trike out of a TTR230LE. Maybe 300lb tops.