The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Nucleus – Alternative Fuel Concept Motorcycle

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This is what the designer, Branko Lukic, calls the nUCLEUS, an alternative fuel motorbike concept. He thinks motorcycles shouldn't mimic one another but instead should do things differently. His nUCLEUS (Why do designers write like they hit the caps lock?) is a "square against the air" which looks like a slab from the side but from the front presents only blades to confront the … [Read more...]

The Uno – Parallel Wheel Electric Motorcycle

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18-year-old Canadian, Ben J. Poss Gulak, has always done a lot of tinkering, model trains, rockets, that sort of thing, but the Uno, is something else entirely. The Uno, is a parallel wheel, electric motorcycle that operates like a Segway, lean forward to go forward, lean backwards to go in reverse. Ben unveiled his creation at the 2008 National Motorcycle Show in Toronto, … [Read more...]

Motorcycle Powered Hydrostatic Drive Racecar

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As long as we're discussing hydrostatic drive around here with the diesel hydrostatic drive motorcycle and a 2WD hydrostatic trail bike, how about a hydrostatic drive race car? Bob Horn sent in this link showing some design work done by students at Aston University in England. As part of a project called the Global Design Initiative (GDI), students in countries around the … [Read more...]

Honda Gold Wing Jet Fighter

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There's very little I can say about this. Take one Honda Gold Wing and turn it into a ground bound jet fighter, ... kinda, sorta. He has the sound worked out pretty well, there's a 12,000 rpm turbine inside with a microphone next to it, creating the illusion of a jet on the taxiway. He doesn't cite performance figures except to say he wouldn't take it over 80 mph on the … [Read more...]

How About Some Real Motorcycle Innovation?

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Picture this, your buddies are dragging knees and pushing hard on their favorite canyon road, the familiar sound of inline 4 cylinder engines in everyone's ears, then all of a sudden you're there, no one heard you approach from behind and all they hear now is a bit of a high pitched whine. You're riding an electric! Then someone else swoops in, this time the sound is deeper … [Read more...]

TechShop – Fully Equipped Membership Workshop

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There's a workshop out in Menlo Park, California, TechShop, that runs a lot like a health club. They installed all of the high end equipment you would need to build most anything you can think of but would cost too much and take up too much space for the average person to buy. Then they charge a membership fee to a limited group of builders who get full access to make whatever … [Read more...]