LED's are showing up everywhere. I see them in a lot of traffic lights these days, they last forever and use less power. You see them in a lot of taillights for custom motorcycles and cars and as replacement kits for lots of motorcycles. I haven't been paying close attention but I wonder how many are showing up in standard production vehicles. Once they get them to the point … [Read more...]
3D printers and Fab labs
A while back I said easy access to advanced software made smaller shops capable of high level design and engineering and used the Motoczysz C1 and Hayabusa V8 as examples. Well, hold on to your hat, Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore. Some time ago I read a few brief articles on 3D printers and thought, hmm... interesting, after which I pretty much forgot about them. Seems a … [Read more...]
More ENV observations
When I looked at the ENV hydrogen motorcycle the other day, it seemed to be a great showcase for the hydrogen fuel cell technology it uses, and it is that, but it really isn't a bad design in any event. It has an aluminum frame and swingarm (with an enclosed monoshock), belt drive, good ground clearance and suspension travel, in other words, this could really work. Seeing … [Read more...]
Hydrogen Motorcycle – details and picture
Here's more information on the hydrogen motorcycle I mentioned last night. Called the ENV (emissions neutral vehicle) it has a top speed of 50mph and a range of 100 miles. Of course, this will improve as the technology is advanced. Built by Intelligent Energy, they designed the ENV to look very clean and simple and combined with a sound level about the same as the computer … [Read more...]
Hydrogen motorcycle
Just the other day I was wondering about this, suppose they came up with some new motorcycle engine that was completely silent or just gave off a little whine, would you still want to ride it? Well, here we have a hydrogen motorcycle with just that problem ... or issue or whatever. But therein lies the problem. British engineers who yesterday unveiled the prototype of the … [Read more...]
Hybrid motorcycles
Would you enjoy riding a hybrid motorcycle? News stories about hybrid cars and hydrogen cars and alternate fuels are coming out daily. It's only a matter of time before these same technologies become available for motorcycles although, in some sense, things are beginning to change already with more development of diesel motorcycles that could run on biodiesel fuel. But just … [Read more...]