The Kneeslider

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Hyanide and Baal – Others Finally Notice

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Hyanidetracked motorcycleIt looks like Popular Science finally discovered what The Kneeslider reported on six months ago. Back in January, we reported on the Michelin Challenge Design 2006 where two tracked motorcycle designs were introduced, the Hyanide and the Baal. We thought they were pretty cool and if you noticed, Tilmann Schlootz, one of the designers, jumped into our comment section to address the critics who said they looked like updated versions of old Finnish snowmobiles, particularly the Finncat.

It’s too bad the Popular Science article wasn’t written by a motorcycle rider though – “To turn left, for example, you’d push the right side of the handlebar forward, to point the front of the tread left—it’s the same motion as on a motorcycle. ” In their next “What’sNew” article, they’ll cover the concept of countersteering. 😉

Check out our article and comments on both the Hyanide and Baal and especially the comment section for some earlier single track vehicles.

Remember, if you want to hear about new technology first, don’t wait for the other guys, just read The Kneeslider. 🙂

Link: Popular Science

The Kneeslider: Hyanide and Baal Tracked Motorcycles

Posted on Filed Under: Alternative thinking, Motorcycle Design

Comments

  1. “To turn left, for example, you’d push the right side of the handlebar forward, to point the front of the tread left—it’s the same motion as on a motorcycle.” If “the same motion” refers to the wheel turning left, then the article is correct. When you push a motorcycle’s right handlebar forward, the front tire points to the left, which makes the bike lean to the right, which makes the bike go right.

    However, given the fact that a huge portion of the motorcycle riding public, and almost 100% of the non- motorcycle riding public, do not understand how a two-wheeled vehicle steers, the article should have been more clear about this point.

  2. i read the article this morning , it was a glowing article from a boy at the candy store. who cares if the author didn’t get the fine details of steering down. Richard your probably right most of the non-motorcycle riding public doesn’t know how counter steering works and most of the people reading popular science probably don’t ride motorcycles , so chill. That being said i read The kneeslider every day because you guys rock.

  3. I actually emailed the editor on Friday when the article showed up on CNN.com. 🙂

    I thanked her for the article and pointed out the counter-steering point.

  4. While all the technical stuff is very interesting, WHAT’S IT LIKE TO RIDE? Does it tear up sand dunes, make an interesting noise, or look wierd when you hang off it around corners. Any videos anywhere?

  6. this design is boring it nees more shape not like a blob with tracks and it could look more like a motorcycle it looks unstable also.

  8. This is a truly awesome looking concept for on/ off road/ all terrain use. But, I’d really like to ride this in a desert setting.

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