Just got this photo from Jeff Parker, you know him, he’s the guy from Hydraulic Innovations who built the hydrostatic drive diesel motorcycle we covered last May. Well, Jeff is hard at work in the super secret hydraulic innovations skunk works and he’s almost finished with this hydrostatic 2WD motorcycle. Jeff calls it the Raccoon.
Can you imagine this little bruiser out on the trails? I think it looks great and as soon as we have more details we’ll give you the full story.
Correction: This 2WD is a gas powered (8 hp Honda) motorcycle, NOT a diesel as originally stated.
UPDATE: It’s finished!
Related: Hydrostatic drive diesel motorcycle
mathieu says
interesting little thing.
Phoebe says
I have no idea how that works, but that is sooo cool!! I love it!
taxman says
Ian Drysdale did something like this back in 1999 didn’t he? maybe it’s not the same. i do like the idea. and this is a neat looking trail bike.
drysdales bike info:
http://home.mira.net/%7Eiwd/2x2x2/tech/2wdoverview.html
JC says
Rokon too, they have advertised in Popular Science and Popular Mechanics for years.
http://www.rokon.com/about/index.htm
IMHO, it’s an answer to a question not very many people ask, so it’s got to be a really small market space.
kneeslider says
Rokons are not hydrostatic drive, I believe they are belt or chain drive.
pghcyclist says
I love the dual cantilevered wheels.
todd says
If I had the time and the money I would be doing things people thought were a waste of time and money too.
I like it and hope him the best. Hopefully Honda buys it and uses it as an update for their Trail 90-110 model. Imagine how many motorhomes would love to be toting one of these around.
-todd
akbar says
looks like a blast to me. My first two wheeled vehicle was a little lawn mowered powered turd, but I had a lot of fun on it. This looks like much more fun, perhaps I will buy one for my son and we will see who rides it more
steve says
I think the design has merit for certain applications, like the ecorider. http://www.ecorider.com/
B*A*M*F says
Aside from the lack of suspension, I’m pretty enamored with the thing.
chappy says
Very cool, if reliable it could be a neat alternative to a Rokon. The way it gets power to the wheels will make for more frame options (and possible styling options), plus it is simple.
I just want to know when they are going to make one more along the lines of a enduro with suspension.
wendell says
It looks like a garage door in the background, you guys have no excuse whatsoever.
Jeff Parker says
It does have a few inches of seat suspension. I know it’s a little crude, but if you look under the seat there is a shortened upside down leaf spring. The only reason I didn’t build it with real suspension was for weight reasons. Don’t take it too seriously, It’s just a big experimental toy!
Jeff Parker
coho says
Ditto what todd said.
Well done, Jeff.
Den says
Beaut’ work!
It looks very much to function like the Rokon, I do think it could be great with a diesel engine.
The Drysdale prototype was also hydrostatic 2WD, but also featured hub stearing at both ends, the machine was also a two stroke and geared more towards the enduro side rather than the slow trail Rokon Idea.
A hydrostatic drive diesel 2WD superbike with hub stearing up front would be brilliant, I would build one myself but I am too talentless, poor and unmotivated.
pghcyclist says
Huh Didn’t see it before but I really like the leaf spring on the rear of the seat. Its a simple and elegant solution.
Don says
Fantastic looking bike. How fast is it capable of going ? Any issues with overheating or cavitation of the pump with such a small reservoir ? Low end power ? Does it perform anything like a Rokon ?
Richard says
Long overdo,it’s bad to the bone, I think I would beef up the front fork.
Paul Yak says
Bloody GREAT! Anything that looks at the 100+ yr old design of a motorbike and tries something different is cool with me.
BUT Anybody who can reduce losses of the crank power to back wheel power will be the biggest success. 20% loss of a standard bike is huge, you think of how much effort goes into gaining 30hp reliably on a Sport motorcycle. Then imagine either instantly having up to 30hp of extra power or reducing power at the crank by 30hp and having the same back wheel power. I can dream can’t I!