The Kneeslider

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Osmos hubless wheel

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Osmos wheel motorcycleAs I was rummaging around in some dusty old computer files at The Kneeslider, I came across this link to the Osmos hubless wheel. It’s an interesting design I’ve seen on some concept motorcycles and cars. If success depends on looks, this wheel has what it takes. No hub allows all sorts of neat suspension possibilities, that much I get. I understand how brakes and steering and suspension work. What I don’t understand is, how do you drive it? How do you get the motive power from the engine transferred to the wheel? If there is some high ratio gear set up enclosed in the small attachment area I suppose that could work but the revs necessary at that gear might be extreme. A belt around the outer rim might work. I guess the best solution would be some sort of electric drive mechanism like that found on the Aprilia Magnet. This issue might be why we don’t see more of these.

Posted on Filed Under: Alternative thinking, Motorcycle Design

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Comments

  1. To answer your riddle, its not some complex gearing or cool unheard of design. Its already being used on some choppers today. All it is is a smaller wheel that is hooked up to your trans. and rests on the back wheel. Its position is right behind the wheel and under the seat so it looks like nothing is making contact. The trans. turns the small wheel like it would the sprocket on a normal bike, and that is what gives power to the rear wheel.

  2. Thanks for the info! I have seen some choppers with hubless wheels in photos and never looked very close. I’ve haven’t seen any hubless setups in person so I never got the chance to examine how they worked. I think I have seen some friction drive setups on choppers but they didn’t have hubless wheels as I remember, could be wrong though. Thanks again.

  4. Hi, if you are interested I can help you with hubless wheel technology, I believe I have built the first hubless mini chopper, I have been working independently on the technology since I graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University if you would like to see my sons mini chopper in mach up stage send me an e-mail with your e-mail address…..T3Customs

  6. im really interested in the hubless wheel for my mini chopper as well. i plan on building them for a living though, but the first one im building is for myself, and i would like to know how the initial wheel is mounted and is able to stay in one place while powered. I would like to know if anyone you have an information on where i could possibly learn how to build a hubless wheel. and who has the plans if possible to buy. i dont want junk though, something worth putting on a really nice bike. email me Cybortronix@gmail.com

  7. chris, i build bicycle choppers as a hobby.and i have been wanting to build one with a hubless rim.if you could help me out it would be greatly appretiated.i know your rims are for motorcycles.but it should still be the same principles.you can email me at reaper@alt2600.net.thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

  11. Please if anyone could help it would be greatly helpfull. I’m trying to build a hubless chopper and would like some ideas or even already proven designs. Please email if you can help radicalimage@cox.net

  13. Wasn’t this wheel designed by generations of car design students? Sbarro, the Swiss builder was the person who finally made it work and actually patented the hubless wheel.

    There was a bearing company who made lighter duty linear bearings that Sbarro adapted by bending and fastening to the wheel. As I recall, they were fragile with a short life

    My memory is a bit hazy on this, there was an investigative article in an American motorcycle magazine. Sbarro was secretive about the technology but it never really worked. Someone may have done more work, or there might be bearing more suitable now than 20 years ago.

    Hope this helps

  16. hey whatz up? since i first saw the hubless wheel i’ve been wanting to have one of my own especially on a chopper like the bike built by billy lane. i built a chopper myself and would love to build my next one with a hubless wheel maybe even a front one if possible ! if there is anyone that could help with information on building one or two or even where i might get started on one would be greatly appreciated thanx ! johnnyfq

  17. Hi,I fell in love with that hot look of the hubless wheel ! Does anyone know where i could get some of those wheels made? I own a chopper and want to build one with hubless wheels !, please email me @…….bernadettequinteros@yahoo.com

  18. i am try ing to build a custom swing bike chopper and that would be the coolest thing that I could put on it. I want the rear wheel and tire to be 24″X 4″ inches. If you know of any way I could buy one or make it PLEASE send me any info to donovan_jay@sento.com

  19. i am very interested in designing bikes. and also i have skeched out few designs. if i get chance to design it will be useful PLEASE TELL ABOUT IT

  20. I’m trying to do a project at college on a hubless wheel and have e-mailed ‘osmoswheel.com’ and ‘amenmotorcycles.com’ for any information on the hubless wheel but got no response. Any information recieved would be great. e-mail me menace_to_socity750@hotmail.com

  21. I think that driving the hubless wheel by using another wheel is a cheap engineered concept because it would need continous adjustments as the rear tire wears down. It could be down by magnets like in the aprilla magnet hits the name. Also by a lip on the liner side thats belt driven like in the picture on the Osmos web site. in the photo gallery in which a sport bike is driven by a chain around the rotor because of course the rotor is attacthed to the tire. then in the application section there a car part where if you look at the picture of the rear end of the car you can see the belt driven concept. its mostly like a realy big bearing the tire is attached to the out part and the inner part is attached to the automobile. the rotor would also be attached to the outter part in which you could use the chain concept. there also is a hubless with the rotor on the inside with a caliper on the bottom for greater stopping force. there are also pictures of a bike for the guy that was looking for some.

  22. billy lane from choppers inc has built some (like 3 or 4) and if you look at his web site he has some great pics. one with the rim mounted without a tire this shows the way the chain sproket is attached to the outer side of the rim like bolting a sporket to the outer side fo a bearing. you could probly call or email billy for some Q’s and A’s

  23. Hubless wheels? When I see one on a successful race bike I’ll want one.

    Maintaining wheel alignment over bumps, through turns, etc. is highly problematic, to put it mildly. And don’t even think about acceleration and hard braking.

    A bike with hubless wheels would be a mechanical cripple on the road.

    Right now, they just look like unnecessarily complex, poor performing pieces of junk.

  24. hello! i love ur design sir, i would be rather happy if u send me some diagrams & design of the hubless wheel….actually i am a final year Mechanical enggineering student in INDIA…. as per my university rules i have to do a self made project.. so, i thought that your design would be of great use for my project…. if u want to share your design i would be thankfull to you!!!!

  25. Please, if anyone can email me any details at all on the design and construction of a hubless rim for show motorcycles i’d be forever gratetful these are absolutely beautiful jmanning1979@hotmail.com

    Thank you very much