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The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Owosso Pulse – Ground Cruising Recreational Vehicle

By Paul Crowe

1985 Owosso Pulse
1985 Owosso Pulse

Every now and then, a Bede BD-200 LiteStar or Owosso Pulse comes up for sale. This enclosed cabin vehicle was powered by a long series of different engines, from Honda 250 twins to Honda 750 fours, a Yamaha 400 like the one shown here all the way up to a Honda GL1100 flat four. Originally designed by aircraft designer Jim Bede, they had the same streamlined jet plane look of his tiny BD5 and BD5J aircraft. Compared to enclosed two wheelers like the Peraves Monotracer, the outriggers on the Pulse and LiteStar make them a stable platform less likely to leave you lying on your side.

You steer with a wheel like a car, shift sequentially like a bike and there’s an electric reverse. The sliding canopy looks pretty cool though I can imagine a hot sunny day would be interesting.

1985 Owosso Pulse
1985 Owosso Pulse

There’s an annual rally in Indiana for owners of these unique Ground Cruising Recreational Vehicles, as Jim Bede called them, and if you’re not averse to getting attention when you’re on the road, this is definitely you.

The owner is asking $22,900, and if you’ve ever wanted one of these but didn’t want to do a full restoration, this one looks to be in fine shape. Check it out.

Link: Owosso Pulse on eBay – auction over

Posted on August 17, 2011 Filed Under: Vintage Motorcycles


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Comments

  1. Smith Motor Works says

    August 17, 2011 at 9:53 am

    Awesome. It makes me want to build a Burt Munro version.

  2. travis says

    August 17, 2011 at 10:11 am

    23g? ummm I understand that it is an interesting piece of history, but why would anyone in their right mind pay that much? And its not just that i don’t like the idea, i actually found Kneeslider several years back in a google search for three wheel cars, so i like the concept but my thought was more along the lines of a 8 to 9 thou car for lower incomes.

  3. Jay Allen says

    August 17, 2011 at 11:21 am

    Not my style, but another example of Jim Bede’s twisted genius. Check out his aircraft

  4. Phoebe says

    August 17, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    Aren’t these things supposed to be kind of unstable?

  5. Blair says

    August 17, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    So it has the dynamics of a bike but with a steering wheel. I wonder how it would feel countersteering into a turn if you’re not holding handle bars in your hands?

    • Blair says

      August 17, 2011 at 3:15 pm

      Whoops, I was a assuming the winglets retracted in motion but they’re fixed. That’s a pity because banking something like this into a turn would be so much more fun than keeping it level.

  6. Yeti2bikes says

    August 17, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    But… Where’s the wind? If you’re going to feel like you’re in a stuffy car you might as well just be in a stuffy car.

  7. QrazyQat says

    August 17, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    I think if you’re concerned about practicality this is not the vehicle for you, and you’re missing the point. If you like weird, OTOH…

  8. John says

    August 17, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    I bet the the highway fuel consumption would be very low with the enclosed fairing. It would be interseting to see some figures on both this and performance.

  9. Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says

    August 18, 2011 at 10:49 am

    The only real problem with this Pulse is the sound it makes. Instead of a motorcycle exhaust, it should have that warbling sound like the Jetson’s flying car. If it did that, it would be perfect.

  10. B50 Jim says

    August 18, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    One word for this machine: MOTUS!

  11. Scotduke says

    August 19, 2011 at 6:41 am

    Which Yamaha 400 engine is in this then? It doesn’t say in the piece. The Honda GL1100 sounds a bit more suitable for the installation. It’s an interesting machine but expensive. i’ve never seen one on the road. I expect a museum with deep pockets will buy this.

    BMW did make noises a while back the all motorcycles would someday look something like this and I’m still waiting. That odd BMW scooter with the roof is seen around on European streets but it’s hardly got mass appeal like some of the other European or Japanese scooters.

  12. Jim Flower says

    August 21, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    I saw a local version of this design about 20+ years ago, all home made.
    It featured the big Honda Magna V4 engine and retractable outriggers.
    Really a well thought out sytem where the outrigger wheels retracted into flush wheel wells as an aircraft. (lever operated)
    The guy worked at Boeing and commuted daily in the nastiest weather; warm and dry with a heater off of the Honda’s cooling system.
    I have followed him in traffic. Outriggers down at the stoplight, then immediately retracted as he leans into his turn.
    It made for a practical application here in the rainy northwest.
    Jim

  13. rashomon says

    August 22, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    Of course, a Peraves Monotracer is a blast to ride, doesn’t feel out of place on a racetrack, and gets 40 mpg at 125 mph. Now if it weren’t just so damned expensive . . .

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