Radio controlled models have come a long way in the last few years, airplane models are completely unbelievable, but this Thunder Tiger RC motorcycle takes the 2 wheel world to a much higher level than I’m used to seeing and from the reactions to this model, even the RC crowd thinks it’s pretty cool.
Carbon fiber is the primary construction material, 4mm for the forks, 2mm for the frame. The suspension detail and construction appear to be very high quality. Plans call for various interchangeable swingarms in the future to adjust wheelbase. There’s a slipper clutch to prevent unwanted wheelies, the front disc is full floating and adjustment points for the shocks can be adjusted to modify damping characteristics.
The rider and body work are one piece so you can’t get that weird riderless motorcycle look if the rider were to come off.
Whether or not you follow the radio controlled model world, you have to appreciate the design and engineering that went into this little racer. I think it’s pretty neat.
Thanks for the tip, Bob!
Link: RC Groups
Link: Motorradshop
Be sure to check the detailed images below:
Scott "Righty" Franklin says
This isn’t the first RC motorcycle. Kyosho made one about 15 years ago where the rider had hinged joints and he was attached to the steering system so he would shift from side-to-side and drag his knee. Another manufacturer (Royal maybe?)whose name escapes me had the fork “free floating” with no direct connection to the steering servo. How it manuevered was the battery pack was held longitudinally under the frame in the lower fairing. The servo shifted the 7.2v “stick” pack left and right to shift the weight to turn. Novel idea. Unfortunately, high speed crashes directly into curbs KO’d many of these bikes. It even had a “crash bar” where if it fell over, you didn’t have to go and hold it upright to get going again. You could just gas it and turn towards the side it fell on and it would right itself. Took some practice, but could be done.
Scott Franklin
http://www.NutDriver.org
Azzy says
Wow.. even has a mini front disc brake. If I had disposable income again….. (as someone who used to do RC Helis and planes… its like lighting fire to piles of cash)
JR says
Only thing I can’t figure out is the steering? Where are the servos and linkages for the steering? I see the (badass) girder suspension in the front, and it looks like the steering head pivots out at the end, I just don’t see anything hooked up to turn it.
Maybe it’s just disconnected for picture taking.
Antonio says
The servo links to the bronze nipples on top of the fork (see them in the first photo
JR says
there it is! Thanks Antonio.
todd says
Speechless.
Though I can’t already hear the complaints about the belt drive…
-todd
TG says
Another manufacturer (Royal maybe?)whose name escapes me had the fork “free floating” with no direct connection to the steering servo. How it manuevered was the battery pack was held longitudinally under the frame in the lower fairing. The servo shifted the 7.2v “stick” pack left and right to shift the weight to turn. — That was Graupner ( German Brand) – I still have mine , and yes it still works.
Doug K says
The first R/C motorcycle that worked half way decent came out around 1979. I owned a hobby shop back then and bought one for myself. Steering the bike was a challenge but it did balance ok. The front suspension was undamped springs and I think the back was the same. I’d love to give one of these modern R/C bikes a try.
Billy Pilgrim says
Is this the AMA/DMG “Bike Of Tomorrow”?
nobody says
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/kobayashi/models/
Jimmy says
This is one of the coolest ” toy’s” I have seen in a long time. One of the thing’s that really blows me away is that a lot of the technology used, can be carried over to full sized bike’s. Really great out-side the box thinking.
Hugo says
The best designed RC-Bike I know is this one:
http://www.farmerplastics.com/