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View Full Version : Anyone do a 2WD motorbike ? Flat 4x4 31 January 2003, 11:25 Just reading all the posts and news about the snow in the East (we always miss it in roundabout city) and people stuck in queues - Does anyone make a two wheel drive bike with decent tyres / stability - you'd squeeze through all the queues but wouldn't fall off ? Or have I lost the plot. Stuart J 31 January 2003, 11:39 Has been done, had 2 engines, one on the front mudguard area with a chain drive to the front wheel, god knows what would happen if the rear wheel went faster Best option is one of those Ice speedway bikes, bloody great spikes. also handy for detering pedestrians longdogs 31 January 2003, 12:58 there was a feature in last weeks MCN Yamaha i think were seen testing a 2wd off road.. worked by pumping hydrolic ?? liquid to an impeller mounted in front wheel hub. DRUNKNORGY 31 January 2003, 17:09 Look at MCNs site, Yamaha have been developing the system for the last 10 years. They use (as stated in the last post) a hydraulic pump mounted on the front sprocket running through Kevlar hoses to the impeller in the front hub. They had the system on an R1 back in the summer. They were claiming an amzing transformation in the bikes handling as the bikes weight was balanced between the front and back whilst on the throttle. It loked very impressive Ash Tim Bomford 31 January 2003, 21:14 Old issues of TBM (Trial bike mag) have several 2WD bikes in them and even rated one of them. Can't remeber the make but the back issues are in a box somewhere. They do exist. Tim Mufasa 01 February 2003, 08:38 From what I heard they are only suited to very low grip surfaces like sand & mud, and even then they only send at the most 25% of the power to the front wheel. On higher grip surfaces or by sending more than about 25% power to the front wheel causes the bike to 'understeer' horribly. It was a long time ago I heard this and things have surely moved on. As we all know 4wd works well on cars on the road, but mainly the benefits are only really felt when you're at or beyond the limit of adhesion. Sliding bikes around on tarmac used to be unheard of, but now as it becomes more common maybe the time for the 2wd bike with toys like active torque distribution is here! workshy_fopp 03 February 2003, 20:23 I remember a Yammy one from years back, Randy Mamola was testing it for some reason. Chain drive to the front through lots of linkages :eek: amazing traction up muddy hills etc., but not as fast as the 1WD version, due to the weight / compromised suspension. brickboy 04 February 2003, 09:51 Wasn't it the US maker Rokon that used to do them? Think it was a Rotax motor with a complex chain linkage ... wouldn't mind a "Diff Dog" like in the old Bike cartoon "Bloodrunners" ... Orb 20 March 2003, 16:40 Hi Try http://www.rokon.com/index.htm they are the only people who actually sell one at the moment. Orb Mufasa 21 March 2003, 08:29 Kewl link Orb! LMAO at those two wheel tractors! :D :D 14,500rpm 22 March 2003, 16:44 They had the system on an R1 back in the summer. They were claiming an amzing transformation in the bikes handling as the bikes weight was balanced between the front and back whilst on the throttle. It loked very impressive http://www.btinternet.com/~onefourkrpm/01882861.jpg http://www.btinternet.com/~onefourkrpm/01882863.jpg Luke 25 March 2003, 09:39 bloody hell..that must be worth a fortune!! There was a motoring programme a week ago showing a 2 wheeled drive bike made in America. Thing would go anywhere..but was horrid. |