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If you have never registered to use this website before, please CLICK HERE.In all my 67 years I have never seen a motorcycle with pushrod tubes on the left hand side of the engine, let alone having the primary drive in the way. I'd rather buy one of the new Carberry Enfield vee twins than ride something as grotesque as that.
Grumpy Old Git.
Concept vehicles rarely reach production in anything close to the form presented as a concept. As I said before , they are a showcase for idea's & err , concepts !!
Strange you should mention the Britten , that is my all time favourite "modern" motorcycle and was well ahead of it's time. Why no one took that up seriously when the man himself tragically died very prematurely , I'll never know.
Concept vehicles rarely reach production in anything close to the form presented as a concept. As I said before , they are a showcase for idea's & err , concepts !!
Strange you should mention the Britten , that is my all time favourite "modern" motorcycle and was well ahead of it's time. Why no one took that up seriously when the man himself tragically died very prematurely , I'll never know.
I saw one in Milano at Giovanni Cabassi's MAD (Moto[rcycle], Arte, Design) exhibition. It had forks very similiar to Girdraulics, but in hollow carbon fibre. This was almost the least of its marvels. It was stunning. But, apart from Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi (and in our dreams, all of us), who could exploit its capabilities? And who could afford to buy one?
The exhibition was full of wonderful design concepts made into real, live, running motorcycles (mainly, but not exclusively, Italian), but as you suggest, few that actually made it into successful mass production. Anyone fancy a fully enclosed Eric Buell Harley? With the same visual impact as a Knight or a Prince? And as attractive to the general biker population? You know the rest...
Were you aware the 1st Buell WAS fully enclosed ? And I mean , FULLY , enclosed ! Was called the RR1200 Battle Twin , phenomenal looking machine , I almost bought one !! The Britten though , that was an incredible device. When I first saw it my immediate thought was , thats how the Vincent could have evolved ! Examine all the principle elements and it just shouts Vincent. Stressed V Twin , the front suspension , novel rear suspension. Brilliant machine from a brilliant man. I would recommend the DVD , "One Mans Dream , The Britten Bike Story".
Hmm. I once rode an arse up head down machine to Vincents and Vines in California and back. Transferred all my lower back pain to my wrists. And I sat on the Britten at the New Zealand International. Got a picture too. Don't see any dual seat or lights. Were the Black Lightening and Grey Flash really touring machines? Admittedly they'd accommodate a sidecar...
Carl