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View Full Version : Concept to Reality: Bikes of the Future!



OzFighter
01-03-2007, 10:55 AM
Just thought this might make some interesting reading for some of you with an interest in futuristic concept motorbikes. Im basing this thread around the motorcycle made famous by the Japanese Animation, Akira.

A bit of history about the movie.

Akira was released around 1988 and for the time it was a ground-breaking movie in terms of animation quality and story line. The story is very out there in that its set around the year 2019, post WW3. 'Akira' was a boy who developed a higher state of being and could alter space and time with his mind alone. Scientist began conducting experiments and to cut a long story short, opened up a world of trouble bringing about a nuclear type explosion creating a crater half the size of Australia. We then fast forward 20 20 years or so to a motorcycle street gang who spend their days chasing down and beating up rival bike gangs. All is fun and games until one of the members has a collision with a escaped 'test subject' and begins to develop the same powers as the infamous Akira. The rest of the story gets very indepth with the growing powers and government trying to capture him, blah blah blah. See the movie for more info!

Which brings me to this.

In the movie, the leader of the central gang rides this motorcycle that is beyond anything capable of production in this day and age....so we all thought!

A few bike enthusiasts and companies thought it would be great if they could actually build this machine. After all when you research the movie and comics of the same name there is tons of information and specs of this bike. So, bike builders, inventors and japanese companies put alot of time, money and research into building this bike.
Ive been browsing the net and there are quite alot of people trying to build it. All in different phases of development and likeness to the one from the movie. I thought it would be interesting to post up here being that alot of us know a shit load about the technical aspects of motorbikes and the research alone opens up your mind to possibility's of the look of bikes in the future.

Check out some of these links if your interested at all. Ive put in some thumbnails to show you what the bike looks like from the movie and how people has actually started to build this weapon.

Some lines from the movie sums the specs up perfectly and all these people have tried as best as they can to follow these guidelines.

These are some lines from the movie about the bike:

"ceramic, double-rotor two-wheel drive, computer-controlled anti-lock brakes, 12,000 rpms", and that it may be okay for you to "lower the rev below 5,000 while changing gears"...

Some of what is said about the bike in the movie is impossible to create with current technology, but alternative parts have been used and there is some very impressive bikes being built out there!

Check out these links for more detailed information. Even if you know nothing about this movie or Jap Animation, you will be amazed at what some people will try!

-Sites with people building this bike:
http://www.matus1976.com/akira_bike/welcome.htm
http://www.bbakira.co.uk/kanbike/bike.htm
http://www.burningart.com/meico/moto/akira/
http://www.akira2019.com/kaneda_bike.htm

-Good detailed discription about the movie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_(film)

Anyone else know of any crazy futuristic bikes that have been made based on some concept idea?

Some thumbnails:

Cleverlie
01-03-2007, 12:54 PM
Suzuki G-strider! :mod_smilie_rockwoot

OzFighter
01-03-2007, 01:31 PM
Suzuki G-strider! :mod_smilie_rockwoot

Yup, thats another sweet looking ride! Love the special features like live video display rear view mirrors and adjustable seat position. Looks a lot like the akira bike...:thinking:

Cleverlie
01-03-2007, 02:18 PM
The Idea for the bike was taken from akira.

Havago
01-03-2007, 06:46 PM
Dont like it. :headshake: If that is what the future holds, I think i might have to buy a nice sports bike and put it in storage. :thinking:

MATTK6
01-03-2007, 07:13 PM
i'm with you havago, not a fan of the design, but it just go's to show that if you have the imagination and know how, the possibilities are endless

VINNIE
01-03-2007, 07:15 PM
Dont like it. :headshake: If that is what the future holds, I think i might have to buy a nice sports bike and put it in storage. :thinking:

+1

I think you and me should start a warehouse up

OzFighter
02-03-2007, 08:41 AM
I agree with both Havago and MattK6. Nothing could top the design of the current super sport bikes. I dont think our bikes now will be come obsolete any time soon though...its a strange design and i doubt they would go well in the real world market. Exactly what mattk6 said, theyre just to show that nothing cant be done when you set your mind to it. And hey, if you dont like those designs, then start designing your own bike! After all, we riders ARE the future of bikes! We'd know best what looks good and rides well!

Captain
25-06-2009, 10:58 AM
Is this the next "big" thing for bikes?

Two-wheel drive R1 (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/videos/2009/June/jun2309-video-two-wheel-drive-r1/)

If you read the comments, how predicatble (and sad) it is that people will resist change ...

saf
25-06-2009, 01:29 PM
It'd be nice to see it going around a track. IIRC there are a mob out there, possibly a few, that can convert most sports bikes to 2WD via some nifty but chunky chain assemblies that attach from the crank to the headstock and down the forks. It saps a fair bit of power but the delivery would be interesting.

Captain
08-07-2009, 08:52 PM
Two-wheel drive test ridden
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/videos/2009/July/jul0709-video-two-wheel-drive-yamaha-r1-ridden/

Amazing. I wonder how it feels like, I imagine that under acceleration the front will want to 'straighten up' ... like the early front wheel drive cars did.

ottospunkmeister
08-07-2009, 09:21 PM
Yamaha already tried this on their WR450. I don't know what the outcomes were in terms of weight, handling, fuel consumption etc. Based on car experiences, it must be a good thing giving better control especially at the margins of traction like wet/icy/dirt roads.

Captain
05-08-2009, 07:07 PM
The long-awaited ride report. It just gets more and more amazing!
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/269/4240/Motorcycle-Article/Yamaha-R1-Ohlins-2WD-Review.aspx