Wearable Motorcycle Design

A motorcycle design student recently came up with a wearable motorcycle design that, while cool, is unlikely to see public adoption. The bike would be capable of doing 0 to 60 is just 3 seconds with a top speed of 75 miles-per-hour and would theoretically be controlled by 36 pneumatic muscles and 2 linear actuators. I would imagine the results of a crash would be much like being strapped to the hood of your car during a collision — bonus points for form, however.

Why wearable?

[stoolpigeon]

What defines wearable? I would have thought wearable means - it goes where I go and can go anywhere I go. This vehicle appears to me not to do that. It looks like the rider goes where the trike goes - and the trike cannot go anywher the rider can go. But maybe I'm missing some key factor or my definition is insufficient.

Wheelbase issues

[Harmonious Botch]

As shown, there is no way that it is going to do 0-60 in three seconds. If power is on the front wheels, they can't get enough traction because the rider's weight is over the rear wheel. They will spin. If power is on the read wheel, it will do a wheelie and dump him on his ass.
I therefore conclude that it has one of two undocumented features: either there is a ultra-high speed gyro concealed behind the wearer ( which I regard as very unlikely ), or the frame bends so as to lean the rider forward thus lengthening the wheelbase and moving the center of gravity forward.

Aerodynamics?

[lobiusmoop]

Given that this keeps the 'driver' standing upright, similar to the Segway, I dread to think what the aerodynamics of this thing are like at speed, it must be very inefficient.

Dangerous, huh?

[WK2]

I would imagine the results of a crash would be much like being strapped to the hood of your car during a collision

Welcome to the world of motorcycles, where safety is not our primary concern. Motorcycles don't offer any protection in a crash, and never have, with few exceptions. The best you can hope for in a crash is that you get thrown one way, and your bike another so that it doesn't crush you. And wear a helmet. If safety is your primary concern, cars and buses are much safer.

Re:Wheelbase issues

[adonoman]

I would expect that the acceleration could be linked to how much you lean forward (a la segway) - and with in-wheel electric motors, all three could be powered.

Three wheels = ?

[nixman99]

Isn't this a tricycle?

That's the "parking" configuration

[mbessey]

It's obviously intended to change shape when in motion, hence the pneumatic actuators, etc. While you're racing down the street, it's change into a more-streamlined shape.

More pictures.

[pavon]

Yeah, that was my first though. It does say "vertically parking", so maybe that is what the image is depicting. Ah here are some more pictures [hellforlea...gazine.com]. That said, it looks scary as hell to ride - when the two wheels move forward, you would also tilt forward, but there is nothing underneath you! You are being help up by the straps around your chest, while the road rushes beneath you. Plus having the helmet attached to the bike seems like a bad idea.

Re:Wait...

[geekoid]

A Libertarian Robot Overlord? I think not.

Re:Dangerous, huh?

[speleo]

You never want a lay a bike down. All bikes stop better sticky side down.

Once you lay a bike down you have no control and you're just sliding along dragging your axle nuts into the pavement (usually with your leg trapped under the bike, too).

Ideally, you do everything possible to avoid a collision. But if you can't, the best thing you can do is lay on the brakes with proper (and practiced) technique and decrease your speed as much as possible before hitting the object.

This is also the recommendation of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

Re:Why wearable?

[Anonymous Coward]

It would be wearable if they made it like the Cyclone Ride Armor from MOSPEADA aka the New Generation Robotech.

Re:Where do I sign up?

[tbuskey]

Lay it down == crash intentionally.

I'm sure there's a way to crash intentionally on this thing.

As for laying down a bike intentionally, I bet you've never done it. You lose all control and it's *always* better to be in control.

Most of the comments here tell how wrong this is on the road.

It's also wrong off-road. I've been racing since I was nine, 30 years ago. I've done motocross, ice racing, flat track, etc. You can't use the brakes to slow down when you've laid it down. You can't save it & get back in the race either.

Well, maybe you can: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1UlEQtdUGc [youtube.com] but these guys are at the top of the game.

Re:Dangerous, huh?

[tomthegeek]

I'd agree with this, "I had to lay it down" is just the excuse used by people who've crashed and don't want to look like the bad rider they are.