Support for Feet Forward enthusiasts everywhere

Michael and Tia flew 3500 miles to see us!

Michael and Tia flew 3500 miles to see us!
Ian's picture

Mr & Mrs Hurley

Mr & Mrs Hurley
Ian's picture

Dave & Rob V50FF

Dave & Rob V50FF
Ian's picture

Bob in V05

Bob in V05
Ian's picture

Bikes

Bikes

Ready to cut steel (and aluminium) hopefully!

Ok this is the 'final' design - ready to go to the builders. The forks have been pared down to 3.6kg for the pair. They are 6061 – T6 alloy. FEA has been done assuming a 1 G stoppy with a 300kg all up weight all on the front wheel.

Hossack April 09 4

Hossack April 09 4

R1 FF, 5 years and a big re-think

There's been a lot of discussion today (April 1st, 2009) about the relative merits of the Buell motor compared with the SV1000; the main concern with the Buell is the width of the primary and possibly cooling problems when it's faired.
The SV1000's only real problem is its length, though I am not too concerned about wheelbase; I'm sure it will still be shorter than a Quasar and by all accounts they go round corners very well.

So I thought I would post a few pics from back when I was designing the R1-based machine.

FF design and construction

Been thinking about the Buell 1200 as a sutible engine for my FF, what it has going for it,
Very narrow,45deg V so short to, side exit exhaust so no problems with a hot crotch (eg a sv1000) enough horse power 95-104bhp, but much more importantly low reving low down torque, IMHO this is esential for real world riding ie power availble instantly.
It also has very respectable economy ive seen 55mpg quoted.

Hossack is not always as simple as it looks!

My first attempt at a Hossack front end was designed to be built as much as possible out of stock material - tube and box section - as possible. The ball joints were bought from a friendly neighbourhood motor factor for the princely sum of 600 baht (about €12).

Hossack 3 progress - Bye bye ball joints.

Here the 2 ball joints have been replaced with 3 sets of pre-loaded taper roller bearings. No more belting ball joints with a hammer to reduce preload / stiction.

Hossack 3 progress - Bye bye ball joints.

Hossack 2 - Volvo Ball Joint in Tension

Here the lower balljoint has been put in tension as it was designed to be. This moves the mounting points of the 2 ball joints too close together.

Note the Forks are now made of sheet steel The green is where one sheet has been set transparent to allow the inside to be seen.

Hossack 2 - Volvo Ball Joint in Tension

ThaiMax - The story so far - Design Evolution

It started with a tape measure. That didn't get me too far, so I got a friend to photograph me on my T-max from as far away as possible with maximum zoom. It wasn't nearly far enough, but the results are acceptable.

ThaiMax - The story so far.

Since the re-build of BikeWeb has killed my links I am going to build this as a blog, rather than a book

I had been keeping this under my hat until such time as it appeared it would actually going to get off the drawing board.

Blez in Mick Broom's F650FF

Blez tries Mick Broom's wacky BMW F650-powered FF for size at the Hesketh open day in 2008. I rode it too, which was a strange experience with the 'push me pull you' steering and a foot throttle where the rear brake would usually be! I managed not to drop it though. Apparently many riders don't get more than a few yards! PNB

Blez in Mick Broom's F650FF

1912 Wilkinson & 1954 'Silver Fish'

A 1912 Wilkinson 4-cylinder Feet first machine with armchair comfort makes a striking contrast with the head first Norton kneeler which broke the lap record at the North West 200 in 1953, powered by a laid-down Manx Norton 500 single. Sammy Miller owns the Norton and it is on display in his museum. Sam rode it for the Top Gear filming. There is a photo of him with it in the museum in August 2016 on the Sammy Miller Museum page. PNB

1912 Wilkinson & 1954 'Silver Fish'

Blez in Urs's TurboEco

Blez Trying Urs Wagner's Single Seat Turbo Eco for size at Brno in 2005. This machine has been the fastest cabin motorcycle around Brno for many years. Photo: Paul Blezard Archive

Blez in Urs's TurboEco

Proposed TTXGP racer

Proposed TTXGP racer.

This is a CGI image produced for sponsors during my abortive attempt last October [2008] to create an entry for the 2009 'carbon-free' TTXGP race in the IoM. It's based on a Cad layout which used a lot of stock 'Voyager' parts, including a complete Mk11 front end with the latest iteration of the footbox design (now also on a C-max conversion nearing completion.

Proposed TTXGP racer
cvetter's picture

Craig Vetter's Streamlined Helix "Freedom Machine"


Craig Vetter here in Carmel, California, USA. My goal in this “Freedom Machine” is to build a one-person vehicle that sitting upright and comfortable will go 70 mph, into a 20 mph headwind, while carrying 4 bags of groceries, and get 100 mpg. Oh yes… of all the vehicles at my disposal, I want it to be my first choice.
This is not my first FF machine. In 1980-81, I built this Streamliner around a Kawasaki 250 single:

This machine was good for 108 mpg in my fuel economy contest of 1982. But, then, the speed limit in the US was 55 mph. Today, we ride faster. Today, I want to know what is possible the way I ride now.
I began with a used Helix from EBAY, changing only the bodywork to reach my goals. No engine mods. No drive train mods. No wheel changes. Only streamlining.

Big Sur bridge, California, USA
You will note that the skin is kind of rough. This is because it is made up of thin, yellow plastic sheet-stock which does not form into compound curves very well. This is fine for now because I change it all the time. I have many problems to solve before I do final tooling. As I solve each problem, the shape changes. Making my prototype in this manner saves a lot of time, money and itching. To make changes, I cut this stuff with scissors and attach it with little plastic “Christmas Tree” push in fasteners. Much of this machine is made of plastic foam and inflated panels. All very lightweight, durable and inexpensive. Rather than to try to explain all here, let me point you to www.craigvetter.com for a chapter by chapter account of this project.
I maintain this web page to show you how easy it is to build something like this. This thing is screwed together with a million little 8-32 screws and self locking nuts. A band saw and drill press are my most exotic tools.
Will I actually achieve my goals? Well, this is my first choice in vehicles and I really can carry 6 bags of groceries. However, until all the holes are smoothed over, I do not expect much in the way of fuel consumption improvements. Stay tuned. I am happy to answer questions and respond to your comments.

ComFergMax & Adiva Action

Colin Ferguson in his modified Tmax leads Terry Harding in his standard Benelli Adiva during the Saturday Demo at Beaulieu '08. Paul Blez archive

ComFergMax & Adiva Action
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