Royce's blog

Workshop clearance in Bristol, England

Royce — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 11:55:44 +0000

I've been tasked to clear the engineering workshop of a family friend, now sadly incapacitated.
Advanced hobby level, ex-Aerospace engineer. Includes Boxford lathe and substantial associated equpment. See also January advert in VMCC magazine*

Too much to list here, mail roycecreasey@gmail.com for photo catalogue. Cash sales, buyers collect. Delivery available separately.

*As almost all FFs worthy of the name are now more than 25 years old it makes sense to be a VMCC member. Mainly because it annoys the traditionalists.

Reflections on an FF project September 2022

Royce — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:22:26 +0000

Reaching the unlikely age of 78 I recall that 1978 is the year I engaged in FF development - an attempt to rescue the Powered Two Wheeler from the dying hand of the motorised bicycle and exploit it's unbeatable efficiency in a world where that quality had suddenly become relevant.

It thus seems appropriate to review the progress of this effort. In 1978 PTWs still had some viability as personal transport but it was clear that the motorised bicycle was losing out to the steadily improving car. The intervening forty four years has seen cars improve almost beyond recognition but be increasingly seen as an indulgence in a world where the climate emergency has further prioritised efficiency.

The world's PTW manufactures could have seized this opportunity, improving their products in a similar way to cars. This would have required attention to Comfort, Handling, Safety and Efficiency, quite possibly in ways demonstrated by prototypes on this site. They chose not to do so, focussing instead on traditional products and markets that have resulted in a decline in PTW usage to a little over 1% of private transport use. The "Motorcycle" has failed in the market place,

Instead, corporate ingenuity has contrived a form of PTW that is less safe and less efficient than even a bicycle or motorcycle. A notable achievement. Ignorant or careless political systems in this country are now prioritising this type of vehicle - the "E-scooter"- over other forms of PTW, with the "motorcycle" not considered in recent transport planning.

Where does this leave my FF project? Clearly, dead in the water. I see no point in building prototypes for an industry that either no longer exists or has no interest in innovation. Only 'Heritage pastiche' and historic vehicles represented by the Vintage and Classic movements have any currency and this tendency has infected the FF movement with this site increasingly celebrating not recent progress but historic meetings and old photographs, a nostalgic infection that makes a nonsense of a site supposedly dedicated to progressive innovation.

Meanwhile the promising development of cargo scooters, visible everywhere in cities and clearly proto-FFs, is abandoned to Chinese and other low-cost manufacturers.

In view of this I have moved on from FF development, reverting to light engineering in the workshop created by my FF effort. I recognise and celebrate the continuing efforts of other FF innovators here and abroad and wish them every success.

Monoliner appears in public!

Royce — Wed, 11 May 2022 14:43:21 +0000

Readers of todays (Wedensday 11th. May) MCN will be presented with photos and a typically fact-free article on the Monoliner track day race prototype I delivered a few years ago. It'll be at the Peterborough show soon apparantly. Hopefully someone will put up some photos here - could be you if you go to the show.

I was particularly amused by the MCN suggestion that 'provisions are in place' to make it road legal, in a sort of reverse ferret of the Norton-Cosworth;- Duckworth "Do you want a road engine or a racer?" Norton "We want a road bike engine" They got the engine and promptly raced it. If Monoliner had been a road design it would have had the same 38 degree (each side) lock of all the other MK11 Voyager HCS-equipped FFs, rather than the 20 degrees it got. Other items may also have been different - at least a heater!

Still, it should cause some amusement and once running it'll raise adrenelin levels more than any electric pedalo. 90BHP and a Cda of .21 adds up to very fast indeed and it's got the same wheelbase as a Quasar, that I recall was exceptionally stable at high(ish) speed in the IoM. Best of luck to all who sail in it!

Here's a thing

Royce — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:49:39 +0000

After scrolling through these thousands of comments it was obvious that a reference to Bikeweb was needed. So using an established Youtube log in I submitted such a reference. Twice. With no result. So props to Blez for getting one in, regrettably without mentioning that this site covers All Ffs, not just the Monotracer. So it's not just 'bikeweb' being censored, there's clearly a trick we've missed there somewhere. Maybe someone will tell us.

Meanwhile, while it means registering with Youtube, it would be good if some other FF proponents put thier bit in as a counterweight to all the brainjerking currently flooding the comments on Four Nine

No Comment required

Royce — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 10:26:16 +0000

https://youtu.be/uk2ou5gt_94

(Thanks to Ian for this link)

"Body of blog too short needs at least ten words".

OK. BMW, Honda (Specifically), . I accuse you of corporate cowadice for ignoring FFs. OK?

More blasts from the past.

Royce — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 11:43:36 +0000

Some more ancient history. links provided by Rob Horn, the only guy to have actually raced an FF this millenium. Sorry it's not in English, engineering is international.

https://motorollos.blogspot.com/2022/03/quasar-phasar-y-el-movimiento-pies-por_0384871992.html#more
https://motorollos.blogspot.com/search/label/FF%20movement

Self-indulgent? me?!

FJ walk-round video

Royce — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:39:24 +0000

I should have done this years ago. Would have been better with lighting, camera - and someone who talks proper. Comment if you'd like more (Better than this). It might be useful to builders?

https://vimeo.com/661593045

Happy new year.

Electric motorised biycyle maker compliments old FF campaigners!

Royce — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 13:20:03 +0000

Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery, even when the imitators may be unaware, or in denial, about their imitation. So this one is for Charles Neracher, Jack Difazio, and Bob Tait, none regrettably any longer with us, and I am happy to accept this sincere flattery on their behalf.

It's an actual 'double wishbone' HCS front end, expensively created in carbon fibre - with rather more links in the steering than any of us have managed so far and hence rather less precision. In terms of the cost and effectiveness (stiffness, lock, etc.) I'd have to say it's definitely in the 'damm fool' category of engineering and of course it's attached to a motorised bicycle that doesn't even show the seat, surely the most important component?

https://thepack.news/arc-reveal-whats-under-the-skin-of-vectors-production-architecture/

Bit of a stretch calling it "Unique" though!

RIP Frank Williams

Royce — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 17:34:20 +0000

Frank Williams, F.1 Race Team founder, World manaufacturer champion. In a wheelchair since 1979, has died.

What's this got to do with FFs? Not much, but he taught me to make F.1 cars (for a start) out of lengths of tube, sheets of metal and buckets of plastic. Best boss I ever had. Voyagers exist because of Frank.

FJ in Bristol Rush Hour

Royce — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 20:56:56 +0000

FJRushhour2021.mp4 from Ingrid Oesten on Vimeo.

Here's the 33 year-old Voyager preproduction prototype "FJ"gently slipping through evening rush hour traffic in the city of Bristol recently. Apart from the comfortable seat and the powerful heater, the low Centre of Gravity and the 'Hub Centre' front suspension and steering eliminate braking dive and provide light and precise steering. These qualities make dealing with traffic easy and undramatic in this heavy (290Kgs) vehicle.

The Voyagers were conceived as an 'all round' general purpose vehicle and several of them (There are six including FJ) have covered high mileages in a variety of roles. FJ has over 88,000 miles on the clock and at least one of the others has exceeded 100,000 miles. Urban use shown here, almost all in first and second gear clearly does not allow use of the full performance and other, lighter, lower capacity FFs, like the Tmax scooter conversion known as the "Comfortmax", with it's CVT transmission, makes an even easier town bike. It is however hampered by the stock telescopic fork front suspension and steering. The Voyagers represent the most compact and comprehensive FF design from the era of Petrol engines.

An electric powered version is the obvious next step.

Bullshit of the year contender

Royce — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 14:25:58 +0000

I confidently nominate BMW for Bullshit of the Year award for this entry on EMN.

https://thepack.news/bmw-motorrad-concept-ce-02/

Worth reading for a number of interesting comments, such as bigging up Low CG and using the term 'Feet First riding position'. Anyone launching an electric FF could use much of this blurb verbatim. If I was an optimist (rather than an old cynic) I could almost suspect that whoever writes this rubbish is a closet FF proponent - unlike whoever designed the C/-Evo/04/02

Also interesting for being yet another offering where imagination failed when it came to the rear end. Like the CE04, there isn't one. And just like the prototyper version of the CE04, if you slip off the rear of the seat this bike will eat your arse. Obviously some token rear mudguard will appear in the production version. As it is it's illegal. One lovely touch is the skateaboard carrier, apparantly used as a footboard and guarunteeing major damage in any accident.

No price quoted as yet, but probably another potential lightweight FF donor for a very rich FF enthusiast.

something missing?

Royce — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 17:37:46 +0000

Astonishingly, BMW have revealed their CE04 electric 'scooter' without having resolved what to do with the tail section. So there isn't one.

Siezing this opportunitiy I will be happy to offer to design, build and fit an FF tail section, complete with seatback, passenger facility and lockable luggage space. For money.

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/models/urban_mobility/ce04.html

Historic vehicle survey results

Royce — Sat, 22 May 2021 10:55:05 +0000

As most FFs in this country were built by 'millenialls' or 'war babies' like me, it follows that many of them qualify as 'historic vehicles' - more than 30 years old. Like FJ, and all the Voyagers and Quasars, Phasars, slugs and other forma of similar life. So this comprehensive report may be of some interest, not least in outlining the significant industry such vehicles generate. It's directly related to the 'car builder' community, 'custom' bikes and motor racing. It's survival and good health is essential to anyone building any sort of motor vehcile in England and other, possibly reluctant, members of the "UK" (It's not united. It isn't a kingdom...)

https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/2020-research-result-headlines

"The C.1 Story"

Royce — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 16:30:13 +0000

I may be the last person here to have seen this, if not Youtube has this piece from something called bigcar and an unamed narrator that's worth a look for two reasons

One, it's an example of journalism at it's worse, it's English but it completely ignores any English contributions to the genesis of the C.1 except for;-

Two, it features what it says is a Quasar, except that it's got chain drive on the left, instead of shaft drive on the right. I'm pretty sure it's the Kiwi Quasar copy, a fine effort but neither English or a Quasar! Good job Malcolm is not longer available really, coulda got messy.

I guess you might excuse it as an excercise in 'roofus' FFs. It mentions the Monotracer ("A rich man's toy"), Adiva and the Elysium, which never made production. Except that the piece is actually about solutions to urban traffic congestion... I know I'm not the only person who upset the delicate ego's of the British Motorcycle press (richly deserved) but it's amazing, to me at least, how English FF projects achieve complete invisibilty.

BMW vapourware

Royce — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:38:43 +0000

Here's a link to some BMW vapourware, of almost zero significance. It looks like some student has stumbled across the C.1 project.

https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-news/bmw-safety-bike/

Maybe they'll also find the CE04/link project in the fullness of time. I wish I could afford to waste time like this!

FF in VMCC magazine shock

Royce — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 14:37:12 +0000

January's Vintage Motorcycle (VMMC) Magazine features a piece on a Mr. John Harding, a builder of multiple 'Specials'. one of which is actually an FF, a basic cut'n shut of an RD400. Bodyless and similar to the several simple cut'n shuts built in the late seventies - John Bruce's BSA being probably the best known. Mr. Hardings example is chiefly notable for the extreme increase in wheelbase and he unsurprisingly complains about low speed handling. More interesting is that it was built in the nineties, after "Wide discussion" in the motorcycle press. If he'd engaged with this discussion he might have discovered the various FFs then in existence with normal wheelbases and even tried one of the production Voyagers. So it goes.

It's worth noting that the VMCC has a rolling 25 year age limit for acceptance in the club. So FJ is a 'Late Classic', on their 'machine register' and qualifies for a 10% discount on insurance from Footman James. It's even featured in a photograph, along with a description of the trigger throttle. As you can imagine this caused immmediate outrage, which alone justified the membership fee. A number of FFs, basically anything registered before 1996, are eligable for VMCC membership. All the Quasars for a start, which are entirely English and hence part of our engineering heritage (I'm quoting here). I think everyone with a qualifying FF should join the VMCC and post pictures, For entertainment of course, it's a bit late to convert the membership!

This is fun...

Royce — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 14:25:39 +0000

I'm very happy to put up this piece by the world's leading FF race expert. It's a bonanza for social media trolls everywhere, enough material to keep them off the streets forever. For those on the street, race or otherwise, Rob offers some really interesting innovations in dynamics, extending the FF performance envelope. Think before you troll. This guy has actually raced this stuff. Great thing racing. Put up or Shut up.
Nice one Rob. A happy holiday and a better new year;- https://rohorn.blogspot.com/2020/12/but-why.html

Oh! Almost there...

Royce — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 15:56:22 +0000

EMN again - (at least it's current news not history) Scroll down this link to see them almost do an FF electric Cargo Scooter! They got the electric, the seatback, the cargo box... So near! So uninspired.

https://electricmotorcycles.news/the-b4-from-blacksmith-electric-has-been-designed-to-meet-the-needs-of-both-individuals-and-professionals/

Electric Motorcycle News runs FF article

Royce — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 18:50:54 +0000

Electric Motorcyckle News (EMN) run a piece by Beligian designer Eric Viomens extolling trhe virtues of Feet First two wheelers, expressly in relation to Electric power. There's visulisations, vapourware and a photo of steel, being welded. Norman Hossack will be proud to see his front suspension system displayed. It's all the usal FF stuff but good to see a new take on the subject and excellent to see it in a non-FF publication. Good luck Eric! I'll buy him a beer(If they'll let him in and there are any pubs left and he'll probably have to bring the beer...).

https://electricmotorcycles.news/hands-up-for-the-feet-forward-community/

Some costs

Royce — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 13:21:01 +0000

In my probably pointless pursuit of an electric powered replacement for my ancient Voyager, I've established some cost estimates for an electric powertrain roughly equivelent to BMW's C-Evo (long range version) - comfortably enough to produce Voyager-levels of performance, if not range. These are from local E-bicycle* enthusiasts and battery specialists.

There seem to be two routes to a custom battery pack, flat, rectangular "Apple-style" batteries that may be best for packaging but are known for exploding or catching fire if abused and smaller cylindrical, "Tesla-style/laptop" items, usually packed into 'cells', these are apparently more rocust and unlikely to combust. I'm currently focussing on these latter items. To replicate C-Evo output I'll need 2,500 of these packed into 150 cells that will wiegh 75Kgs, less than the Reliant/Guzzi powertrain. This number of batteries will cost, new, 5,400 Euro's (and probably £s by next year). I'll work up a package size optimised to fit in an FF keel area.

To this cost and wieght must be added a power management controller at £700, wieght unspecified but not huge. This is a programmable unit that can provide regen, traction control and torque limits and so on. Also a battery management system that seems to be regarded as simple and cheap. And a water-cooled motor, capable of 35Kw peak, 17 Kw continuous, at £2000.

So subject to some CAD work to establish battery packaging it's possible to buy a powertrain that will serve most prectical purposes for an FF. It'll cost about £8500, assuming a bit for the battery assembly and management, cabling, intumentation and so on (and £/Euro equivelence). The "Vehicle" end of an FF costs about £5,000 (ignoring the free labour of the enthusiast building it) which adds up to £13500, surprisingly similar to the cost of a C-Evo and an interesting insight into how much BMW must be paying for parts and labour. Not much of this can be found in scrapyards, although a frontalled C-Evo might supply a cheaper motor/rear end unit. (anyone?)

I'll publish a drawing, like previous ones, of the battery packaging in due course. This is not mysterious. The cells I've seen measure 102mm x 82mm x 70m. but need 10mm adding to the last figure to allow cooling airflow. Package 150 of these and you;ve cracked it. Meanwhile I'll have to get a ferry contract, or something, from Bozo to raise the dosh...

*In this world the term "bicycle" is used estremely flexibly, officer.

Even more interesting Peraves video

Royce — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 17:05:45 +0000

Anyone contemplating designing, building or buying anything like one of these Monoracers should watch (several times) this video. So much detail. We could have done with camera work like this thirty ears ago!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ9jLYA0830&list=PLVvzYlefm5vagxLGyWBrE_-AZBXkvvYKy&index=4

Caution. May be a bit modern for this site.

long Peraves in-cockpit video

Royce — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 14:44:47 +0000

Here's quite a lengthy video from Peraves, all in-cockpit, shot on the road and Brno circuit, a lot in wet conditions. Answers a lot of questions. It's not a racer but it plays well on the autobahn. Very interesting watching the screen clearing rain at different speeds. For many reasons.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVvzYlefm5vagxLGyWBrE_-AZBXkvvYKy

Important news for innovators

Royce — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 13:45:36 +0000

You may have noticed, in the Guradian Newspaper (27th. July), a plan to electrify the left-hand lanes of motorways, by overhead cables, for use by suitably modified trucks.

Brillient idea, which I detailed in correspondance with my MP, the D.o.T. and the Road Haulage Association, starting in October 2000. Obviously tyhe D.o.T. rubbished the idea (Lord Whitty) and the RHA didn't bother to reply, but that's not the point.

Now we know exactly how long it takes for an idea to soak through British Industrial and academic society

Nineteen years and ninth months. Could be relevent if you're not expecting to live that long.

Monoracer street video

Royce — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 16:24:39 +0000

Here's a very recent video of the E-Monoracer driving about a town and motorway. Good quality film, the Monoracer is almost silent.

https://youtu.be/M-I3A4EWDQE This really should be up in "Films" with all the other FF videos

It comes with an announcement that I think is about a demo's at Brno in June/July, some of which have already happened. I'll come back with more info once Ingrid has read it.

If it isn't a Monoracer but some earlier device, being driven by some person or other a few years ago, I'm sure someone will let us know. Then again it came direct from Arnold and the pilot is wearing a facemask so I'm fairly confident...

Attachment	Size
PERAVES CZ E (4).pdf	2.04 MB

Re-invention contiues

Royce — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:58:48 +0000

Another interesting entry in Electric Motorcycle News;-
https://electricmotorcycles.news/silence-launches-its-new-s02-ls-electric-scooter-in-europe/

The most overt electric "Cargo-Scooter" offering yet. If this continues it seems inevitable to me that FFs will be re-invented by electric scooter manufacturers. None of whome will have heard of Bikeweb, Peraves, Lightning, or indeed the term "FF"

It's interesting to see how many bike couriers use their cargo box as a backrest - and even more interesting to observe how, in an unprecedently connected world, how little connection there is across the tiny field of PTW designers and manufacturers. I'm reminded of our one-time contributor Mr. Partridge who refused to look at other FFs "in case it polluted the purity of his innovation"

But maybe it's a national thing. BMW, in 1985, had never heard of Difazio. Munch, just a few years ago, had never heard of FFs, despite them being specifically mentioned in the race rules they were running a bike to. Homework, it seems, is something people stop doing the moment they leave school.

Game on! Lightning enclosed E-FF revealed

Royce — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 09:31:56 +0000

Lightning Motorcycles said they'd do an enclosed E-FF this summer - and here it is. You can easily contact Lightning Motorcycles and congratulate them...

No details yet, just a short clip of it passing, sounding electyric an all. Not an unreasonable shape

https://youtu.be/4Sm9znxelrU

Monoracer in action

Royce — Sun, 10 May 2020 11:13:51 +0000

Here's a video, shot from another vehicle, of a Monoracer doing a gentle lap of the Brno circuit in the hands of it's new, wheelshair-bound, owner

https://vimeo.com/155405950

And there's another. much more committed, in-cockpit, video of an earlier Montracer at the same circuit for most of a lap. I'd say this person knows the cirucit! However this was sent as an attachment and is a file, rather than the link above. This means I can't insert a link to it here, but I have to put it in 'images', displacing the utterely relevent and important picture of an FF that was built eighty odd years ago - with a Villiers engine. Please accept my apologies for this non-achronistic insertion... I blame computers.

Peraves CZ brochure

Royce — Fri, 01 May 2020 09:35:40 +0000

I've got a nice brochure from Peraves CZ, 2mb as a PDF. Pictures, details, vehicle data. All I have to do is figure out how to upload it here. Think I'll have to talk to Julian...

Of course you can get a brochure too, or even arrange a test drive once travel restrictions end, here's the address;-

PERAVES CZ a.s.
Cabin -
Motorcycles
= POWER-EGGS
Zebetinek 90/5
CZ-621 00 Brno-Medlanky
Fon +420 602 555 013
gprochazka@peravescz.com
www.peravescz.com

I have no connection with Peraves, although if the Premium Bond I've had since I was 21 comes up big, I'll be a customer...

More on MonoRacer - Arnold produces

Royce — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 19:21:51 +0000

Arnold confirms in a mail that his MonoRacer130kW-BEV is in production with first delivery on the 1st. May, Today. He's implying that the first ten have been ordered for subesquent delivery. I'm hoping to get a copy of the brochure, with pictures, shortly.

Kawasaki - false alarm

Royce — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 16:13:48 +0000

A phone call with Kawasaki UK reveales that the Endevour E-bike is just a prototype and there are currently no plans to introduce an E-bike from this manufacturer. They report their customer base is still committed to the petrol driven experience, all 3.5% of them. I'm sure there's a message to be had from this peice of news, in conjunction with the picture of Arnold's E-racer, but I'm not sure what it is...