Lotus' new motorcycle

[rockmeister]

WOW.

Lotus are to launch a new 200bhp motorbike...gosh, wow, h.... etc.

No, wait....

A german firm are actually doing all the research, development and production of the bike, so???

OK. Start again.

Lotus are adding their name and colour schemes to someone else's motorbike.

OH. Ok then.

Can't wait.

 

[Guest]

Is it a wankel?

 

[legzr1]

Honda learned the lesson 25 years ago (and aprilia with their moto-GP 'cube' project) and now Lotus look to be making the same mistakes - F1 and 4 wheeled engineering makes for good soundbites and shit motorcycles.

Norton Nemesis anyone?

 

[Leonard Smalls]

Here's how a proper mosickle should look.

 

[Gromit]

Honda learned the lesson 25 years ago (and aprilia with their moto-GP 'cube' project) and now Lotus look to be making the same mistakes - F1 and 4 wheeled engineering makes for good soundbites and shit motorcycles.Norton Nemesis anyone?

Good points, well made sir. :^

 

[rockmeister]

It's all the links and pics that really make this thread special... :^

There are no pics yet...hence why I didn't post a link to the black spaces where they should be:doh:

but google provides this ...

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/New-bikes/2013/June/jun2113-lotus-to-make-200bhp-motorcycle/

and

http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/Lotus-is-launching-a-motorcycle-2013-06-24



ps....did Norton make the TT this year?

 

[legzr1]

They did (and did OK too):

http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/news/

But they're proper motorcycles being built by people who know what they're doing - a little different to the earlier V8 nonsense.

 

[barry2tone]

http://www.diseno-art.com/news_content/2014/02/lotus-c-01-motorcycle/

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/lifestyle_design/0314/lotus_motorcycle_c01.htm

 

[JBCobra]

Here's how a proper mosickle should look.

 

[mudshark]

JB - Ride yer TT or get a second hand Van Van.....

Air Head's rule.

 

[JBCobra]

With all due respect....I don't understand? :?

JB - Ride yer TT or get a second hand Van Van.....Air Head's rule.

 

[rod]

http://www.diseno-art.com/news_content/2014/02/lotus-c-01-motorcycle/

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/lifestyle_design/0314/lotus_motorcycle_c01.htm

Couldn't find a vomiting smilie so this will have to do. :td:

 

[whizzkid]

Here's how a proper mosickle should look.

I would not want to try and stop that heavy load of metal in a hurry with those brakes, shit I'm not sure it would stop.

 

[Rob998]

Jesus, that's fucking hideous.

Why do car manufacturers do this? Ever so often they throw out a concept bike which is always a pile of shite. Is it because bikes are supposedly cool so by default they are cool because they've designed one? There was a "Ferrari homage" bike doing the rounds a few years back, admittedly nothing to do with Fezza but apparently it had their blessing and it was an abortion.

I just hope Audi keep their lumpen designers out of the Ducati drawing office and realise their job is just to keep signing the blank cheques....

 

[Leonard Smalls]

I would not want to try and stop that heavy load of metal in a hurry with those brakes, shit I'm not sure it would stop.

You'd be surprised!

A 4 leading shoe brake like that on a 380lb bike will lock up the front just as easily as a disc.

The disadvantage is quicker brake fade due to heat build up.

But those old boys didn't half used to ride hard on "crap" drums!

 

[barry2tone]

Jesus, that's fucking hideous.

Sadly, yes. I'd have thought the carbon/gold had the best chance, but doesn't work.

The rear view is the least worst, perhaps. No radiator.

 

[rockmeister]

but what is it...a sort of gigantic thing with lumpy bits. Maybe lotus have mistaken the word 'motorcycle' for the word 'lump'?

 

[whizzkid]

You'd be surprised!A 4 leading shoe brake like that on a 380lb bike will lock up the front just as easily as a disc.

The disadvantage is quicker brake fade due to heat build up.

But those old boys didn't half used to ride hard on "crap" drums!

That's the worry, locking up without doing much a modern three/four pot brembo brake system I at least have some control and that's without ABS which I detest. I couldn't go back to those massive drum jobbies especially on bikes that heavy, riding an old Norton and Triumph was scary enough.

 

[Leonard Smalls]

There's some who would say that a drum has more feel than discs...

Still, I've got a big Brembo drum on the rear of my Guzzi and that's got loads of feel; when you press on it lightly you can feel that nowt's happening, a bit harder and retardation is glacial, actually stand up on the bugger and jump and it'll lock. But then the twin disc front also locks quite easily; best bet is to use the brakes gently and learn to ride smoothly - just like the old boys did!