Remember the Yamaha monocycle concept and the Rollersphere? This is kind of the same thing only that the rider isn’t protected by the elements like in the previously mentioned cases. What makes the Hornet, as it is called, special is the fact that it is the closest concept to a one-wheel superbike and this turned it into winner of the VACC competition.
Designed by Liam Ferguson, the Hornet single-wheeled concept superbike is powered by two in-wheel hydrogen fuel-cell six-phase Neodymium-Iron (Nd-Fe) electric motors developing a claimed 74 hp. Also considering its 388 lbs weight and that of the rider’s, the listed top speed is of 146 mph.
But this concept has its fair share of ingenuity too. For instance, it balances gyroscopically when parked thanks to two side-by-side small wheels and tilts forward to run on the central wheel when accelerated. Also, the bike features a series of computers that examine data such as attitude and rider input in order to always offer stability regardless of rider weight and vehicle momentum.
Although the basic working principle is like that of the Segway, we have to admit this is a much better scenario imagined as the single wheel (which is actually made out of two parallel wheels) allows for extreme slow speed maneuverability. Ok, so why would you list an unrealistic top speed in this case?
This may not look like a student’s regular scooter concept, but more like an ingenious mean of short distance commuting inside airports. It is called Nexus and designer Francisco Lupin thought at everything to make it happen: two electric engines fed by four 12V batteries will supposedly be capable to power what we like to call the suitcase scooter to a top speed of 15 km/h (9.3 mph) while carrying a maximum load of 110 kg (242.5 pounds). It will go like this for two hours before emptying the batteries.
The Nexus can also be used as a regular suitcase when the batteries are empty and as long as it will fit in the overhead compartment, I’m buying one as soon as they start making it…if it ever happens, of course.
The latest trailer for the upcoming Tron Legacy movie has just been released and it reveals more two-wheel action than we ever hoped for.
Apart from the digital Lightcycles defying the laws of physics inside a computer-generated world, the movie also shows Sam (Garrett Hedlund) riding a Ducati Sportclassic right before leaving the real world and entering the one designed by his father Kevin (Jeff Bridges, who recently received an Oscar award for his role in Crazy Heart).
This is where the Lightcycles – which were first introduced in the 1982 movie – intervene in a father-son attempt to escape from the world where Bridges has been trapped for 25 years
Tron Legacy, which will be released on December 17 and also be available in 3D, announces to be an award winner for special effects and as long as the bikes are involved too, we dig it. Just take a look at the teaser trailer to see for yourself.
Italian company Benelli is yet to launch their 2ue 756 naked bike and conational Oberdan Bezzi has already imagined a flat-track ready version of the street-oriented bike and sees it competing in US flat track competitions. The Benelli 2 TechnoTracker would get the exact same engine as on the model still struggling towards production, meaning a 756cc parallel twin that is expected to deliver somewhere in between 90-100hp.
Engine performance aside, the aggressive design is most likely what determined Obiboi to get an early start with this one and his flat-track version looks ready to start its mud life, but Benelli would first have to sort things out with their own projects and then consider the design guru’s indeed cool racing concept bike. Never gonna happen? I say who knows…
Suzuki introduced their all-new middleweight Gladius in 2009 and didn’t change it in any way for this year, but here comes a rendering showing a quite possible way to turn the funky Suzuki naked bike into a presence much strongly felt wherever ridden. The design was done by Oberdan Bezzi, Italy’s most renown motorcycle designer, and it aims towards a more aggressive look.
If we were daring, which we can become, we would say this concept could easily pass as a streetfighter, but as much as we look at it, we cannot erase the fairly dull image of the model currently being produced. That’s the sad part because with his sketch, Obiboi is trying to drift the Suzuki Gladius away from its original look and make it worthy of an “S” completing the name.
Although the designer doesn’t mention anything about a possible engine upgrade, we think this is a rather simple way of refreshing the Gladius look and increase figures on the sales charts in years to come.
