This vintage steam motorcycle prototype was built in 1836 by English railway engineers George Stephenson (father) and Robert Stephenson (son), who also built the Rocket locomotive. To us, it looks greater than many concept bikes we see today, but it seems it was a little too much for times in which the forms of self transportation consisted in either walking
or riding a horse.
After being discovered in an old abandoned workshop in the north of England, the steam prototype meant to be originally ridden on railroads is now called the Rocket Bike.
P.S. Is it just me or this thing looks a little too similar to the Triumph Rocket III?
Ever since Yamaha unveiled the Super Ténéré concept wrapped in clothing at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the motorcycle press has began to speculate about the endless design possibilities and after these leaked shots, we can finally say that the bike contours itself as the most potent BMW GS rival so far.
Although this is not an official teaser, we must say the various design concepts look truly plausible, while the already confirmed features such as a 1200cc parallel-twin engine with side-mounted radiators and a 270-degree crank, as well as electronic throttle and traction control, shaft drive and ABS, confirm this as the best Japanese attempt to dethrone the Enduro King also know as the BMW R 1200 GS. Video is attached after the jump.
P.S. Please Yamaha make your move once and for all.
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We recently came across the Monobike vehicle that Neil Morris, a student of industrial design at the Savannah College of Art and Design, has conceptualized and while we have to admit that the concept is rather plausible, we can’t really say we haven’t seen anything like it in a while. The creator describes the in-wheel motorcycle as being a “Rhinoceros model. Based on a long running tradition of odd one-wheeled vehicles as far back as the early 1900’s.”
Trying to find the practical side here, we reckon this can turn into a fun mean of urban transportation right after learning how to ride it. The sad part is that you can’t take a friend along for the ride, but at least you’ll be the only one that looks cool.
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Very often, those who plan to start riding can already imagine themselves dressed in bad boy leathers and so on, but you really need an appropriate bike to fulfill that dream and a bell should ring when hearing about the Unicorn concept that Honda has recently unveiled at the Auto Expo 2010 in India.
Although we would imagine something…different when reading the fancy name, the Honda Unicorn Sports Concept is anything but disappointing for the average rider in India. This should be thrilled by the 150cc engine, exciting new front cowl, stunning rear tail lamp, attractive tank shrouds, rear disc brake, spilit grab rail and dual tone styling, which are just few of the exciting features. These will most likely be found on the production version as well.
Hmm, so I guess we can say the 2010 Honda Unicorn will be a rider’s shortest trip from bad boy to funky.
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Concept products usually have two purposes: they’re either used by manufacturers to test the public’s reaction regarding their future developments or help skilful designers make a name for themselves. But very rarely, manufacturers turn to innovative designers with the proposal of transforming a great idea into reality.
This is precisely what we’re wishing Yamaha will do in this case as Japanese designer Yuji Fujimura is definitely up to something with his Wheel Rider concept. Virtually a fully-faired monocycle with a cockpit for a roof, this thing can become the ideal supersport ride for every speed enthusiast as long as it can go fast and somehow prove efficiency.
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