Discussion The Death of Motorcycles?

I am an electronics engineer by profession but enjoy tinkering with and riding my older machines that actually have very little in the way of electronics. Bikes with carburettors have character. As much as possible, I try to maintain the originality of my bikes.

 

One of the great ways to build a classic machine can be to "upgrade" some or all of the drivetrain to modern standards. Like fuel injecting a carb machine, or adding computers to make a transmission shift different, launch rev control etc.
There will be transition of technology with some overlaps between. Hot rod an old bike with a lost-to-time engine with an electric motor. Put an old engine in the electric machine you cannot afford to replace the motor (a V8 Tesla already exists, saw a "hybrid" tesla using a gas generator in the trunk LOL)
Heres a thought, since hybrid cars seem to be proven now, why not hybrid bikes ? Simple as adding a motor on the chain drive, maybe in place of the chain roller if your bike has one ....Better downshift braking & acceleration plus some economy if wanted. Aside from the weight added, seems like hybrid is a good mix. Many "hypercars" have embraced hybrid for an upper hand at maximum performance.

 

Yep @Alumascoupe you could do all that, but then it wouldn't be a classic old machine anymore.
Money better spent buying something new I recon.

 

I guess my definition of classic varies a bit from others, my father has a pacemaker keeping his heart at the correct RPM now but I still think of him as the original
i mean technically unless every single nut & bolt is original or N.O.S. its not "classic" anymore. There are some that cringe at the very idea of modifying, updating, or upgrading a vintage machine, & in some cases for rare, unique, or "too perfect to change" machines I think I would agree it can almost feel like a crime to see changes. Yet if every machine stayed in the state it was fresh off the assembly line, boy what a dull world it would be !
It will sure be interesting seeing all the possibilities for customs that will come with newer technologies, while also making the older stuff that much more rare, unique & entertaining too
How many of us will still be proud to run an I.C.E. when electric EVERYTHING can all pass us like we are standing still ? Or group shame us for "exhaust fumes"? (Serious questions, a tesla "plaid" or whatever it is, can beat some BIG power muscle cars on a dragstrip already, modern minivans can often outrun a 90s sports car & thinking of public acceptance of smokers in the last 25yrs & how what was once "normal" is now so frowned upon.) At this rate eventually when the public at large views our bikes as loud, smelly & unsafe for all, how do we keep up with those faster, quieter machines ? (Wont debate if they are actually CLEANER tho)

 

I modified the bikes when they were new and see no reason not to apply period modifications to my bikes now.

The manufacturers make decisions about what goes into a bike and they often get it wrong or fit cheaper components to reduce the price.
For example, the 1981 RD250/350LCs came with 32mm forks. Mine got 35mm forks in 1983 from the RZ250 like it should have come with.

The 1984 IT200 came with a Mikuni VM34 when the TM36 with powerjet was available and fits and suits the bike so much better.

1977 to 1980 Yamaha IT175 to IT425 came with suspension more suited to trail riding with 36mm forks.
When used in serious competition it was common to fit YZ 38mm forks and shock.
My 1979 IT175F has fully sorted 1977/1979 YZ250 suspension and other modifications as documented in the 1979 book 'modifying your YZ or IT for competition'.
I have created a document for it that shows exactly where it varies from stock and how it conforms to the FIM Classic 79 Enduro class.
The bike is awesome and shows how good the 1979 technology could be when applied correctly.

VAPE makes some great 12V ignition/lighting kits for old bikes for less than what it would cost to buy the original parts.

But my 1991-1993 Gilera CX125 will get an electric motor. That is why I bought it.
As much as possible it will retain the original appearance of the bike.
For example, I will retain the dash to keep it's looks but work out how to fit an OLED touch screen into it.
Original and/or Italian parts will be used where possible such as Brembo or Grimeca brakes and Domino grips.
The suspension will be upgraded, which requires me to replace the Gilera 'ELF' swingarm with a 1994 Honda MC28 'ELF' swingarm.
I plan to use it as my regular sports road bike but also show it at classic bike shows.

 

Bigger bikes have their appeal, but the tiddlers are easier to manage for us old farts and they can be just as enjoyable.

 

IMHO My 250 is the best road bike I have ever ridden. And I have ridden plenty of bigger bikes.

 

Re Mazda Rotary Hybrid.
An interesting idea. More flexibility than a mechanical drive hybrid but might loose out a bit on efficiency. Would be interesting to see comparisons.

Since we have gone off topic a little, I thought this might be of interest.

 

It would be run at a constant speed and so can be tuned to be efficient at that engine speed.
I don't know if it would be more or less efficient than the Lotus Omnivore 2 stroke.
I would expect both to be much better than a 4 stroke solution.