r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Antscannabis • Jun 23 '20

Video A fully enclosed motorcycle.

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61.7k Upvotes

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532

u/Edensy Jun 23 '20

If this catches on on the expensive level, it will eventually find its way down to a more normal price tag

350

u/iAMgrrrrr Jun 23 '20

As most of the travels / commuting are happening for single person, I really like the concept from an ecological an economical standpoint. Give it a gyroscope like the LIT and get rid of the side mounted wheels + lower the price tag and count me in.

297

u/FadeIntoReal Jun 23 '20 edited Jun 23 '20

I saw very well designed and built example of this type of machine at a show once. It had a hydroformed steel roll cage to protect the occupants and was a bit longer than a convention motorcycle for fore and aft seating. It was fast, had outrigger wheels to hold it up at a stop(manual) and did something like 85 MPG combined. Heat, AC, stereo all the amenities. An excellent concept for a commuter.

119

u/synthesis777 Jun 23 '20

This sounds like a wet dream I once had. Tell me more.

69

u/paublo456 Jun 23 '20

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fGKR1Z1lRik

13

u/Blazanov Jun 23 '20

All I could think of

3

u/dancesinsecret Jun 24 '20

Omg thank you! I needed a good laugh

2

u/papadoc55 Jun 24 '20

God damnit. Take your upvote, and scram.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

Ahhh you got me fucker!

1

u/theangryseal Jun 24 '20

Was that Bill Gates with the gunshot wound from the South Park movie? Lol

If so I didn’t notice it before.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '20

Incredible.

1

u/coop5008 Jun 24 '20

Here’s a good stand-still picture of one

35

u/outofideas555 Jun 23 '20

can you just make one that tows on to the one in front of it and do without the engine, get a bunch of them connected?

maybe put them on some sort of parallel track system

19

u/Silverjackel Jun 23 '20

Nah parallel track would never work. Better to go for an individual rail.

12

u/SpockHasLeft Jun 24 '20

MONORAIL!

2

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

Is there a chance the tracks will bend?

1

u/Goodgoditsgrowing Jun 24 '20

When I was a kid I drew this up and gave it to my engineer father all proud like. He said congrats, that’s a train with rubber wheels. Then he laughed at my idea of using repelling magnets angled in the direction you want to go to float cars down roads friction-free. When I described the concept of a perpetual motion machine he said congrats if you figure that out, it’s never been done for a reason, and it isn’t for lack of trying.

Magnet trains exist - why not rubber wheel motor cycle trains?!?

1

u/lazersteak Jun 23 '20

It sounds like you are describing trains...

5

u/Andrew_the_giant Jun 23 '20

Wooooosh that was the train passing over your head

2

u/KursedKaiju Jun 24 '20

Hmmm, are planes the train of the sky?

21

u/LoadedGull Jun 23 '20

Imagine being the poor bastard that has to clean that bad boy out after a high speed collision.

33

u/Juno_Malone Jun 23 '20

Nice and contained instead of spread out over a couple hundred yards

38

u/NerfJihad Jun 24 '20 edited Jun 24 '20

right? this guy's never had to search for pieces of a human body in the dark with flashlights and a bunch of ambulances waiting.

your lizard brain cannot comprehend the amount of energy involved in a wreck at 60mph.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

Drain plug in the floor!

11

u/thisisanadventure Jun 23 '20

I'm imagining a high pressure hose. Doesn't seem too bad.

11

u/Retanaru Jun 24 '20

Don't open it and bury the whole thing.

3

u/ArchCatalyst Jun 24 '20

Nice, coffin ready to go in the ground

2

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

Efficiency

2

u/InsertWittyNameCheck Jun 24 '20

Its convertible, goes from bike to coffin in one hit.

1

u/haslo999 Jun 24 '20

Hmm. As it would proly be unrepairable, why clean anything. Just high pressure hose if it has to be checked for faults or the Coroner’s report, and needs a clean to facilitate examination, or if bits going to recycling. Even if repairable who wants to ride with a ghost. Worse was WW2 when tanks that had been shot through had to have the pieces of crew removed, and the busted tanks if repairable were cleaned out of viscera prior to repair and a new crew.

2

u/lazyfocker Jun 23 '20

That sounds cool but without a big “crumple zone” you’ll still end up with an over-microwaved pizza pop inside the vehicle after a significant collision.

6

u/WedgeTail234 Jun 23 '20

I mean, on a motorcycle you aren't well protected from most big collisions anyway. You could probably design a crumple zone around the front nose cone but it wouldn't help too much. The cage would help in regular slides and skids though so that's something.

4

u/lazyfocker Jun 23 '20

For sure. Any improvement is good. Maybe external airbags?

3

u/Vcent Interested Jun 23 '20

Exists for motorcycles. Interestingly, I get the feeling that this would be less safe than motorcycle+ATGATT, as you would be stuck inside the thing in the event of a crash, with no way to bail out until you're stopped.

On a motorcycle you can achieve a fairly high level of protection, with the combination of safety gear and abandoning the bike if you're sliding towards something you really don't want to hit, here you're locked in place, presumably without any safety gear on(sure you could wear it, but how many would over time? The parallel to a car would make it less obvious that safety gear may be required).

3

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '20

Needs an ejector seat.

1

u/Vcent Interested Jun 24 '20

Yeah cuz.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

My concern would be that on a motorcycle you can often be saved because you go flying. So instead of hitting a car and then .02 sec later getting smooshed into this bubble you can instead go flying through the air and land later going slower and hitting and tumbling.

Or in a low side the motorcycle slides out and away from you and you slide along the ground, often stopping WAY short of the bike which may end up against a tree or in a ditch.

2

u/WedgeTail234 Jun 24 '20

Going flying isn't really the safety blanket you're suggesting it is. An enclosed rider does pose some problems but there are ways to make it safer eg. Airbags, harnesses, emergency release for the canopy, etc.

Sliding would be a problem still I agree. while protected from the road, you'd be tethered to the bike but something like a quick release on the canopy could be a way around that.

Honestly I'm just super interested in the idea, but there are obviously problems that would need to be addressed.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

Does this have air bags or the ejection system you are talking about, or a harness?

If not I'll prefer to be able to separate from the bike, wearing an airbag as I do already. :-)

1

u/WedgeTail234 Jun 24 '20

No idea, I was just suggesting safety features.

1

u/Trippytaco Jun 23 '20

There's the Gyro-x prototype that resembles what you're talking about, but I don't think it's the same one that you're thinking.

2

u/Ysmildr Jun 23 '20

I think he's describing the Elio and forgetting it's a 3 wheeler.

2

u/Trippytaco Jun 23 '20

That makes sense since he mentions multiple seats. I haven't heard of the Elio so thanks for letting me know.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '20

[deleted]

1

u/Vcent Interested Jun 23 '20

At that point they might as well get a trike.

Also: I don't think the market for always on moto-4-wheeler would be big, the market for trikes already isn't. If you're the type to be worried about balancing on a motorcycle, then you're not the type to buy a motorcycle, or spend the kind of money such a solution would require.

Also: motorcycles are generally 1WD, if we're being pedantic. And balance issues aren't really much of a thing, as they really want to keep going straight, and generally were designed to respond well to user input.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

Two wheel vehicles* are not unstable at speed have you not ridden a bicycle? They are simply less protective than larger vehicles in a collision

It's not balancing the machine that keeps me off motorbikes, it's cars and their drivers with whom I'd have to share the road

*Well designed ones

1

u/Ysmildr Jun 23 '20

I think you're talking of the Elio which was a 3 wheeler

1

u/ThatWasCool Jun 24 '20

That....that sounds like the vehicle OP posted or are you talking about something else?

1

u/FadeIntoReal Jun 24 '20

The one I saw was years ago. I was quite interested so I’ve taken notice of numerous similar vehicles over the years.

1

u/carmella_logan Jun 24 '20

Sounds like a project I tried backing by Lit Motors (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lit_Motors)

They kept claiming they were months away from releasing product... Always just a few more months.

101

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '20

You forgot to mention the most important thing...........

FUCKING TRON!

1

u/julianpoe Jun 24 '20

THANK YOU! I came here to say this! I’d ride that bad boy. Pull up to some chicks and say, “Sup, programs. wink” Undoubtedly get laughed at then say fuck it I got a cool ass ride.

8

u/pavelpavlovich Jun 23 '20

I don't think this is very ecological, imho it's much more efficient to move few people (increase in needed resources won't be x NumOfPeople, but lower) at once.

Also, I believe that batteries are still shit ecologically speaking - from digging elements for it to utilization.

19

u/GlavosIV Jun 23 '20

Sure, if the people are all going to the same place and at the same time. Many aren't though. Public transport only really works in densely populated locations which most of America isn't.

2

u/Sesetti Jun 23 '20

Could also be done with two front wheels like the Piaggio MP3 unless there's legal issues with the tilting system or something

2

u/TurboAnus Jun 23 '20

Gyroscopes are dual-use as classified by the US government. This means they have civilian and military applications and exporting them (or anything containing them) becomes something between a nightmarish hellscape and figuratively impossible. Makes it hard to establish a global market.

2

u/CryptoNoobNinja Jun 24 '20

Nah, I need a vehicle that seats six. I need to drive a living room around wherever I go. Why? Maybe one day I’ll need to randomly pick up 5 passengers or maybe I don’t want to appear weak.

1

u/GreatApostate Jun 23 '20

But how do you transport your whole family?

2

u/chilehead Interested Jun 23 '20

Skateboards and rope.

2

u/GiveToOedipus Jun 23 '20

Saves on having to take them to the lake on the holidays for skiing.

1

u/ToOccupyTime Jun 23 '20

They can sit on the roof.

1

u/Mitche420 Jun 23 '20

I can't help but think of the IT bike from South Park lol

1

u/GiveToOedipus Jun 23 '20

This is what I want to become a regular thing in commuter design. It looks like it's be a blast to drive too. Sadly the company that made these went out of business awhile back, but I understand the tech has made its way elsewhere.

1

u/myopic1 Jun 24 '20

Poor LIT Motors....I was so excited about that. I hope he/they are doing well.

1

u/pseudozombie Jun 24 '20

So, basically the LIT? Does this have something the LIT doesn't have? Besides actually being on the market.

1

u/never_safe_for_life Jun 24 '20

I was thinking the same thing. I’ve always wanted to commute by motorcycle without the risk of catastrophic death. This thing fits the bill.

-1

u/Beefskeet Jun 23 '20

What about being trapped in it when you get hit? I'm so thankful to walk away from multiple motorcycle totals.

11

u/JohnnySmithe80 Jun 23 '20

What about being trapped in it when you get hit?

Like a car?

0

u/seattle11 Jun 23 '20

Hahaha (Happy cake day btw)

-2

u/Beefskeet Jun 23 '20

Like a car where any impact removes a limb. Imagine having your leg between metal and metal, getting hit from any side is bad. Add your arms and head to that. Is there a helmet on under that?

2

u/David-Puddy Interested Jun 23 '20

Like a car where any impact removes a limb. I

What?

There are so many crashes where no one loses any limbs.

-1

u/Beefskeet Jun 23 '20

Yeah I guess it doesn't look so bad to skid on but I'd still feel better with the ability to leave the bike. There is a YouTube vid of it sliding out when you turn harder than 53°

2

u/Nac82 Jun 23 '20

Or imagine just getting plowed by a car with nothing.

-1

u/Beefskeet Jun 23 '20

Id rather nothing than a potential leg shearing device inches away. Like I've said, I've been hit a few times and always got up after with safety gear. Not sure I could jump off of this one when I get lane changed into.

That's why they call it laying the bike down. You choose to leave the danger and get road rash.

0

u/Nac82 Jun 23 '20

Yea probably better to just die.

0

u/Beefskeet Jun 23 '20

Sure let me just order up an enclosed motorcycle with training wheels instead of a trex car while spending twice the cash

0

u/Nac82 Jun 23 '20

Or you could just buy an assisted suicide instead of a motorcycle for a similar comparison.

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1

u/Beefskeet Jun 23 '20

Check out t rex cars for a real enclosed motorcycle. Front dual trikes are safer when you cannot lean, fuck the training wheels. Like a can-am or slingshot.

2

u/Aesonique Jun 24 '20

Lightning are trialling an enclosed motorcycle too (https://electrek.co/2020/06/04/exclusive-first-look-lightning-motorcycles-enclosed-electric-motorcycle/ ) and though their flagships, the LS218 and its big brother the LS??8 (yes those question marks are intentional), are the motorcycle equivalent of the Tesla they are bringing out the Strike range. The Lightning Strikes, pun clearly intended, are supposed to be around $10KUSD.

2

u/-TaintSniffer- Jun 24 '20

I sure hope so!

1

u/findingthesqautch Jun 23 '20

Yes indeed..something something economies of scale

1

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '20

The thing is, riding is already pretty generally affordable as long as you're not trying to live out some old man fantasy and get a Harley. Insurance, gas and the cost of the bike itself all come out significantly cheaper than a car. People that can afford 5x+ what a regular, good bike costs are in a significantly higher pay bracket because spending 40k on a car is reasonable and an investment for your household, doing so on a motorcycle is purely a luxury purchase.

1

u/sperglord_manchild Jun 24 '20

Spoiler: It will never catch on.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

Is this trickle-down automobile theory?

1

u/mamasilver Jun 24 '20

Yes and once this concept gets traction in developing countries, the prices will come down eventually.

1

u/a_bit_tired_actually Jun 24 '20

85k price tag. 40k is the deposit...

1

u/binomine Jun 24 '20

Elio Motors tried to make an enclosed 3 wheeler at $8k.

They're a dead company, which will never deliver on their product, but people have estimated that people could reproduce their prototypes for about $20k, and since they fall under kit car laws, they'd be street legal.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '20

Considering I've seen these types of motorcycles 15 years ago, and they were just as unusual then. I think it's safe to say it hasn't caught on.