Top 5 Wildest Concepts That Revolutionised Motorcycling

Concept bikes are often flamboyant and are a display of what the brand can achieve. There are numerous parameters that could be altered in order to make riding faster, safer and more efficient. Here are some of the wackiest concepts that are the crème de la crème of the two-wheeled world:

‘The Great Escape’ by BMW Motorrad:

BMW Motorrad’s latest project Vision Next 100 has showcased a concept called ‘The Great Escape’. The concept is built upon the core principle of offering the ultimate riding experience, in touch with the environment, free from the need to wear helmet and protective gear. Yes, you read that right. BMW Motorrad claims that the bike is safe enough to eliminate the need of helmet.

The self-balancing bike comes with a specially designed visor which displays a range of telemetry readings which can be displayed on request and controlled by the rider’s eye movements. The concept bike is powered by a shape-shifting boxer-like zero emissions unit. The speed sensitive frame, called ‘Flexframe’ is versatile enough to let the bike steer into corners, eliminating the need for various joints found on today’s bikes! Damping is provided by the tyres, whose variable tread actively adjusts to suit ground conditions and ensure the best possible grip in any situation- how cool is that!

The bike’s design hints towards the first ever BMW motorcycle, the R32, made in 1923. Thus, it’s a veritable fusion of classic styling and modern technology.

Dodge Tomahawk:

The American adage, ‘Ain’t no replacement for displacement’ is perfectly embodied mechanically in the form of the Dodge Tomahawk. This big bike is powered by an equally big engine- an insane 8,277cc V-10 from the Dodge Viper! This massive powerplant generates whopping 507PS and an earth-shattering torque of 712Nm. 

The bike employs independently controlled suspension which makes sure that all the four wheels (yes, four!) stay in contact with the road even when cornering. In fact, it allows up to 45 degrees of lean angle while keeping all the four wheels on the ground! The power is put to the rear wheels via two chain drives paired to a two-speed gearbox. All that power needs to be reined in properly and that’s where the massive perimeter-mounted brakes come into the picture. The front end uses 16 pistons (eight for each wheel) while the rear has eight pistons (four for each wheel). The wheels are mounted on special horizontal forks that are designed to take the forces of brutal acceleration and deceleration without snapping.

The Tomahawk is capable of a theoretical top-speed of over 482 kph, making it one of the most obscenely ridiculous concepts in the world!

Source (s): Popular Mechanics (2003), Pinterest

Suzuki Nuda:

The Nuda concept motorcycle looks like it has come straight from Japanese anime. Yet, form and function were given equal importance. It is evident from the fact that this bike was powered by a Suzuki GSX-R750 engine. This allowed the bike to be propelled to speeds over 280 kph! That’s blisteringly fast, especially considering the bike was displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show, way back in 1986! 

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The Nuda also had a Bimota-like hub steering system and the bodywork was made out of carbon-fibre. Mind you, carbon-fibre was pretty advanced for its time. The bike also used a complex two-wheel drive where the power was delivered via shaft drive at both ends. The concept used computerised fuel-injection technology, and ignition timing control which later made its way into Suzuki’s production machines of today’s world. 

Source(s): suzukicycles.org, diseno-art.com

Honda CB 750 Concept:

The CB 750 Concept is the modern iteration of the famed Honda CB750, designed by Igor Chak based out of United States. The bike is powered by a 750cc four-cylinder engine that runs on liquid hydrogen. It is not only smaller and lighter than conventional engines of that category, but also more powerful and fuel-efficient. The large 18.9-litre fuel tank ensures good range and the power is sent to the rear wheel via a six-speed dual clutch transmission. 

Thanks to the advanced touchscreen-controlled electronics, different parameters like the suspension and engine output can all be adjusted with the touch of a finger. The bodywork is a blend of carbon fibre and aluminium and suspension duties are taken care of by modern adjustable electro-magnetic units, which require relatively lesser maintenance. 

Multiple sensors in the bike relay information that’s accurate up to 1/10th of a second, and radar technology makes sure the bike automatically slows down and the seat is lowered to have more body grip so that the rider does not fly out in case of an impending collision. The bike also features three modes- GPS, Drive and Diagnostic to suit the rider’s needs.

Source: igorchak.com

Yamaha Morpho:

Japanese giant Yamaha came up with the crazy idea of a motorcycle that enables the rider to have different ergonomics, as per his/her needs. It was a particularly clever idea as it could accommodate riders of all sizes. In fact, it could be called the mechanical/analogue equivalent of the electronic/digital riding modes offered on modern motorcycles that helps riders choose their preferred riding style. Named rightly as the Morpho, the bike was a shape-shifter! The bike could transform its shape to suit the rider. The seat could go up and down and so did the footpegs, the cockpit and the screen and instruments, which rose up as one. The combination of movements of individual parts resulted in either an aggressive or relaxed riding position, based on the rider’s requirements. The bike was powered by a 400cc engine and it also featured a hub steering with single sided swingarm on both ends.

In 1991, Yamaha improved the Morpho and showcased the Morpho 2, which had an even bigger, 1000cc engine.

Source(s): visordown.com, Pinterest

These concept bikes effectively show how far human creativity has come and with consistent development in diverse technological fields, who knows what the future has in store for us!