Sheeking Motorcycle Blogs

Ive started on my chassis will jig which will eventually lead to building the new frame for the SV650. As all the engine mounts on the SV are offset, and with no center line break between the crankcases, I needed to create an accurate representation of the mounting points in order to obtain my measurements. The simplest way to do this was to create a mock up of the engine / swingarm / shock linkage mounting points which i could slide into the original frame. This ensures all the frame mounting points are aligned and dimensions can be taken to be worked into the CAD model.

Just finished one of the promotional images for the Angelic Bulldog project. Trying to break the 400mph barrier on two wheels, so need all the support we can get.

 

A concept rendering for the SV650 project. The styling of the bike is take a very clean, simple form with a "less is more" aesthetic, detailed with etched aluminum features. The front end of the motorcycle will be dominated by a single bi-xenon projector headlight unit, complimented with daylight running lights to form an aggressive look in the opening of the air inlets.

Well, after weeks of searching around SV forums and keeping an eye out on auctions site, a suitable donor bike came up for the project. This one has quite a large hole in the front cylinder barrel where it was starved of oil, so wont be going anywhere anytime soon, but its perfect for being used to design the chassis and clay model. This photo is after the bike has been stripped of some components down to the bare essentials, but it feels good to now have something to start working with.

This is the initial design for the chassis, consisting of the frame, subframe and swingarm. With only reference images to ork off for dimesion, its expected to change a vast amount, but its heading in the right direction. 

The frame has been designed to be built as a steel trellis structure. The main reason behind this is the simplicity to manufacture in low volume numbers, but they also have a very elegant aesthetic.

You may well recognise the reference image in the background being that of the RSV4 Aprilia. Thats no bad thing, as that's a very compact, sweetly packaged bike!

To this date, Moto R Design have been doing small freelance projects for a number of clients, but the desire to be involved with a more complete motorcycle project has been ever present. This has lead to many hours of thought on various design projects, from single cylinder racing machines to three-wheeled trikes, along with everything else in between. 

With the weaker design project ideas put to one side a clear candidate had emerged, which was the humble Suzuki SV650. Im a big fan of small, narrow engines and the SV650 lends itself perfectly to the type of bike we'd like to design, along with being very popular with many other bikers.

So the general idea is take a SV650 as a donor bike, use that great little engine and some of its components, and re-style it into a much more compact, desirable sports bike. Along the way, any improvements to the performance or handling that can be made will be worked on, to make the bike as complete and enjoyable to ride as possible. The SV has a great following, with race series such as the "MiniTwins" here in the UK, and is an easy base for upgrades of components from the GSXR series of bikes.

The main goals for this project are to demonstrate the capabilities of Moto R Design. The opportunities have arisen to move into an existing workshop in the not too distant future, and create a studio / workshop facility that is setup specifically for motorcycle design work. So when this is in place, its time to really go for it, and start designing some really stylish motorcycles.

Now the design process begins. Over the next few weeks many ideas will get sketched out and thought about and the project will begin to take-off. Now we just need to find a donor bike . . .

This was the first time the Norton M28 concept bike has been on display to the motorcycle public, exhibiting alongside the Angelic Bulldog streamliner at the Beezumph 18 event, Cadwell Park.

It caught the eye of many passers by and generated many positive reactions. Had a long chat with Peter Williams (ex GP racer, Norton designer/engineer and a very nice guy) about the concept, manufacturing techniques using composite materials and the future of electric motorcycles.

Also had an invite from Malcom Wheeler from the Classic Bike magazine who insists that it is taken the Classic Bike Show at Stafford this October. He also took some photos and interviewed me to create this article.