Akira motorcycle for sale!

[Buddy J]

I want an Akira motorcycle. KANEDAAAAAAAA! (http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2008/02/kanedas-bike-from-akira-for-sa.html)

[TBonZ]

yuckkkkie.

[Buddy J]

Whatever.
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[Your Amish Daddy]

And I was like...Hell yeah. I've been wanting to build one with a V4 in it for a long time. Put an ITX box in it, and take it for touring. Wouldn't it something else to ride up to the lan in one?

[Leonardo]

Concerning the one in the picture: I'd like to know what hardware is underneath the McDonalds Playland sheeting. I think the concept is interesting, but the execution should be as functionality first. Other questions: center of gravity, maximum lean angle, added weight of the panels, engine access, parts availability, and so forth.

[Buddy J]

To answer your questions Leo, it seems that most of the kits on the market use larger touring scooters as the basis. Looking deeper in the links, it looks like they use 250cc bikes like the Honda Helix and Yamaha Morphous (Both popular in Japan with the tuner scene). For those, you're just re-skinning an already plastic-clad scooter so the specs would probably the about the same (added weight offset by improved aero).

Others are more in-depth with forward mounted engines in custom frames using off-the-shelf suspension pieces like this one.
http://negatendo.net/kmc/files/models/neo_fukuoka/neo_fukuoka_01_0050_0114.jpg
Fun bit of fab work there.

[Leonardo]

touring scootersAh, so it's a sheep in wolf's clothing.

[Buddy J]

You're being facetious. These days, the only thing separating a motorcycle and a scooter is if the motor is in front of or behind the driver. :P

[MrBill]

yuckkkkie.I agree. http://www.sims99.com/forum/images/smilies/puke.gif

[tmh88]

lol it looks ridiculous

[Leonardo]

the only thing separating a motorcycle and a scooter is if the motor is in front of or behind the driverUh, not to mention riding position, high performance suspension, and LOTS of torque and horsepower.

[Buddy J]

Riding position is irrelevant. Scooters and motorcycles both share the variety of riding positions. From a relaxed, foot-forward position, to upright, to hunched over the tank with your feet rearward on pegs.

Performance suspension is irrelevant. Both are available with inverted forks, rear monoshocks and tubular single rear swing-arms.

Horsepower and torque can't be a deciding factor either. Motorcycles do offer larger, higher-powered multi cylinder engines that don't fit in traditional scooter frames/monocoques, but that doesn't mean that's all thats out there. There are plenty of smaller displacement motorcycles that are comparable to scooters. There are plenty of large displacement scooters that compare to large displacement motorcycles.

These days, it's only engine placement that separates scooters from motorcycles.

[Leonardo]

There are plenty of smaller displacement motorcycles that are comparable to scooters.I'll agree with that.

I'll admit, scooters are far different than they were a couple decades ago. The upscale (contradiction of terms, in my opinion) models are becoming more like motorcycles all the time.

Still though, I just can't get comfortable of the idea of driving a 250cc scooter clad in a red, plastic refrigerator.

[Thelemech]

Loved the movie. That being said, the motorcycle does look a bit like a red, plastic refrigerator.

[anime2kewl]

The Motorcycle does look sick and its for sale now :)http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z288/bushfukinrules/akira.jpg

[rapture]

Freaking cool, can't help but feel 2 chains would be a pain to look after. I ride all year round and adjusting and constantly cleaning and lubing one is bad enough.

Love this quote from the article.

We don't speak Japanese, but we're betting these replicas feature somewhat less than two ceramic rotor drives on each wheel.

The one in the movie was 2 wheel drive and had a reverse gear too :P

the only thing separating a motorcycle and a scooter is if the motor is in front of or behind the driver

Uh, not to mention riding position, high performance suspension, and LOTS of torque and horsepower.

The Aprilia Mana owns both of you to be honest! :D
http://www.aprilia.com/modelli/road/modello.asp?id=133

I remember seeing an Akira style concept which was a 1000cc scooter type bike too some time ago, I can't remember who made it or what it was called though :(

One thing that has always bugged me about this style of bike, how the hell do you stop yourself from falling over when you stop?!

[Buddy J]

You gotta take a wide stance. Usually they're so low to the ground, it's not a problem. I've seen modified Burgmans/ Gemmas, etc.



Luckily for us, the Mana 850 will be for sale soon in the US (http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2008/06/aprilia-mana-850-and-rs-125-to.html), along with the RS 125. hooray!