A question for the geeks

[Hucklebubba]

The other day, whilst commuting in my autocarriage, it occured to me that my sedan, with its four doors and seating for five, has three more doors and four more seats than I actually need.

In this age of ridiculously high gas prices, the prospect of trading in my jalopy for a motorcycle certainly has appeal, except for two things:

1. When I drive, I like to have a roof over my head.

2. In the unfortunate event that I were to doze off in my car, I might just scrape a guardrail or wind up in a ditch, as opposed to falling onto the road and dying of catastrophic skin loss.

My solution--which I'm pretty sure I'm going to find out that someone already invented over twenty years ago; shortly after Tron came out--is a motorcycle-esque vehicle with an enclosed driver's compartment, and that can stand upright on its own.

It would be really neat. There would be hardtop side-entry and bubble canopy varieties, and each type could also be produced in an inline two-seater variation, for guys who want to impress their lady by giving her the opportunity to experience what it's like to be a RIO. Backseat driving from the actual back seat!

My question is; Is the second requirement do-able? Is there a way to make a two-wheeled vehicle balance itself?

[Head Mutant]

Just get one of those modified old people scooters, that has a roof and plastic sides. You be good.

[pfrsue]

How about a moped and an umbrella hat?

[sirgallahad2]

There are two things that are good about motorcycles:

1. Most of them top out at 65-70 MPG with a 4-5 gallon tank. It will cost you 6-10 dollars to top off the tank (Maybe, math was never my strong point)

2. At least you know that your death will be quick.

[DocD83]

I remember years and years back I saw a segment on the Discovery Channel about an enclosed motorcyle. To balance itself, it had two side wheels that would swing down automatically when you get below a certain speed. There was an entrant in the DARPA Grand Challenge that was a motorcycle which used the same basic concept.

Lots of two-wheeled vehicles balance themselves without the extra wheels though, but most have side-by-side wheels (think Segway scooter). With those it's either gyroscopes, or the center of gravity is below the wheel hubs. You could have a glorified rickshaw instead of a motorcycle.

[Head Mutant]

sirgallahad2 said:

There are two things that are good about motorcycles:

1. Most of them top out at 65-70 MPG with a 4-5 gallon tank. It will cost you 6-10 dollars to top off the tank (Maybe, math was never my strong point)

2. At least you know that your death will be quick.

I don't know where you're getting two dollar gas, but please point me in that direction!

[TheLuckyOne]

Hmm... didn't Urkel have a car that had, like, two seats, one behind the other?

Anyway, Huckle, I think the main thing that draws people to motorcycles is less the better gas mileage, more the mystique/enhanced ego of actually owning a motorcycle. I don't think dozing off on a motorcycle is really a factor... the constant wind in your face/visor and the need to retain balance probably keep you awake pretty effectively. If you're set on a top, though, then yeah, a motorcycle isn't the way to go. But getting back to my original point- I'd imagine the reason a two-seat, bubble canopy motorcycle has never caught on is that it would look kind of... well, geeky. Bikers ride motorcycles to feel cool, whether they actually are or not. People who just want to save money on gas drive hybrid cars or Beetles.

Again, not to say people who ride motorcycles actually ARE cooler... but at least half of what sells it is going to be the wind in your face and the feeling of being a badass. Neither of which really apply to an enclosed, two-seat number.

-D

[Hucklebubba]

theluckyone said:

I'd imagine the reason a two-seat, bubble canopy motorcycle has never caught on is that it would look kind of... well, geeky.

You have to admit, it does have a certain "The future circa 1954" charm to it.

So, yeah, geeky.

The first car I ever owned was an '88 Chevy Sprint--the smallest, weakest car ever produced in America (predecessor to the Geo Metro). Sure, it got close to 50 miles to the gallon, but the tradeoff came in the form of humiliation wrought by driving an easter egg on wheels, and coming away from every stop hoping that a kindly semi would come and bump me up to speed.

Those are the issues that my imaginary motorcycle-thing attempts to address. I want something that's at least somewhat cool-looking (bubble canopy notwithstanding), and very economical, while at the same time able to at least match the speed characteristics of the average car.

Apparently, I wish to have my flagon full of mead, and drink it as well.

[starwenn]

My stepfather had a motorcycle for years, and he's still alive...well, mostly, when he gets off the couch so my mom can dust under him.

[Al]

You can always drive this puppy.

[sirgallahad2]

My bad, maybe 12-16 dollars for gas. The gas Nazi's have struck again.

[Storm_Rider]

BMW have a bike with a hard top it's called the C1: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_C1

[coccatino]

Huckle- you can preorder an electric Tango - This is what George Clooney apparently drives.

[DocD83]

That's one fancy looking death trap.

A 200 amp, 10-minute charge? Good lord! I'm not standing anywhere near that thing when it's charging.

[Hucklebubba]

coccatino said:

Huckle- you can preorder an electric Tango - This is what George Clooney apparently drives.

My first impression analysis of this vehicle can be summed up in one word: Queer. And you make take it in any context you like; all work equally well.

At the same time, though, I kind of want one.