Dodge's Four-Wheel Motorcycle! (The Tomahawk)

Popular Science ^ | April 2003 | by Dick Teresi

[PizzaDriver]

The Parent Company is German. Their only market will be Hollywood Libs & rich "know nothings".

[photogirl]

Biker bump

[Britton J Wingfield]

wow.

[Chewbacca]

There was an episode of South Park where Mr. Garison created a single wheel people mover. Funny episode.

[Billy_bob_bob]

No, no. You're paying the money for the German engineering talent that gets you up to around 200mph or so, and then the impact kills you when you miss your first curve.

[MississippiMan]

Something along those lines. I was thinking more of a tube framed with a fiberglass shell. Top speed of maybe 40-45 mph. Thousand cc rear engine hooked to a transaxle. Something that would do for a 10-mile daily commute, would keep you out of the rain, and would get mega mileage but still have enough zip to be enjoyable. Strictly a one-person urban transport, a bicycle with a roof.

The Domino's delivery vehicle was a lot like that if I understand you correctly. Very low-slung, only a few inches off the ground. Looks like something out of a futuristic movie.

MM

[MississippiMan]

Yes, very much like that. I love it!

MM

[spodefly]

I used to have a '72 H1 (500cc). It is indeed a 3 cylinder 2 stroke ... fast as hell in a straight line ... just don't try to turn or stop.

[MississippiMan]

Thoroughly checked out the Smart and while I'd almost certainly buy one if they were available over here, once I looked closer I see this is considerably larger than the thing I'm talking about. They probably don't make the thing I'm talking about anymore.

MM

[wcbtinman]

One hell of an ATV.

[JoeSixPack1]

take your pick, Corbin motors

[Ichneumon]

I would think some motorcyle manufacturer could strike gold if they developed a commuter vehicle that used motorcycle components but had none of the (perceived) drawbacks of a motorcycle. Sure, it would be nothing but a very small car, but you could probably sell a lot of them to green weenies, soccer moms, and bikers who couldn't hold up the big iron anymore. Mileage would be great, parking a breeze, and the zip of a 1,000 cc engine on the right frame and with a lightweight composite shell would be sporty enough to entice performance addicts."

Check out the Tango from http://www.commutercars.com/. I very mini two-seater (the passenger sits behind the driver), electric, which claims to have insane performance and handling because of its light weight, but good safety for several reasons (certainly safer than a motorcycle, anyway).

[Paul C. Jesup]

Well look on the bright side, at least they got good taste in anime and sci-fi.

[lavaroise]

That is awsome.

[Professional]

Your 5 pts could have been said about the Viper. The Viper put the enthusiast back into the Chrysler Co. This would make a statement that Chyrsler is hard core. The Dodge Neon had awesome success, in a strange way due to the Viper. And THAT is why they built it, image. That bike, WILL sell. It's cool, and all sorts of people have crazy money to throw around.

[lavaroise]

WEll, four wheels gripping the road in a turn makes for some awsome control and handling, with high g turns.

[uglybiker]

I am aware of experimental vehicles consisting of a single wheel in which the driver sits; I've seen a couple of concepts. This idea appears to adapt the rolling rim to a cycle (the one I saw, that is)...

http://www.americanroadshop.com/The_Monocycle/the_monocycle.html

[judgeandjury]

But doesn't calling this bike "The Tomahawk" offend somebody or other?

I sure hope so!

[IronJack]

All the vehicles depicted look like they'd meet my criteria. Apparently they're ideas whose time has not yet come ...

[BraveMan]