Wednesday 17th February 2010

F1 Engineers Build Super (Push) Bike

BERU f1 reveals Factor 001, the pedal equivalent of a McLaren F1

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A trick carbon fibre bicycle designed and hand-built by Formula One engineers has been revealed by BERU f1 systems.

Described by its makers as the world's most exclusive and technologically advanced road bike, the Factor 001 has been designed without the constraints of racing regulations and thus, say its makers, is "optimised to offer maximum acceleration and stability".

Now, you may be asking what a push bike is doing on PistonHeads, but bear with us - BERU f1 supplies composite components to every F1 team, and 220 Triathlon magazine described Factor 001 as a 'rule-destroying speed machine', which sounds very PH to us...

"Every carbon composite component of the bike is crafted in-house drawing upon the same techniques used to produce Formula One components," says John Bailey, MD of BERU f1 systems. "Each model takes six highly skilled engineers a week to make. With only a limited number of bikes due to be built [just a few hundred], we expect Factor 001 to become a desirable collector's item."

The carbon monocoque bike is also intended as a sophisticated mobile training ystem, and can record up to 100 channels of biometric, environmental and physical force data. To measure this, the bike's frame contains sophisticated load sensors, wiring, batteries, control cables and lines for its hydraulic braking system, all of which are fully integrated into the composite during construction. Clever.

On top of this, each bike will be tailored to fit each individual customer.

Factor 001 is currently on display at the Science Museum in London and is on sale at Harrod's. And the price? Well, if you have to ask...

[robman23]

wow not much happening in the motoring world then today. Although iv been inspired to make a new site 'PedalHeads'

[TU Tuning]

Needs lowering

[k-ink]

I'd rather have a Storck

[rhinochopig]

Not constrained by regs and yet shares the same basic frame layout and rider position with every other road bike - disappointed!

[Oddball RS]

'PISTON'heads

[rhinochopig]

Oddball RS said:

'PISTON'Legs

EFA

[WorAl]

rhinochopig said:

Not constrained by regs and yet shares the same basic frame layout and rider position with every other road bike - disappointed!

Was thinking the same thing.

[k-ink]

Pist on heads


Ooo, new game :lol:

[Emubiker]

"Each model takes six highly skilled engineers a week to make"

I'm sory what? are these engineers producing the parts as they assemble them or what? I think I could put it together quicker than that.

[BIGBerries]

one for the ruski's and saudi's. exclusively at harrods and brick lane market

[JuniorD]

Doesn't seem to mention the weight on their website.

some hi-res.

Edited by JuniorD on Wednesday 17th February 15:58

[Walton]

Knowing how utterly obsessed about grams road-race people are, surely adding sensors and batteries fooks up the point of it all?

[Shape Shifter]

What'll it do round the Ring?

[Gridl0k]

Not a lot unless they fit some pedals...

[vintageracer01]

PISTONHEADS ?????????

Perhaps, I am too narrow minded but does this thing have pistons????

(Apart from the disc brake shoes, I mean)

[Dibby]

Meh!

Will companies stop these publicity stunt prototype bikes, they're more often than not a pile of s--t and about as good as if Specialized or Kona tried to build an F1 car.

I remember Alfa Romeo made a mountain bike and it was rubbish. It wasn't very good publicity considering at the time they were trying to build the reliability reputation back up by making solid cars ... and rubbish bikes? BMW, Land Rover also made useless mountain bikes so please leave bikes to the bike makers and bike makers won't produce cars.

KTM are about the only motory manufacturer that have managed it, and only just at that, their mountain bikes aren't very well respected yet

[neilski]

Article said:

And the price? Well, if you have to ask...

A snip at £22,000 according to this article.

And at 7.4kg isn't even that light. Personally, I'd rather buy a Storck Fascenario 0.7 and spunk the rest on an RS2 to ferry it about in.

[Loki660]

If you think about it on a bike, your legs are the pistons and your body is the engine. I would of thought they would of altered the riding position, so the rider actually sits lower to make an aerodynamic shape without altering power delivery.

[deevlash]

this is a Whyte bike, designed by the chap who did the suspension for schumachers championship winning Bennettons from 94/95 (I think thats the right years).

This bike must be over a decade old now.

Honda made this bike too, and greg minaar won the world championships with it. It was shrouded in secrecy at the time and the gearbox was a sealed unit. They never sold them comercially and they were all broken up after the project was finished. These things were silly expensive for a pushbike

[Dibby]

Always thought those Whytes were always sold to poncey, nobby types with too much money but never really took off as a serious mountain bike.

Forgot about the Honda. That was a crazy beast, no-one was allowed to pick it up, no-one allowed too close to it and it has disappeared into history. Quite a good advertising ploy by Honda to keep it shrouded in secrecy and getting Minaar to win on it.