Project Darkside
Discussion
After a good few weeks of laying out the foundations, I thought that I'm about ready to canvas opinion on a little project that I've been working on.
It’s very early days, of course (the basic layout is changing every time I look at it!), but the initial project brief is to create something which is minimalistic, lightweight and ultra high performance, with an immersive driving experience that is second-to-none. It’s also got to be cost-effective and scaleable in terms of manufacturing and performance.
The high-level design philosophy is:
1. Uncompromising high performance and light weight.
2. An exhilarating experience, both to drive and to look at.
3. Provide scope for exploring some really interesting design and manufacturing challenges, without breaking the bank.
The basic spec, as it currently stands:
- Layout: Reverse trike with single driven rear wheel.
- Occupants: 1
- Wheelbase: TBC
- Track: TBC
- Ground clearance: TBC
- Powertrain: >1000cc motorcycle engine, N/A but with flexibility to look towards a forced induction solution in due course.
- Chassis: Tubular steel spaceframe with integrated rollover protection system
- Front Suspension: Independent pushrod-actuated, with potential to explore an ARB system if required, akin to a single-seater racing car
- Rear Suspension: Linkage-actuated double-sided swinging arm with monoshock, akin to a high performance motorcycle
- Transmission: Chain & sprocket, potentially with layshaft
- Electronics: OE motorcycle ECU (to accommodate quickshift, launch control etc functionality)
- Cockpit and controls: Akin to single-seater racing car
- Target kerb weight: <360kg
- Estimated project cost: ~£16k GBP (yeah… right!)
For anyone that's particularly interested to know more I've introduced the project in a little more detail here.
The journey starts here… wish me luck!
-Rob
It’s very early days, of course (the basic layout is changing every time I look at it!), but the initial project brief is to create something which is minimalistic, lightweight and ultra high performance, with an immersive driving experience that is second-to-none. It’s also got to be cost-effective and scaleable in terms of manufacturing and performance.
The high-level design philosophy is:
1. Uncompromising high performance and light weight.
2. An exhilarating experience, both to drive and to look at.
3. Provide scope for exploring some really interesting design and manufacturing challenges, without breaking the bank.
The basic spec, as it currently stands:
- Layout: Reverse trike with single driven rear wheel.
- Occupants: 1
- Wheelbase: TBC
- Track: TBC
- Ground clearance: TBC
- Powertrain: >1000cc motorcycle engine, N/A but with flexibility to look towards a forced induction solution in due course.
- Chassis: Tubular steel spaceframe with integrated rollover protection system
- Front Suspension: Independent pushrod-actuated, with potential to explore an ARB system if required, akin to a single-seater racing car
- Rear Suspension: Linkage-actuated double-sided swinging arm with monoshock, akin to a high performance motorcycle
- Transmission: Chain & sprocket, potentially with layshaft
- Electronics: OE motorcycle ECU (to accommodate quickshift, launch control etc functionality)
- Cockpit and controls: Akin to single-seater racing car
- Target kerb weight: <360kg
- Estimated project cost: ~£16k GBP (yeah… right!)
For anyone that's particularly interested to know more I've introduced the project in a little more detail here.
The journey starts here… wish me luck!
-Rob
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