The ABORTION!

[scubaru89]

So I completely forgot I had pictures of this....

I go to school at Pennsylvania College of Technology, roughly 2 years ago we had a student come through the program who more the less told everyone he didn't need school, he knew everything and wanted to work on his bike. The kid knew nothing about feeds and speeds for machining, broke countless tools, fixtures, etc. Basically all around a know it all teenager.

This was his personal project. I didn't realize he was using one of the bike engine kits for the engine on it till a week or so ago I showed someone the pictures and noticed it.

**These pictures are graphic!!**

The kid claimed he calculated the gearing could go to over 200 mph, the suspension could handle about anything, and he felt his brakes were adequate for what he had built. The entire frame was built by him, the exhaust was welded from round strips, then "hammered" into shape (Also note how close he has it running to his seat and zip tied to it). The carb has to go "thru" the frame because of the position and clearance he had for it.

Yes it worked, no it didn't work well or correct. He crashed it at least twice, the one time a few people saw him go over the handle bars and lay in the grass for a min, then get up and walk his bike back to his dorm. Needless to say the thing is a widow maker if there ever was one. All the professors would basically ignore his requests for information because they didn't want to be held liable. I showed my one professor some pictures of my bike and he said mine looks incredible cleaner and much safer, haha.


I can't make this stuff up!!! Enjoy

 

[Ludwig II]

What is a minor tragedy is that the picture in his head didn't match the execution as some of it appears to have had some thought put into it. Perhaps he will learn, perhaps he won't.

 

[Deleted member 12676]

with more age and experience the kid might become truly impressive in his engineering ability. just needs to let go of his ego and get a bit more grounded.

 

[scubaru89]

What is a minor tragedy is that the picture in his head didn't match the execution as some of it appears to have had some thought put into it. Perhaps he will learn, perhaps he won't.

I will give him props for going above and beyond the basic "bolt on" approach that most of us use with these 2 stroke kits. However his ego was too big and made producing anything above **** impossible.

He said the one professor didn't know anything about bicycles (guy worked for a fairly large bicycle company and now has his own company selling $3k frames, he knows bicycles). Also said the one other professor knew nothing about cars (Guys been toying with muscle cars and motorcycles for years, can tear apart about anything and make it run). Kid had a lot of ignorance and the mindset that "he is right and no one else can tell him different".

 

[Fabian]

My first impressions were: an interesting attempt at avant-garde engineering but flawed in many ways, mostly with regards to safety.

Making a statement that the bike is geared for 200 mph is one thing, whether it has the power to propel the bike to those speeds is another.

The most obvious shock and horror moment is brought home by looking at the braking system, which is non existent, but worse still, maladjusted; the rear brake shoe being 25 degrees out of alignment with the rear rim.

He might have a bright future if his energy can be channeled into a more disciplined and respectful approach to his educators.

 

[Racie35]

reminds of the guy that had the jet engine on a car and pulled the trigger somewhere out west....you gotta wonder whats going throgh peoples heads sometimes

 

[Ludwig II]

Usually their arss when it crashes.

 

[Fabian]

Wasn't that story about a guy who mounted a jet engine to his car and the thing flew through the air for some miles, crashing into a hill - somehow remember Mythbusters trying to recreate the scene, but their rocket technology failed on the day.

 

[Ludwig II]

I think it was a JATO bottle in the original story, which I believe was discounted by the Darwin Awards people.