The Worst Possible Design for Motorcycles: A Comprehensive Analysis
Motorcycles, elegant and powerful machines, come in countless configurations to suit different purposes and preferences. However, some designs are downright egregious, rendering them practically unrideable. From rear wheel steering to futuristic, niche aesthetic choices, this analysis explores the contenders for the crown of the worst motorcycle design.
Introduction to Worst Motorcycle Designs
The history of motorcycles is fraught with sporadic attempts to innovate, often with hilarious and disastrous results. One standout example is rear wheel steering, which was once pursued under the misguided belief that it would reduce the likelihood of accidents caused by front wheel steering. Not surprisingly, rear wheel steering was unrideable, and the concept was quickly abandoned.
The Megola: A Product of 1920s Folly
The Megola, produced between 1921 and 1925, stands as a testament to the foolishness of early engineering. This motorcycle featured a rotary engine mounted on the hub of the front wheel. Besides its mechanical complexity, the Megola had a severe front-to-rear weight imbalance. Braking the machine created an unprecedented overload on the front wheel, as the motorcycle’s natural weight shunting to the front during braking was exacerbated by the engine’s momentum.
The gyroscopic forces imparted by the rotary engine inside the front wheel resulted in sluggish steering, making the bike unfathomable to navigate. The unique design was a monstrosity both mechanically and aerodynamically, effectively making it impractical and unsafe for everyday use.
The Chopper: An Obnoxious Affront to Practicality
The Chopper can be quite a spectacle, but don’t be fooled by its aesthetic flair. These motorcycles are far from practical. For city riding, they are ill-equipped, and their handling on open roads is abysmal. Riding without a paved surface is virtually impossible, making the chopper a tricky prospect even for seasoned riders.
In an emergency, control is nearly non-existent, and the bike lacks the necessary function to carry any substantial load. The Chopper is literally a styling statement that borders on verging on the absurd.
Evaluation of the Chopper: An Unrideable Contraption
A variety of chopper features contribute to its classification as a nightmare design. A “hard tail” with no suspension renders it impractical for anything but parade riding. The ultra-long front fork, with extreme “rake” and “trail,” provides an extremely slow steering response, lacking the stability improvements that come with a modest increase in rake and trail.
The thin, oddly-shaped, and ultra-low seat is a real torment, particularly for longer rides. A tiny “peanut” gas tank limits the range, rendering it impractical for highway rides. Minimal ground clearance makes off-road riding challenging, with limited lean angle for turns on paved surfaces, compounding the difficulties of already cumbersome maneuvering.
To make matters worse, the chopper often comes equipped with a primitive pushrod, uneven-firing, non-counterbalanced V-twin engine, which vibrates excessively at most speeds. The mechanical torture does not stop there; the hard tail, low seat, and buzzing handgrips exacerbate the discomfort of riding this motorcycle. Furthermore, the typical exhaust system is super-loud, causing noise pollution for riders and nearby residents, and potentially irritating public perception of motorcycles as an “outlaw” pastime.
Conclusion: A Freakish Contraption
The Chopper is a bizarre example, and while not quite as bad as the Megola, it is undoubtedly a close second in the worst possible motorcycle design category. Numerous individual features, when combined, create a vehicle that is far from enjoyable and practical. Its design is a perfect storm of impracticality and discomfort, making it a thoroughly unrideable contraption that prioritizes style over substance.
Keywords
Worst motorcycle design, Chopper, Megola, Rear wheel steering