By: Ron Milam
Last month, we finished up our discussion on clutches and while deciding what to write about this month I saw an interesting thread on Eric Murray’s trials email line. It was concerning trials bike materials and construction. It never got very in depth, but since it is new bike buying season, I thought it might make for an interesting article. In the course of writing this I am going to say some things that may be my personal opinion. I can’t say for certain what the designers in Italy or Spain or France were thinking when they sat down at their computers and made the decisions that make each bike what it is. Like many things in the engineering world, there are many factors that enter into each decision and the designer decides which are important to him and his product. These decisions are affected partly by the folowing concerns.
Price- If the bike can’t be produced and sold for a price that is competitive in the market place, the whole exercise is moot. If you put on cheaper hubs, you have more money for the frame. If you make your forks you may have a little more money for the muffler or whatever. All of these decisions are trade offs. Decisions, decisions.
Factory capabilities- For example: if you have the engineering staff and development budget you can design your own suspension components. Then you either produce them in house if you have the necessary machinery and operators, or have them made to your design by outside machine shops. The same goes for frames, plastic,engines, etc. If you do not, then you buy them from another company. That company is often a specialist in a certain component. Paoli is one such company. Decisions, decisions.
Development teams- In most cases the bike designs are the result of competition testing at the world level. Since riders often vary in their opinions about motorcycle performance, the product of a company will probably reflect the desires of its test riders and will therefore vary from the product of another company with different test riders and different opinions. Can Doug Lampkin help produce the best motorcycle on the market? I don’t have a clue. He is undeniably the best rider in the trials world today, but what works for him may or may not work for the sportsman or novice rider. Since there are many more average riders out there than there are Doug Lampkins, should the bike be made to suit him or should it be made to suit you and me. If Beta optimized their bike to suit us, how many would they sell. Maybe not many, since they may not be competitive at the world level with a bike like that ( Lampkin’s ability to win on a moped not withstanding ). Decisions, decisions.
What will be a model’s life cycle- If a company plans to change frame geometry each year, they may opt for a steel frame. If only subtle changes are expected, then maybe the advantages of aluminum would be better. If the bikes’s design is innovative enough, it might remain fresh for several years. A smart designer looks down the road. Can I reuse some of the components on future models ? Or will I incurr development costs for new ones and the possibility that some of the new ones may not be as reliable as the tried and proven parts that worked well on this years model. Decisions decisions.
What about brand corporate identity- People would be shocked to see Beta or Montesa market top of the line bikes with steel frames. These companies have used aluminum frames for over 10 years and that is what we have come to expect them to produce. Gas Gas has always produced bikes with steel frames. They have a different set of design criteria and steel is the better choice to meet their criteria. Same for Bultaco and Scorpa. Which is better ? Which color is prettier, red or blue. It is all a matter of opinion.
One thing is certain. All of the manufacturers could make better motorcycles. They could be more durable. They could be lighter. They could make better power. They could have better suspensions. They could also cost $10,000 instead of $5500. And many of us could not afford them. So like the designers we have to decide which characteristics are important to us. If you are cruddy at turns like I am, then pick a bike that turns well. If you are cruddy at steps like I am, pick a bike with good power and suspension that helps. If you wreck a lot like I do, pick a durable bike with tough plastic. Then fix the shortcomings if you can, and learn to love it. If you ride into a section on a bike you hate or are ashamed of, there is no way you can do your best. There is not a bad bike on the market. Just pick the one that is right for you. Decisions, decisions. Next month we will get back to the technical stuff, but I just thought it would be interesting to put ourselves in the designers place. It can certainly change the way you look at your bike.
Ron