For the new Dutch brand VanderHeide Motorcycles I designed a 'Gentleman's Racer' with a full carbon fiber monocoque frame around the engine of the Aprilia RSV4. It features an innovative new double wishbone front suspension.
Many Carbon fiber frame experiments have been carried out and tested, but most of the carbon frames tend to break just behind the head-set. Rolf van der Heide designed a new and fully adjustable front suspension system which eliminates the steerer-tube and spreads the forces over a large area of the monocoque.
The new set of hardpoints provided by the new suspension, allowed me to thoroughly rethink motorcycle styling. There was no conventional tubular or box frame to work with and the carbon fiber construction offered me much freedom to sculp the body in almost any possible way, very tight around the packaging and with organic shapes.
The result is a sleek and sexy hightech beauty with much 'added lightness' and a handling and performance like no other. Each VanderHeide motorcycle will be tailored to the customer's needs.
Many Carbon fiber frame experiments have been carried out and tested, but most of the carbon frames tend to break just behind the head-set. Rolf van der Heide designed a new and fully adjustable front suspension system which eliminates the steerer-tube and spreads the forces over a large area of the monocoque.
The new set of hardpoints provided by the new suspension, allowed me to thoroughly rethink motorcycle styling. There was no conventional tubular or box frame to work with and the carbon fiber construction offered me much freedom to sculp the body in almost any possible way, very tight around the packaging and with organic shapes.
The result is a sleek and sexy hightech beauty with much 'added lightness' and a handling and performance like no other. Each VanderHeide motorcycle will be tailored to the customer's needs.
Read about the design process at my blog.
>> Part One.
>> Part Two.
Full scale clay model.
