The MotoTank Project

Motorcycle + Motorcycle  = MotoTank

A MotoTank is what you get when you connect 2 Bikes together and keep

a seperate control for each bike to get seperate right/left control like in a Tank steering.

Project started on 9/2004

if you want to say something, offer help , suggest , feel free to e-mail me

zvikanetter (-AT-) MSN (-DOT-) COM

Latest PIC - 25/3/05

 12/3/05

Watch the Second Ride Video  - 12-3-05  

 

The Begining

It all started when I wanted to build a small Kart for my son

I looked for a scooter engine (small & automatic) and got this DUKE 150 from FREE from a friend (Thanks Chaim!)

The Idea was to have 1 wheel at the back and 2 at the from for steering.

I took the bika &  Striped it

 Before                                         After

Here is an animation of taking OUT all the front systems

electrical, front panel, water cooling, braking etc.

Then cutting it into 2

(while building my new workshop)

Heres a the half with the engine

This was just a test to build a "Harley Davidson" type scooter...  I was looking for a cooler machine !

THE TWIST

01/2005

I had a hard time getting/building a front steering for the thing

Then I "found" another DUKE150 and decided to build something unique

and decided to have 2 wheels at the back and one at the front (easier)

BUT.... instead of just 2 wheels to have 2 seperate controlled ENGINES & Braking systems

Here is the initial sketch (Corel Draw)

Here is a graphic simulation (windows PaintBrush)

Here are the 2 engines side by side with a BEACH chair (just to check the concept)

 

02/2005

after few weeks of work, you can see the bikes attached to each other + a frame (Thanks to Yedidyha Vardi)

A simple plastice chair and the "Gas" control was changed to 2 "Hand Brakes" of a toyota RAV jeep

so you control the accelerataion of each engine by pulling the Hand Brake - like a stick.

 

19/2/05

(2/05)

11/2/05 I am now working on the brakes - 2 seperate rear braking levers - operated by foot (some new pics soon)

 19/2/05 Reconstructing the frame - did not hold properly the fron wheel

23-2-05 - Day 15

 

 

Took a day off to work on the project - 14 hours with 20min lunch brake : )

On the weekend I will be in The Arava events

See you there

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4-3-05 - Day 16

 

 

 Big day for the MotoTank

Rebuilt and Finished the cooling system on the left bike (thanks to Chilik for the tip)

So the engine can now run for more than few seconds.

Hmmmm.... why not take it for a ride outside?!

Well, there is only one engine working, the brakes are not fully ready, the steering is not set ...

What the Heck !!!   Took My first ride on it -

F#&^ing amazing

Watch the video - (LOW RES from my Nokia cell) - make sure your video screen is SMALL

 

Lot's of adrenaline  - Left hand on gas (in the back), Left leg on rear left brake (front) right hand on steering (far front)

Allmost crashed when the chair dropped back in mid ride (was not connected at all....)

Conclusions:

1.Must have VERY GOOD Brakes

2. Goes fast with one engine - will go VERY (too?!) fast with 2.

3. Must have (also?) a good steering system

4. Should have Roll Over arch - (go see Million dollar baby and you'll get it...)

Now back to our day jobs...

Happy week

Z

 

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Finished :

* The 2nd engine water cooling system.

* The 2nd rear brake (used the front brakes cable (longer)) - it was cut off during test drive due to a welding problem  

 took it out for another test drive -

I was riding with 2 engines (one brake and no steering)  - it worked for 3 sec. and then slamed into a wall  - lot;s of reasons... (Unfortuntally the crash is not on video)

 Thanks to David H. for the video and for first aid.

 Conclusions:

1.The Brakes are too soft, too weak... this will be a problem. bikes are designed to use front brake as the main braking system (MotoTank don't have a front brake)

2. It is too strong - need to ride in open spaces (Parking lots?)

3. need to build a steering system (problem with deadline 7-4-05)

 Got Sick on Friday could not work Saturday

18-3-05 - New Steeting

Well at least most of the steering

Got a Fiat (Boring) Punto steering wheel + the U Joints of it.

Cut the Steering wheel into Star Wars Spaceship control wheel

I wanted to do that ever since I was 8 - it is so much FUN to "control" something like that - in seconds you feel you're in SPACE   - You should try it on your company car!

 then Welded 2 Bases for the Gas handles (Mitzaarot ) onto the wheel and mounted the gas handles on them.

Again feels just great.

In the future - I need to add some buttons onto the edges of the wheel - to shot some lasers or something - it just asks for it! (if you have cool ideas - send them over)

 I also need to get rid of the FIAT logo on the wheel... it looks out of place

To all of you that worry - the wheel only goes 180 degrees (90 to each side) it is direct steering.

 

It's not working yet - cause a Tiny part is missing  - Next week!

Now back to our day jobs...

Happy week

Z

The MotoTank is getting close to complete for Ver 1.0

Finished the "Car" type steering (was the hardest part) - the angles are bad and should be redesigned - because there is an angle on the front wheel (not 90 deg. to the road) - it goes up & down while turning which requires too much force on the steering wheel - makes it very hard to turn.

Finished the 2nd rear brake (new one) - in a nice combina

As you can see in the videos - the vision is Live and Alive : )

It goes now on 2 separate engines and 2 separate rear brakes

It is E X T R E M L Y hard to handle and confusing

It's also very aggressive on your body (Back Pain!)  - considering to change the name to  "The Bone Machine" (and if we're into Pixies - how about this one - "Break My Body")

Still, a good adrenaline & fun machine.

Have a great week

Z