First Look: Tier Motorsports hub-centre YZF-R1

Fancy taking your R1 in a completely different direction? Here's one way of going about it

Posted: 3 December 2008
by Visordown News

Visordown Motorcycle News

Visordown Motorcycle News

TIER Motorsports have come up with a design concept R1 prototype that uses a single-sided front swingarm instead of the bike's standard telescopic forks.

The system features four-bar steering for a perfectly vertical steering axis, as opposed to the tilted steering axes found on telescopic forks due to their necessary rake.

The company claim the benefits of the system are:

a. less or no dive under braking.
b. Greater ride comfort.
c. Lighter frame.
d. Easy suspension adjustment.
e. Minimal change in wheel base throughout suspension travel.
f. More precise handling.
g. Quick wheel removal.
h. More compact and aerodynamic overall motorcycle design.
i. Increase in braking performance.
j. Greater power to steer the front wheel.
k. More pronounced separation between suspension and steering/control.

The concept is still in the early stages of development but looks promising as a truly viable alternative to standard R1 front suspension.


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CaNsA
This looks stunning, and very interesting.

Posted: 03/12/2008 at 21:00


davemax
Loads of benefits [apparently] COST PLEASE?

Posted: 03/12/2008 at 21:04


R1 loon

Don't BMW already do this? Telelever????


Posted: 03/12/2008 at 21:20


jimbo800
Have they resurrected the GTS?

Posted: 03/12/2008 at 22:09


TheJoker

It's quite pointless to convert an existing bike to hub steering as the frame requirements are totally different. You don't need the strong headstock and the frame that goes up to there.

 If you want to see "real" hub steered bikes, head over to Tryphonos. I've seen the latest one (not the ZX mentioned on the page), and it's absolutely fantastic. Can't wait to see it when it's ready.


Posted: 09/12/2008 at 12:13


pedro!
bimota has been doing that on the Tesi for over a decade,telelever is not centre-hub steered loon

Posted: 09/12/2008 at 17:35


Mentok
Wait a sec, where's that front swingarm mounted?

Posted: 09/12/2008 at 23:00


TheJoker
Mentok wrote (see)
Wait a sec, where's that front swingarm mounted?

 Exactly! To a second frame? Which adds weight..? Or to the engine, that's not designed for it....

 ... pointless excersise unless you have a completely new frame....


Posted: 10/12/2008 at 09:03


jezz'd

Look closely.....

Its just a photo-shopped R1!

and a list of the so-called benefits of hub-centre steering.

People are used to how telescopic forks work & react......thats why so many telescopic fork'd bikes sell

People are not used to and don't understand the effects of hub-centre steering.....thats why so few hub-centre bikes sell. How many Yam GTS's or Bim Tesi's do you see on the road????


Posted: 10/12/2008 at 10:54


sexy
I'd buy one if the cost isn't too great. Just because it's not normal doen't mean it's bad. In fact it's probably better. The Bimota is just too damn expensive

Posted: 10/12/2008 at 20:19


jezz'd

The only real benefits come when you are racing. Thats why the Vyrus and Mike Tryphonos' bikes work so well on the track, and get the good magasine reports. Cost-wise its a no-no for the moment.

But I agree sexy, just because its not normal doesn't mean its bad.

What I was getting at was really the fact that this R1 doesn't exist and wouldn't looking like that. If it did it would be overweight and pointless (bit like the GTS)

 If this design team actually bring out a hub steered "R1" it may have an R1 engine, wheels, bodywork but it won't BE an R1

It'll be another low volume, expensive, available to only a few or destined only for the track special.


Posted: 11/12/2008 at 09:28


iBurty
What's the impact on turning circle?  For example would you be able to do the classic test U-turn in the road on one?  Would that cause useability issues for road use? 

Posted: 11/12/2008 at 09:33


Chris_B
I'm not sure about an improved braking performance with only a single disc up front. Perhaps less dive, yes, but braking power when you lose disc surface area?

Posted: 11/12/2008 at 19:48


stud
looks too fricking wierd for me. i prefer at pair of forks anytime

Posted: 11/12/2008 at 19:59


sexy
weird is in the eye of the beholder. I like the way it looks and I've always been a fan of anything that's different as long as it's functional. If it's more expensive then it also has to work much better, because looks alone don't justify change. The problem is it's going to be more expensive until people get used to the look. Then they can justify making them due to increased sales. I hope they take the plunge, but I doubt it since the design didn't come from Yamaha.

Posted: 11/12/2008 at 20:28

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