Is this the world's most aerodynamic motorcycle?

We take a look at Branko Lukic's bizarre design prototype

Posted: 9 May 2008
by Visordown News

Bet it's a right bastard in a crosswind...

THIS IS the nUCLEUS - an aerodynamic motorcycle designed and built by Branko Lukic.

Lukic is founder and partner of NONOBJECT, California based design studio. The company's aim is to create new and surprising design experiences for wide spectrum of industries - from consumer products, furniture, high technology, interior design, alternative fuel transportation to branding and user interaction experiences. Lukic said of his creation:

"The nUCLEUS is a motorcycle built on the antagonistic principle of 'square against air'. And yet, despite its unique appearance and apparent opposition to aerodynamic design, nUCLEUS ended up being surprisingly nimble. The square side-view hides the fact that these pieces of metal are simply... fierce blades that cut through air. nUCLEUS also boasts a thin comfortable saddle and horse-like behavior system - a new way to connect with your vehicle: it gets up on its hind legs in action, and rests down squarely while locked or at rest."

We reckon the front and rear shots are cool - what do you think?

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Discuss this story

biker paul

looks like the A-team had some influence on the design.

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 14:36

Fielder

wow. Certainly is differfent i will give him that! How do you lean it over?

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 14:46

A-I-S

how do you flush it?

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 14:54

Big Nige

Lego's early motorcycle prototypes showed they had some way to go.

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 14:58

A-I-S

Ikea flatpack cycles

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 15:00

kwikkwak1971

looks shite to me, i certainly would not even entertain the idea of buying one

And from an engineering point of view, what goes in a straight line well in terms of aerodynamics can very rarely handle any crosswind at all. This design looks to be a total disaster and will act more like a sail with the effect the bike will be pushed dramatically sideways the first time it sees a cross wind

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 15:26

CanisMajor

my arse is more aerodynamic than that (don't ask for pics)

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 15:27

FatBoyTim

what a load of bollocks, obviously knows as much about bikes as i do molecular science

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 15:39

Hairy Ben

"nUCLEUS also boasts a thin comfortable saddle and horse-like behavior system - a new way to connect with your vehicle: it gets up on its hind legs in action, and rests down squarely while locked or at rest."

Er.. Pardon?

Mind you, it should slice cleanly through traffic..

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 16:28

FatBoyTim

Hairy Ben wrote (see)

"nUCLEUS also boasts a thin comfortable saddle and horse-like behavior system - a new way to connect with your vehicle: it gets up on its hind legs in action, and rests down squarely while locked or at rest."
Er.. Pardon?
Mind you, it should slice cleanly through traffic..

No doubt if someone rode one past my house it would do a massive shit in the middle of the raod as well for me to drive through every dya for a week, just like the other twats that do.

question, why is it that horse riders dont have to get of and shuvell the shit up like dog walkers do?

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 16:34

Max Bardwell

The horse behaviour probably refers to the minimal ground clearance. When you are on and riding it the suspension lifts it off the ground a bit more. A bit like Citroens I suppose. Presumably when you get off it lowers down and because it has a square section it doesn't fall over.

Provided the ground is completely level.

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 17:03

forestcreature

guys, i connect with horses all the time... don't be hating!

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 20:42

Gravystorm

If you look at the first picture, bottom left-hand corner of the bike, the black circle closely resembles a recycling badge!. It's made of recycled materials!!

Compressed horse-shit, anyone?

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 20:59

aluminium road poopa scoop

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 21:00

FatBoyTim

forestcreature wrote (see)

guys, i connect with horses all the time... don't be hating!
j

that must be you i have seen in those wierd videos then

is that what you call connecting with horses

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 21:51

Posted: 09/05/2008 at 22:15

forestcreature

teeheehee!

Posted: 10/05/2008 at 00:40

tappy

Sounds like a lot of marketing / management bollocks to me. Don't they have side winds where the designer come from? Take him over the M62 in March and see if he survives.

Remember to book the undertaker.

Posted: 10/05/2008 at 00:46

forestcreature

http://nonobjectbook.com/nUCLEUS/

that's the beast in action... it goes up... accompanied by anonymous library sound effects, and down

don't take it too seriously! its never supposed to exist, ever. most of those things aren't supposed to - they're exercises in concept and design, the most practical use they have is in creating portfolios and selling books

assuming i'm not cataclysmically wrong - a company like that makes money by designing more mundane things on commission, so it has to have a catalogue of weirdo objects to show

Poetically, this design asks, “Can a single spoon give the sensation of 1001 spoons at once?”

its designer porn intended purely for other designers

Posted: 10/05/2008 at 00:53

Stu 400/4

Easy to clean, though