USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

These chaps have been busy: clickety click!

Re: USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

That's beautiful. And unique. Shame it's out of the price range of us mere mortals though!

Re: USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

Lovely bit of engineering. Now on my buy list for when I win the lottery!

Re: USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

I notice they talk about all the reasons it made sense for airplanes, but never mention why it's a good idea for a motorcycle.
Looks like they raised the C.G. for no benefit, with added complexity and cost.

Re: USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

Yes it is. Good find Sid. I like that a lot.

Re: USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

I like that. A lot.
I'm a little short of the monies at the moment, but I'm glad someone's built something like this :)

Jambo

Re: USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

Surely if they sell the bike in Australia it would become the right way up?

USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

True, but all the riders will be USD, so it will cancel out.

Re: USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

You miss this bit of the report?

"According to Sabatini, the reason is twofold: structural and aesthetic. The crankcases of an engine are the most rigid part of the structure – if you are using the engine as a stressed member, you generally want to bolt the chassis to the crankcase. If you use the heads, which are more conveniently placed up high, you need to reinforce them considerably. Sabatini wanted to get the best of both – with the crankcase up top, he could exploit the inherent rigidity of the crankcases and build a minimal frame around them. He could also radically alter the centre of gravity of the machine - contrary to popular belief, having an extremely low centre of gravity is not the ideal and today's thought runs towards mass centralization, rather than lowering the CG. A bonus effect is that the cylinders are better exposed to air flow - the engine runs cooler and the rider won't get cooked"

Re: USD forks? Been there done that - try USD engine.
 

NO, but I dismissed it as BS as I read it, so I didn't remember it.
The engine-as-frame structural theory may or may not be enhanced by the upside down engine. Track times will tell. Crankcases aren't generally made any stronger than they need to be. Using them as stressed frame members requires that they be made stronger. Neither is free. You can strengthen the cylinder and head assy, or the crankcase.
Most all the mass centralization I've seen has been moving stuff toward the bottom center. Raising the CG to improve handling? Lap times will tell. I'm doubtful. How about a test ride and review by known good racer?
Adding a scavenge pump and the extra stuff it needs around the head, plus the oil lines to and from the high mount storage tank looks expensive and potentially problematic. How many more chances to leak oil? And it certainly doesn't look crash worthy.
Turning the engine upside down doesn't expose the cylinders to any better airflow, and air cooled engines aren't modern high tech goodies, but relics of the past.
Hey, they've got this thing running and on the track. Where are the dyno charts? How about some engine architecture info? Chassis numbers? Weight? Wheelbase, steering rake and trail? Some lap times would be asking way too much. But it is unique. Jay Leno might buy one, as a curiosity for his collection.