The Osborne Engineering Company, already known for their unique Duplex front ends built this sidecar outfit with angled sidecar for the Ministry of Transport, apparently to test road surfaces. I can't imagine the test process...
My first guess would be that the sidecar wheel - apparently able to be steered independently - is used to measure traction when forced to skid partially sideways on the roadway.
Mr G et al., have youall seen pics of the bikes (Norton? BMW? duh) equipped with long flexy-looking outriggers tipped with (?) a wheel or giant shopping-cart caster? The rigs were used by tire mfgrs for testing new designs' wet-weather behavior. Looked like it might have been fun for the test riders -- finding the speed & lean angle at which the same ±440-pound bike would push the front end in the wet, w/o paying for the knowledge by going down.
The tests I'm thinking of looked to have taken place in the '50s or '60s.
Joe, that explanation makes sense, with sensors to measure resistance to slippage... The bikes with outriggers, I remember articles from the late seventies, it seemed quite a novelty for the magazine writer/testers. I will find a picture or an article.
My first guess would be that the sidecar wheel - apparently able to be steered independently - is used to measure traction when forced to skid partially sideways on the roadway.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that seems likely, thanks.
ReplyDeleteMr G et al., have youall seen pics of the bikes (Norton? BMW? duh) equipped with long flexy-looking outriggers tipped with (?) a wheel or giant shopping-cart caster? The rigs were used by tire mfgrs for testing new designs' wet-weather behavior. Looked like it might have been fun for the test riders -- finding the speed & lean angle at which the same ±440-pound bike would push the front end in the wet, w/o paying for the knowledge by going down.
The tests I'm thinking of looked to have taken place in the '50s or '60s.
I vaguely recollect seeing such a thing, and I'm fairly certain it was a BMW.
ReplyDeleteJoe, that explanation makes sense, with sensors to measure resistance to slippage...
ReplyDeleteThe bikes with outriggers, I remember articles from the late seventies, it seemed quite a novelty for the magazine writer/testers. I will find a picture or an article.