Craig Vetter here in Carmel, California, USA. My goal in this “Freedom Machine” is to build a one-person vehicle that sitting upright and comfortable will go 70 mph, into a 20 mph headwind, while carrying 4 bags of groceries, and get 100 mpg. Oh yes… of all the vehicles at my disposal, I want it to be my first choice.
This is not my first FF machine. In 1980-81, I built this Streamliner around a Kawasaki 250 single:

This machine was good for 108 mpg in my fuel economy contest of 1982. But, then, the speed limit in the US was 55 mph. Today, we ride faster. Today, I want to know what is possible the way I ride now.
I began with a used Helix from EBAY, changing only the bodywork to reach my goals. No engine mods. No drive train mods. No wheel changes. Only streamlining.

Big Sur bridge, California, USA
You will note that the skin is kind of rough. This is because it is made up of thin, yellow plastic sheet-stock which does not form into compound curves very well. This is fine for now because I change it all the time. I have many problems to solve before I do final tooling. As I solve each problem, the shape changes. Making my prototype in this manner saves a lot of time, money and itching. To make changes, I cut this stuff with scissors and attach it with little plastic “Christmas Tree” push in fasteners. Much of this machine is made of plastic foam and inflated panels. All very lightweight, durable and inexpensive. Rather than to try to explain all here, let me point you to www.craigvetter.com for a chapter by chapter account of this project.
I maintain this web page to show you how easy it is to build something like this. This thing is screwed together with a million little 8-32 screws and self locking nuts. A band saw and drill press are my most exotic tools.
Will I actually achieve my goals? Well, this is my first choice in vehicles and I really can carry 6 bags of groceries. However, until all the holes are smoothed over, I do not expect much in the way of fuel consumption improvements. Stay tuned. I am happy to answer questions and respond to your comments.

Colin Ferguson in his modified Tmax leads Terry Harding in his standard Benelli Adiva during the Saturday Demo at Beaulieu '08. Paul Blez archive

This is Paul Blezard driving the prototype Peraves Monotracer at the Brno Grand Prix circuit in the Czech Republic, during the Cabin Motorcycle World Cup in July 2008. By this time the Swiss-designed machine was in production in a factory near Brno and being built for customers all over Europe and North America. PNB.
Photo by Dan Lexa ©

The protest to try and combat Westminster Parking Charges for Motorcycles gathers steam.

Now we've got banners!

eg

Here

I thought readers of the site might like to see the work of Jean-Bertrand Bruneau and the various constructors and race teams using his ideas.

In 1984 M. Bruneau was granted a patent for a new form of hub-centre steering system for bikes which is better in many areas than other more well-known designs. In particular the system is much simpler to construct and very much quicker to assemble and disassemble than the others. It also uses a smaller diameter wheel bearing than the DiFazio/Tait/Creasey type, and there is only one - although I once had to buy something similar for a front-wheel-drive Lancia and it cost a bomb. The patent [sadly, in French] is attached...

Phil Read in Blez's Quasar in the New Forest in 2006 during the Beaulieu Motorcycle World weekend. Britain's most successful motorcycle racer has been a big fan of the Quasar ever since he first rode one in the 1970s. He still talks today about how hard he had to ride a Guzzi Le Mans to keep up with Malcolm Newell in the overweight, underpowered beast.

These two off-the-shelf panniers-cum-top boxes have perfect potential for providing 'Quick & Dirty' FF conversions with good luggage capacity. The Despatch Rider version (with the narrower, longer panniers) is very common in London. The other unit was made by TCV, a French firm, in 1986 and came back from France on the back of the Flying Banana in the late 80s. See here:http://www.bikeweb.com/node/815
I intend to fit one to my Tmax and one to my Burger King when I eventually get around to FFing them! PNB Photo: Blez archives

In the scenic setting of Beaulieu House in 2000, Mark Crowson's white Quasar met Benelli's then-new Adiva, BMW's then-new C1 and Phil Meaton's one-off Gilera Runner-based Bubble. Compare and contrast. I tested and wrote up the three roofed scoots for the inaugural issue of Twist & Go scooter magazine. Now a collector's item!
PNB Photo: © Paul Blezard

An everyday story of motorcycling folk.....images under 'touring'
Set-up
After Florence in 2007, this year we kept our Euro-tour to France. Not so far, lots of space, variety and character, as well as excellent roads and food.
The overnight boat from Portsmouth to Le Havre is my favourite cross-channel tool, regardless of who runs it. We had the usual crowd of bikes at the ferry: immaculate cruisers, laden sports and seasoned travellers. For some reason you never see them after the ferry.

An interesting but unfinished FF project in Warrington, UK. See "Honda CBR1000FF Project" in the 'One Offs' folder, for more pix.
Is anyone interested in purchasing this started project, if so contact Dave Arthur direct via email to: dale-eng@talktalk.net
He doesn't want much for it and also has a spare engine.

David Scott tries Colin Ferguson's modified TMax.

Andy Tribble shows Rob Ring the seat height and headroom to consider in the Rotary FF!
This is Andy's first Beaulieu as a Quasar owner. (This machine was formerly owned by the late Nick Roche who modified the roof to provide more headroom and has been well fettled by Mark Crowson who's looked after it for the last couple of years). See www.quasarworld.com

Red Quasar, Yellow Kawa-Banana and Black ComFergMax at Beaulieu 2008. Roofed Benelli Adiva behind.

It rained on Sunday! Graham Robb's blue Voyager flanked by two Carvers.

Voyager 02, owned by Jim Moylan since buying it from manufacturers SCL in 1991 has been sold to Chris Baker, who provided a workshop for Malcolm Newell before his death and also the Difazio front end used in High Tech 001 (Ducati).

This is the 'DIC' - surely the most significant marketing name in 2008? Bob W. (A 150cc machine made in China by Xingue and already being sold in England as a Vogue; I snapped one at Beaulieu last year; see here http://www.bikeweb.com/node/1332 PNB)

Side view.

Lining up the proposed roofline, though not yet set in stone.

Er... That would be the gearbox, the rear swing-arm (both Mk1 Le Mans), rear brake master cylinder (Ford Anglia)and the end of the stand operating handle. It's a Classic! Only another five years and it can go to VMCC events

scooter