Thirty years after the BMF Rally first came to Peterborough Miss Federation 1976 and 1978 returned to the Show and posed with Blez's 1980 Quasar. The first Quasar was sold in December 1976. Photo: Paul Blezard

Vivienne (standing, Miss Federation 1976) and Anita (sitting, Miss Fed 1978) pose with Blez's 1980 Quasar at the BMF Show, 30 years after the rally/show first came to Peterborough and 30 years after Quasars first went on sale.
Photo: © Paul Blezard

Anita (behind) and Vivienne (in front) were the Miss Federations of the BMF Show in 1978 and 1976 respectively. They were reunited at the 2007 event and I persuaded them to squeeze themselves into my Quasar. PNB

Hi, found this website when looking up brakes. Interesting idea on making steering better?

Vernon

This shot shows a close-up of the Tait hub centre steering on the V50 which, by 2007 when this photo was taken, was over 20 years old. It gives much more lock than a Difazio unit.
The fuel tank has been moved from the original position above the engine to behind the rider.
Photo: © Paul Blezard May 2007

The V50 Guzzi Phasar now sports a tail unit like the Mk3 Banana's added by Royce Creasey, along with a rear fuel tank.
Unfortunately Monty no longer fits comfortably into it!
Photo: © Paul Blezard May 07

It seems it's about time I fended off Arthur Middletons attempts to 'correct' my comments on the limitations of low CG motorcycle designs.

I beleive the original article spoke for itself if properly read and understood, but some have asked for a clarification upon Arthurs comments - so here it is.

Now repaired and back on the road

You'd never think that these two machines are based on exactly the same chassis and power train would you? PNB Photo: Paul Blezard

More pix of this machine can be seen in the 'One Offs' folder. This photo by Paul Blezard

Blez tests the newly carbon fibre bodied Genesis Mk3 appropriately wearing a carbon fibre BMW helmet. See the 3 minute 2011 video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfS3ZYwWk1E
Photo by Jeremy Clifton-Gould, 2007.

Photo by Jeremy Clifton-Gould

Highsides and the FF layoutS

Definition; “FF”
A single track vehicle with a seat base less than 20” above ground level at ride height, fitted with a seat back capable of supporting the rider. The front suspension should not be steered.

Application.
This information applies 'open cockpit' FFs of the type shown on my site www.hightech.clara.net and Quasars. FF's with outriggers may be a special case and this is considered speculatively in the text.

Sources.
This knowledge is based on the Quasar and Voyager production projects and personal motorcycle experience since 1961. Study of video records of other peoples highsides has also informed this study.

TO THE DIRT BIKE SHOW, BY QUASAR
© Paul Blezard 2006

The Dirt Bike Show in the middle of November provided me with an excuse to go for a ride in my Quasar for the first time in two months. I didn’t think the bike was actually going to start when I first hit the button on the Friday afternoon – the starter motor wouldn’t even ‘catch’ to turn over, but just kept spinning uselessly. But just as I was going to give up after about five frustrating minutes, the old Reliant engine fired. Thinking that I might want to carry lots of bits and bobs back from the show, I fitted the brilliantly designed wrap-around panniers for the first time this year. It’s a straightforward five minute job which actually took about half an hour by the time I’d got all the nuts, bolts and spanners together and drilled a new hole for an extra bolt to hold the number plate on. I wiped the rain-splattered screen before leaving and was pleased to see that the wipers still worked, but I had to stop at a garage just down the road to wipe the screen more thoroughly on both sides because in the eight weeks it had spent sitting on my forecourt it had acquired a film on the glass which made it hard to see through in the dark.