[Russell Sheldon]

I was looking at the spy-shots posted on the www.getslotted.co.uk web-site, which I have taken the liberty of posting here.... I hope it's ok!

I appreciate that these may be pictures of prototype models, but a couple of observations....

It appears the rear-wheel acts as the gear, and it's powered by an NC4 type motor mounted on it's side. Ingenius, but I think that a belt-drive may have been more realistic. It also appears as if it skates along the track surface on a "ski" thingie and that the tyres actually run in the slot.... A bit strange!

Although the detail looks fantastic in 1/18th scale, I really wished they had used the motor that Ninco use in their go-karts and attempted to make the bikes 1/32nd scale or, at most, 1/24th...

I realise that these comments may be premature...

Many thanks to GetSlotted for the pictures!

Kind regards

Russell

 

[philsmith]

Note the square section rear tyre, if they leaned into corners these would have to be rounded section!

 

[Froggie]

Do they really look square to you ?
Friendly Froggie

 

[Tropi]

The rear tyres look quite different in the two pics, to me!
But it's not good to rely on photos, I guess.
The motor almost seems the least likely choice - I am beginning to wonder if these pics might be 'setups', to put people off the scent!

 

[Froggie]

Any idea where the magnet is located ?

 

[thomas]

...mag is behind the guide - visible on both pictures. Might be a nice one-time-toy for kids - but I don't think that you might have fun with these "freaky" creatures on wheels

You've missed a chance Scalextric

 

[Tropi]

I suspect Thomas might be right, but I am not going to pre-judge - we don't really know what Scalextric has hidden up its sleeve! My mind has been considering the possibilities of a little flywheel hidden under the bodywork . . .

 

[Russell Sheldon]

"I am beginning to wonder if these pics might be 'setups', to put people off the scent!"

I think that I would be pretty pi.... off if who I believed to be a reputable dealer pulled a 'con' like this...

The picture of the Repsol bike appears to be similar to the bike in this picture, posted earlier by Dennis David on Minimental's behalf, except for the missing front brake disc:-

Kind regards

Russell

 

[Guest]

I am going to wait until I can get a review one before I decide, I think they look very interesting.

RR

 

[moped rider]

Very interesting pictures.

They look better each time I look at them.

Moped

 

[Intergrali]

there are just plain ugly! I'll just wait for someone else to get one before I start spending my money on em!

So, who was complaining about VMG scale? yeah quite! 1:32nd people not diecasts!

Rob.

 

[astro]

There are bike people and there are car people. Scalextric obviously see these bikes aimed at a completely new market, and attracting people who may not be interested in cars. Yes there are a lot of people who like both, but scalextric isnt developing this to sell to the same people who already like its stuff. I guess they dont see bikes having to be the same scale as the cars any more than their trains are.

Also, although bikes have been done before in various forms of slot racers before, it looks as if scalextric are really putting some serious effort into this one. But bikes are very different from cars, and it is unfair to expect scalextric to devolop such advanced machines that lean and everything as their first release, before they have even found out how many people are interested in buying them. Let them recoup some of there initial investment before developing further!

 

[Doug]

Will it fit under the 1:32 bridges

 

[moped rider]

There are 150,000,000 Moto GP fans around the world and they simply have not had anything to play with like this before.

The fanacity of Moto GP fans is far higher than Formula 1 fans and on a par I suspect with NASCAR fans in the USA.

They buy everything associated with their favourite racer.

There will be a large number of Scalextric stockists rubbing their hands together at the thought of offering this product no matter what some of you may think.

Just think how popular this sport is in Japan for example, where most of the 1:1 bikes are made, or in Spain, where more folk attend motorcycling events than Formula 1.

This is very definitely a product that will be around for many years after its launch next year.

Astro is quite right about this opening up new interest in slot racing type products.

And this product could well have a much bigger impact on the industry overall than any other product launched in 2004.

Some of you club racers want to increase your membership don't you?

Well this is your BIG opertunity!

Moped

 

[Tropi]

LOL at Nuro's enhanced pic! That was funny - I was away in Photoshop doing exactly the same thing and here it is done already on my return!

Russell, my 'set-up' pics remark was tongue-in-cheek, though we must also bear in mind that these are very early 'spy'shots and may not accurately represent the final product. For instance, I was hoping the 'ski' was just a stand to hold the bike up for static shots!

The motor/transmission arrangement is ingenious, but it would seem that the motor must be slightly off-centre as the shaft has to clear the rim of the wheel - but perhaps not by much.

I noticed Adrian was in earlier, but no little messages left behind to tease us with. The question now - has he gone to praise or pillory the leaky source of the pics!

 

[Guest]

I think a lot of members are into both bikes and cars as stated as when 1/1 vehicles were listed there were quite a bikes listed.

Many years ago I used to ride around on a new CBX 6 cylinders 24 valves and in 1979 about the fastest accelerating thing money could buy. It was also the most dangerous thing I have ever used (when Richard wanted a motorbike I banned him from having one) but it sure was fast.

I think Scalextric could do well with these bikes as they are so different from everything else available.

RR

 

[meshers]

does it do wheelies

...if not i'll stick to slotcars

 

[DogFish]

I bought a 1/32 scale die-cast Ducati to use as scenery. Assuming it's accurately to scale, I feel comfortable saying we'll never see a scale motor racing bike for current track offerings.

It's so tiny, it falls into the slot and would need nano-tech to provide power while maintaining a realistic appearance. Much like the Ninco karts, they'll (larger scale bikes) provide lots of fun for the kids and adults who don't take the scale issues too seriously.

If they'll lean into the curves and aren't so large that they won't fit under existing bridges, I'll certainly buy a couple*.

*provided they're reasonably priced

I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong, but I've seen some of your tracks and a 1/32 scale bike would be LOST zipping around them.

 

[vfr750]

[/QUOTE]They buy everything associated with their favourite racer.

I've been accused of being fanatical about bikes but Moped, I won't buy any old crap. It still boils down to whether they lean in corners. Looking at the pictures, I'm expecting to be disappointed.

Cheers,

John

 

[Jamie]

Now these are just comments, is it me or are the tyres moulded so that the central part of the tyre actually fits a short way into the groove (to provide stability) and the outer section to provide traction?