[uksqueezea]

... or did I miss something before.

Just had one of the new bikes turn up in the post.

It appears to have a new "clip on" metal skid ( 10 gramish) unlike the one I saw when they first arrived here.

So, is this how they are in the UK. All the Hornby names are stamped all over it.

By the way, this one works a treat compared to the last one with a standard skid, but I wouldn't back it in against the F1's.

 

[Doug]

Yes, it has been mentioned before.

 

[uksqueezea]

Ok.

Actually, I thought the bikes went OK. Compared to the horses, trotters and sulkies, Ninja turtles on skateboards and various innovations, thought the bikes were probably a little better than what I had expected. kinda cool also.. right up until I tried to go under the bridge. OUCH!

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Oh, that is hilarious. Talk about putting a 'spin' on it.

 

[TSRF]

They Don't Lean.

It's against the Natural Order of Things.

Even mopeds lean in corners.

 

[Fergy]

QUOTE Even mopeds lean in corners.

Yes, and our own here often tilts into the wind....

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Stop it, you two. You're cracking me up!

 

[uksqueezea]

QUOTE They Don't Lean.

It's against the Natural Order of Things

Always makes me think of what a Hornby exec would think when a grown up approaches them with these statements

I think Hornby have done a great job. There's an 8year old bikie here who was on the track nice and early this morning. I haven't heard him whinge about it not leaning yet. No doubt as the other siblings filter out, Mother will be either breaking up fights with her broom, or on the phone to get more bikes.

That makes me think, ... that broom must be up for another service.

 

[TSRF]

QUOTE There's an 8year old bikie here who was on the track nice and early this morning. I haven't heard him whinge about it not leaning yet.

At age 5 and when learning how to ride a bicycle, I was trying to grasp why I fell off to the left side when trying to steer the bike to the right.
Once I figured this out, I had no more problems with this equation, both physical and visual.

This below for me is a little fraud, sorry! Enjoy your set.

 

[uksqueezea]

QUOTE At age 5 and when learning how to ride a bicycle,
Now THAT would be funny.

This little bloke here was riding a motorbike at 3. He was so little we had to take his helmet off 'cause it made him top heavy when he accelerated.

But seriously, I'm interested more in that skid on the bottom of your bike in that picture.. it isn't like this?
Have you tried a bike with the extra weight?

 

[TSRF]

UK, be srious! Do you think that war babies had ANY money to buy a motorbike in 1945? Also kids minibikes only began appearing in the late 1970's. We were not so lucky during the war, and my first bicycle was a rebuilt job from a local metalsmith, with the frame cut down so that I could get on it in the first place and reach the pedals.

I tried the Scalex bikes with the new weight and it improves them a lot, but it is still a bit hazardous to drive these things... They sure look pretty.
I am pleased that your children enjoy them, I would have been very disappointed if I had been offered a set as a 5-year old and found that they did not lean in the corners like the real thing, after having seen a MotoGP on Tee-Vee...
The R/C industry DID figure out how to make radio controlled bikes to behave like the real thing by using the gyroscopic effect of the rotating wheels, just like the real thing does. It is obviously a heck of a challenge for the slot car industry, but some day, someone will figure it out.
Regards,

Philippe

 

[PeteN]

QUOTE (TSRF @ 19 Sep 2004, 01:43)(Making them lean) It is obviously a heck of a challenge for the slot car industry, but some day, someone will figure it out.
I sure hope you are right. I love motorcycle racing and want MotoGP bikes, but not if they don't lean. And if they can figure out how to make them lean and slide, maybe we can have Supermoto slots?!:

 

[TSRF]

Before SuperMoto, there was simply Motocross, and my bikes DID lean, even if the system was a bit crude...

I would have believed that 30 years later, Scalex would have had a better idea.
Regards,

Philippe

 

[Fergy]

And from that article....

QUOTE compare with the features of the new Scalex bikes, a definite leap forward we all hope...

Sorry.... think they missed it Philippe!

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Hmmm, the UK patent I pointed out previously, that is held by Hornby, is for leaning bikes. Much as I find these gimcracks amusing, and much as I predict their death, it is wholly possible that that patented design might yet rise up.

 

[TSRF]

QUOTE Hmmm, the UK patent I pointed out previously, that is held by Hornby, is for leaning bikes.

It would be interesting to see how they achieve it. I did not find it in a patent search. Do you have a link to a copy?
Best regards,

Philippe

 

[uksqueezea]

.....What if (I'm sure its been done so what I'm asking is, what was the result when .....)
someone made a front wheel not only heavy enough to hold the bike down but also able to run on the rail by a raised section in the middle of the tyre,( like a continuous guide blade) that would guide the bike along in the slot (like the old gimble set up) make both halves of the front tyre/ wheel combo out of conductive metal( like a harley) that picked up the power out of both rails, then ran the power up the metal forks and back to the motor...

what happened?? getting past the obvious push start of course.
Oh and needing the reflexes of a jungle cat to operate it! ( Think I just answered the question then..!)

 

[Jimster71]

I was wondering if the decision to have banked track in the motogp sets was to make it look as though the bikes were leaning a bit on corners, as well as helping the handling?

My motogp bike came with the weight to put on the skid. It was a self adhesive weight that looked the same as in the photos near the top of the thread.

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Philippe, the site you want is here, search for Hornby Hobbies Ltd, the reference is GB2390982.

Interestingly, it would appear that ALL STARS RACING LTD were the inventors, Hornby being the applicant for the patent.

 

[TSRF]

Hi Wankel,
It does not give any details on what exactly they are patenting... and no patent drawings either.
Regards,

Philippe