Taylormade Carbon2

[JonKerr]

Check this thing out. Be interesting to see if any Moto2 teams jump aboard. They make a point that even though the racing is good, it's turned a bit too much into a spec series. Would be cool to see some variation in the paddock. Really cool looking profile but the frontal area is so narrow though that it's kind of funky looking. I know that's the point of their design to narrow the frontal area. But it's just odd looking.

Taylormade Carbon2 – Life Outside the Moto2 Box

 

[JonKerr]

Oh geez those pics weren't that big on the website. Sorry

 

[Bert-Aus]

Doubt it will go anywhere, MotoGP teams were experimenting with CF (fairings etc) years back but decided to stick with ABS/ race glass due to the production costs of CF.

If the chasis can get sorted in CF, that would be the game changer for production cross-overs

 

[MNGreg]

Yeah, the front looks a little funny, but overall it looks kinda cool.

Unfortunately yeah, cost of CF would probably outweigh any weight savings.

I also wonder if in a crash that much CF could be a danger over the standard stuff. Kinda like how the carbon shards from a broken CF arrow shaft can be very sharp.

 

[JonKerr]

Doubt it will go anywhere, MotoGP teams were experimenting with CF (fairings etc) years back but decided to stick with ABS/ race glass due to the production costs of CF.

If the chasis can get sorted in CF, that would be the game changer for production cross-overs

Actually every single MotoGP team uses CF fairings now. A whole CF bike though, that's a very different thing. I think one of the biggest things actually is the front suspension. Would be interesting to see if something like that would be viable at the highest level.

 

[EsrTek]

That is not my cup of tea, CF as accents is fine, but once you go to this level it looks ridiculous to me.

I wonder if the CF body had any actual effect on his lap times, or it's more a mental thing only.

 

[JonKerr]

Being able to use CF fairings does save a lot of weight. And the idea behind something as extreme as a full CF frame, is you will eventually be able to control your chassis flex far more accurately and precisely than with metal. Chassis flex is HUGE with motorcycles at this level. When you're leaned over at 60º, the suspension no longer is working very much and the chassis ability to flex, in the direction you want it to, and return consistently is the real black magic of racing setup. Look at F1. Those cars are for the most part all CF, right down to the suspension components and everything. They're designed to be rigid in certain directions and have some controlled flex in others, all controlled by the direction of the carbon weave. Hell 6 years ago when i was racing and helping develop RC cars, our cars chassis were CF plates. We used different weaves, different thicknesses, different cutouts, etc... to get the desired amount of chassis flex for a particular type of track. And that's RC car racing! The technical ability of these high dollar race teams should be able to exploit the ability of CF.

BTW if anyone's interested, here's what an RC car using CF chassis looks like under the body.

 

[yellowfz]

There's 2 bolts or rivets missing on the faring on top of the tank.

 

[EsrTek]

Damn that's some deep crap to get into w CF then... Wonder how different a CF framed bike might ride.

 

[JonKerr]

There's 2 bolts or rivets missing on the faring on top of the tank.

Indeed there are. Good idea.

 

[Bert-Aus]

That is not my cup of tea, CF as accents is fine, but once you go to this level it looks ridiculous to me.

I wonder if the CF body had any actual effect on his lap times, or it's more a mental thing only.

Good paint job can fix that...

 

[Bert-Aus]

...as a full CF frame...

Apolgogies, looks like Ducati is already there

motogp.com · Ducati reveal details of carbon fibre frame

During the Assen coverage here, they discussed the CF brake discs being used in dry conditions...
interesting difference was how the CF brakes worked better at high temps

Either way another interesting read on subject
The Trouble with the Ducati Desmosedici

 

[JonKerr]

Well Ducati's "Frameless" MotoGP bike was a very different idea than what this bike is. Their current Panigale is what came from that experiment. That's a carbon fiber air box that acts as the stressed member and mounts to the engine and the forks mount to it.