Excursion into history: motorcycle caterpillar

Recently, on motorcycles, a topic for discussing novelties in the field of construction of two-wheeled vehicles. A group of Chinese students developed a conceptual model of the presented technology. , который по своей конструкции напоминал спортивный байк. They presented a caterpillar motorcycle , which in its design resembled a sport bike. The miracle of technology has a standard suspension, but the movement is due to the caterpillars.

The presented vehicle caused a storm of discussions. Motorcycle enthusiasts immediately had a lot of questions about the driving qualities and capabilities of the new motorcycle. Some began to doubt the performance of the model presented. However, it should be said that the development of Chinese designers is not only a conceptual development. The history knows the real motorcycles on caterpillar tracks. This motorcycle had a number of interesting features.

First development

представляет собой достаточно сложную конструкцию. Motorcycle caterpillar is a rather complex design. Its developments were engaged in professional and private designers as early as the beginning of the last century. The prototype of this motorcycle was a bicycle on a caterpillar year, which was developed in 1900 by Henry Steez. He even received a patent for his invention.

Further in Great Britain in 1927 one of the first motorcycles was created, which had two rear wheels on a caterpillar track. It was called RASC Triumph. This vehicle was manufactured by order of the royal army. The model was redesigned from a similar design with a 2x1 propulsion unit. RASC Triumph received a 3x2 propulsor. This motorcycle was made in one copy. When tested, its driving performance was excellent. However, the development was not further developed. The standard motorcycles, which at that time owned the royal army, received improved mobile characteristics.

RASC Triumph is now in the museum dedicated to army transport. It is almost impossible to restore the presented vehicle. Employees of the museum claim that the authentic 11-inch tires of the rear wheels of the motorcycle were lost.

Motorcycle OES

, разработанный в Великобритании годом позже (в 1928 году), был изготовлен на оборудовании Осборнской инженерной компании. Motorcycle caterpillar , developed in the UK a year later (in 1928), was manufactured on the equipment of the Osborne engineering company. At the same time, the company presented two prototypes at once. The motorcycle could be used with a caterpillar, which was worn on the wheels of the rear trolley, or without it.

The rear second wheel of the presented developments was reported by a toothed belt with the first wheel. Such motorcycles were created for the army and private use. They were exploited as tractors. However, new equipment did not cause much interest among buyers.

Similar developments were conducted in Italy. The model, issued in 1931, was called a tractor-tractor. Initially, it was developed for the needs of agriculture. However, over time, it began to be exploited by fascist militiamen in Italy. Initially, the developers of the "tractor-motorcycle" planned its use for economic purposes.

The first German motorcycles

был необходим в военных целях правительству страны. A German motorcycle on caterpillar tracks was necessary for military purposes to the government of the country. Therefore, the development of novelty vehicles here were carried out quickly and scale.

One of the first motorcycles on the caterpillar track was the "Victoria" model. It was presented to the general public in 1931. This transport place was designed for 3 seats with a 3x2 propulsion unit.

The presented model was created for 4 years (from 1927 to 1931). He could reach speeds of up to 120 km / h. The engine on this motorcycle was four-stroke with a volume of 596 cm³. The power of revolutions was 18 liters. from. A sports model was also developed. It had a power of 24 rpm. from. At that time it was a high-end motorcycle, which got enough distribution among consumers.

Motorcycle BMW Schneekrad

The army needed full technical equipment. Therefore, funding was allocated for the creation of new models of equipment, transport and weapons. The most famous caterpillar motorcycle Wehrmacht was created on the basis of the car BMW R12. The new model was named BMW Speziel TR500 Schneekrad. It was presented to the general public in 1936 in one copy.

To date, not a single copy of the presented equipment. This bike had a stroller that was mounted on the ski. Its chassis was taken from an easy tank. It was completely placed inside the caterpillar.

The handling of this technique was poor. Turns were very difficult to carry out. The motorcycle developed a speed of up to 125 km / h. For civilians, 20 thousand copies were created, and for military - 10 thousand units of equipment. And the speed of motorcycles with a caterpillar Wehrmacht was less than that of civilians (up to 85 km / h). This model became a classic, but did not get much distribution.

Motorcycle-Rover NSU Kettenkrad HK 101

который поступил в серийное производство, был больше похож на небольшой танк. The first German caterpillar motorcycle, which went into mass production, was more like a small tank. This model was released in 1944 and was called NSU Kettenkrad HK 101.

This all-terrain vehicle is called a motorcycle due to the appropriate landing of the driver and the presence of the front wheel. Braking is carried out with the help of clutch tracks. One revolution is sufficient for this.

In the post-war years, the German Forestry Commission used the technique presented for its own purposes. Today the presented cars are still preserved. The restored equipment was even sold at auction in 2015. It completely restored the gearbox, the differential, the engine and the main gear.

Motorcycle-snowmobile

Motorcycle caterpillar was constantly improving. In 1980, the Italian company Pozzo di Recoaro created a new type of equipment, which was named Alpen Scooter. This motorcycle was more of a class of snowmobiles. Initially, it was used for its purposes by the Italian army for movement on snow-covered mountain ranges.

Included in the motorcycle was the front ski. To move along the ground and ice a caterpillar of a certain type was used. In the early models, the engine was used in a volume of 200 cm ³ , then it was changed to a motor of 250 and 300 cm ³ . The equipment presented was also used to transport health workers to patients in snowy weather.

Homemade revisions

Motorcycles with caterpillar tracks had a number of drawbacks. It was problematic to stabilize them in vertical position at high and low speeds, and also when moving over rough terrain. Therefore, private users have always been skeptical about this technique.

However, in the sixties of the last century homemade caterpillar motorcycles appeared. Their designers created a similar technique from improvised parts. Such motorcycles were used for driving on snow and in agricultural needs.

One of the first and most famous motorcycles of the presented type was "ANT-1". His prototype was a model of Soviet snowmobiles, which at that time were presented in the pages of the magazine "Modeler-Designer". Karelian engineer A. Koksharov developed several models of a motorcycle with a caterpillar run "ANT". This technique was able to ride in the snow to a depth of 25 cm. The weight was 110 kg.

Motorcycle "Ural"

There are models of the presented equipment, which are now collected from various mopeds. For the population of our country vehicles of domestic production are more accessible. . Therefore, it is not surprising that a crawler motorcycle "Ural" could appear, for example.

Engineers-amateurs modify the design of their vehicle for various purposes. This makes it easy to move around in the snow, carry large enough loads.

When creating such a miracle technique, the parts from the combine are used, as well as the motor from the motorcycle "Ural". Movement in this technique is quite maneuverable. At the same time, fuel consumption is about 6 liters per 100 km. Equipment develops speed at virgin soil to 60 km / h.

The principle of manufacturing homemade equipment

стараются сделать многие инженеры-любители. Motorcycles on the caterpillar track are made by many amateur engineers. This is a tempting idea, which rather refers to the category of constructive frills. Such a vehicle will allow you to move along a viscous surface, for example, over snow, mud or wetlands.

The speed of movement for such homemade products is quite low. Therefore, the presented technique is not sufficiently effective. Today on sale there are special sets. They are purchased by amateur designers to create their own caterpillar-type motorcycle models. This is a complex process. It allows you to create an off-road vehicle or snowmobile on the basis of a finished motorcycle. Usually the caterpillar is mounted on the rear wheel. At the same time, the weight will not be distributed correctly. If the caterpillar is not properly loaded, it will not be able to cope with its task.

Disadvantages of homemade structures

в домашних условиях создать достаточно трудно. Crawler motorcycle with their own hands at home is difficult to create. First of all, it will take a lot of welding work. More often than not, an amateur engineer can not solve the problem with the correct weight distribution of equipment. In this case, he can try to move the caterpillar forward. However, this task is usually practically not feasible at home.

Therefore, engineers can compromise. Two small caterpillar belts are placed on the sides. They are less forwardly shifted forward by a maximum of a third of the length. Such a caterpillar can perform its functions fully, but only on a flat road.

Therefore, many technologists argue that the creation of a caterpillar motorcycle is not a practical necessity. Rather, it's just a design puzzle. Although today a lot of worthy copies of technology have been developed. They take into account the conditions of the terrain. The very process of creating such a technique brings to the fans a lot of positive emotions. This is a real challenge for any designer.