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Old 08-09-2012, 01:25 AM   #90 (permalink)
cvetter
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Helix shortcomings and what we need

Streamlining has allowed me to ride my Helix into a 30 mph headwind at 80 mph!

I do that sometime to show off. More likely, I ride it at 70-75.

It wears the rear tire out quickly. It blew the head gasket on my second engine. Because of that, I have been running below tolerance compression since before the Quail.

Heat is not the problem. It never get above 2 bars... until it started consuming water because of the head gasket blowing. It ran out of water! It took me a while to figure out what was going on.

I love the Helix platform. But the Ninja 250 has proven to be more durable. Alan Smith has ridden his Ninja across the US twice with none of the problems I have had with my Helix. His Ninja is less affected in powerful sidewinds. But the Ninja seat is high. Too high. What we need is a low seat - Helix style frame with 16" wheels like the Ninja. But the Ninja engine is too high to sit on Helix style. So is the new CBR 250.

We need a modern, 6 speed, horizontal cylinder 250 twin... or horizontal single gas or Diesel with motorcycle wheels and suspension and a low seat, step thru frame.

This combination simply does not exist. I will continue to develop the streamlining and hope that one of you deals with the vehicle.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to cvetter For This Useful Post:
Bruce (08-09-2012), Frank Lee (08-09-2012)