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Reply to Godscountry
Throughout this project I have tried to use Allerts bike, not only as inspiration, but as a benchmark from which I can predict my own performance.
There are similarities in the engine and drivetrain, but we have taken different routes in how we develop our machines. Allert chose to convert his clutch mechanism to full manual control, but the gearbox is otherwise a standard manual unit. I have retained the "auto-clutch" at present, and have only 3 speeds with which to work. I believe Allerts bike spec is a four-speed, but this has not been specified.
I have employed an intermediate shaft, for two reasons (explained earlier in this thread), and have accepted a small additional friction loss as my penalty, but I have built the bike with the overall gearing that I need to meet my target of 100mph. At present I have encountered no difficulty pulling away with this gearing. There is a youtube video of my starting and stopping procedure with this specification. I have since added about 60kg of weight but the bike is easy to launch, so my conclusion at this stage is that Allert need not have worried about this factor. However, his project is his project and it may be that he has seen other benefits that I have not considered.
My project, Project 100, is about achieving a goal, which will prove a point about vehicle design. I do not expect it to be a "daily driver" because the weight penalty of the full bodywork will make acceleration difficult in regular traffic.
I am working on another version which will be more user friendly, using a 250cc single cylinder engine and a six-speed manual gearbox, which I hope will have performance on a par with most traffic situations, but will be less fuel efficient than the 100cc version.
Allert's bike was so close to my mileage target, that I consider he has done it already. If he had carried out his test under optimum conditions, he would easily beat the 100km/1L target. This needs to be a single run over an A-B-A route, with low sidewind conditions, and minimal traffic interference. I will do my proving run for a 50km distance at an average speed of 100km/hr. The trick is to maintain the average speed throughout the journey, stopping and starting kills the economy as the extra weight (of the bodywork) we both carry is a penalty under "normal" conditions.
I'll say it again - I consider that Allerts bike has already demonstrated a level of performance that would see him beat this target under these conditions.
I obviously feel that my machine has a number of significant advantages over Allerts, but until I prove them, he is still the king!
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