Its coming along. This project takes a lot of work and time. A lot of the design work requires intricate detail, examinations, and re-examinations. Building the various components may present further issue not present in the design (although I try to animate the actual construction of many of the components) Additionally, I am learning much of this as I go along, and many of the tools take time to save up the money to purchase.

I really hope by summer 2006, if not I am going to drive whatever I had completed so far off a bridge!

It will not be for sale. If I did, as a one off, it would be extraordinarily expensive.

There is much discussion online about the technical functionings of Kaneda's bike, but since it is only a movie, and it this also not the future, I will not be using superconducting electromagnetic motors in the hub of each wheel, and sparks will not fly out of the rims of the wheel. I am frankly going to ignore all the technical references to the power and drivetrain in the film, and will be making first and foremost a functional, safe, driveable vehicle, and secondly one that looks as much as possible like Kaneda's bike from Akira.

Some of the information of my design is going to be kept confidential until I test it. I do not want anyone killing themselves on what might be a bad idea on my part. For that reason I will not elaborate one what types of tires I am using.

It will most likely be fiberglass, though I have yet to undertake an indepth study of the question.

There are no practical powerfull light electric motorcycle that cost any reasonable sum of money that I could use in the design. Although a serial hybrid system would be ideal, I feel electric motors are just too unwieldly and heavy at the moment and batteries can not store squat for energy.

The first prototype was going to use a 500CC Tranverse V-TWIN from a used 1985 Honda, at about 45 HP.

The final version will use a more powerful motor, probably around 90-100HP, though the motor has not been decided on yet.

Financial contributions are always needed. I do need some technical advisors, primarily in the area of composite body work fabrication, Finite Element Analysis, and Metal working (welding, machining, and sheet metal forming) Most of the areas I have taken upon myself to learn, but that obviously takes more time the shooting a question off to someone all-ready knowledgeable in the field. Additionaly, a technical expert on electrical circuits and wiring would be usefull, as this bike will require a few custom designs. Furthermore, someone knowledgable with web programming (prefferably PHP) would be a great help to setup a forum for this site.

Some of the information of my design is going to be kept confidential until I test it. I do not want anyone killing themselves on what might be a bad idea on my part. For that reason I will not elaborate one what types drivetrain I am using.

Dont know yet

The current design has a wheelbase of 110", this will shorten significantly after prototype testing is completed.

The prototype will be severely over-engineered, and so will be very heavy. I would wager a guess at 800 - 900LBS for the prototype. The redesigned version should be more reasonable, at 500 - 600LBS

This is yet to be determined, it appears in the film that it does, although it is difficult to tell, it definately is part of the unsprung mass of the front of the bike (as in some scenes it vibrates significantly as if moving with the motions of the front axle) The large determining factor however will be where the center of pressure from side winds ends up being after the design is completed. If the CoP is above the steering axis, a strong sidewind will steer the vehicle into the wind, in which case it would make sense to have the Fairing attatched the the fork. However, if the side CoP is below the steering axis, a strong sidewind will turn the fork into the wind, countersteering the vehicle into the opposite direction, creating a destabalizing effect. If that is the case, the Fairing will be frame mounted. Additionally, the canopy glass would interfere with the handlebar turning if it was frame mounted, so I may make an effort to make sure the CoP is above the steering axis and make it rotate with the handlebars, though it will not be part of the unsprung mass of the vehicle.

Just behind the drivers back.

I should, but as I am learning most of this, working with round tubing is significantly more difficult than square tubing. Additionally, manufacturs are primarily concerned with cost of manufacturing, and can use less round tubing and make a stronger frame. As I am over engineering the frame, it will probably be strong enough, and resembles more of a racing roll cage frame than a motorcycle twin spar or tubular backbone frame.

The new version will be constructed out of 1" round tubing, and I am allready shopping around for decent tube benders.