ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Apriliarsv on September 25, 2019, 10:50:02 PM
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https://www.thedrive.com/motorcycles/19452/mv-agusta-might-have-a-jet-powered-motorcycle-in-the-works
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Jet turbine power has been done before about 15 years ago. I think Jay Leno owns at least one. I saw two of them on Highway 35 years ago during the Half Moon Bay Golf Club motorcycle show. Really loud and very hot. Plus, they don't go very far on a tank of kerosene. Sounds like another idea to get your brand name on the internet. ::)
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Turbines have some definite advantages. Primarily, they put out a TON of power for their weight, which is why they're so good for airplanes and helicopters. Aircraft pay for the weight they carry in higher induced drag (so higher fuel consumption) and reduced cargo availability. Turbines also have only one moving part (if you don't include things like bearings, fuel and oil pumps) so they tend to be very reliable. Again, that's a really good thing for an aircraft!
They have some disadvantages too, like not idling well when there's no load, and not accelerating (spooling up) very quickly. Those are generally non-issues with aircraft, but real problems for ground vehicles. They also don't have very good specific fuel consumption (gas mileage), which can reduce the weight advantage some, especially if you try to miniaturize it for lower-power applications. (If a 50-pound motor has to carry 200 pounds of fuel, it might be at a disadvantage to a 100-pound motor that only has to carry 100 pounds of fuel.) Turbines also operate at extreme temperatures and pressures, putting high demands on components, lubrication and fuel delivery systems. That tends to make them REALLY expensive compared to alternatives.
I dunno. I'm not seeing turbines in ground vehicles making a lot of sense. I also don't think electric drivetrains make a lot of sense for aircraft, but that's another topic.
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If they had something that worked, we would have heard something about it by now.
The one I wish would have worked out was Bimota's 2 stroke.
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I recall Jay Leno saying that at a stop light he checked his rear view mirror and saw the plastic car bumper behind him melting from his exhaust. He "jetted" off!