When one knows stories like the one starring Kent James Shillitoe, the young Australian mechanic ideologist of this “Honda Keshi“, The doubt arises about whether the statement” is already invented “is true and is right to be in itself. You just have to see the address system that you have designed, manufactured and subsequently installed in a CB125, to definitively discard this idea.
The reason for this peculiar invention is none other than to verify to what extent aerodynamics itself influences the operation of a motorcycle. Especially when we talk about taking a curve with an inclination greater than 45º, at which time it begins to generate a higher level of force that pushes us outward. This is where the immense wing that mounts the Keshi system, name of the conjunction of the first three syllables that make up the name and surnames of its creator.
Keshi address system in detail
Kent James Shillitoe He spends his days working as a motorcycle mechanic to southern Australia. One day he thought about how to create a system made up of a huge spoiler that would help take advantage of all aerodynamic load in full curve. Likewise, it came to the conclusion that it would be best to design a front train train where to be able to attach it, since this is the place where that extra grip is most required in such a situation.
During the interview that gives New Atlas explains: “Tony Foale wrote a book about the handling and dynamics of motorcycles. He thought about it, but yes, no one has been able to create a swinging wing that works. I am always thinking while I work on motorcycles, and I came up with the idea and I thought: ‘Well, if nobody has tried, I have to try to try!’
As the basis of this project, he decided to make use of his Honda CB125, the mounting with which he made his daily displacements. However, this lacked power so that, after the installation of the Keshi management system, I could efficiently test whether it really achieved its mission or not. So the first thing he did was wear a 50 hp 2T engine to the small citizen mount of the Japanese firm.
From here it manufactured the metal structure that hits the front axle of the motorcycle. In it we find a decentralized steering system where the fork and the handlebar are totally disconnected from the steering pipe, and anchored to a front monobrazo from which in turn emerges the main structure that holds the base and the huge upper wing.
In conclusion, and once placed at your controls of this motorcycle equipped with the Keshi steering system, “By pushing the left handlebar to start a left turn, the entire steering column, including the handlebar, moves more than 30 cm to the right of the central axis of the motorcycle”They explain from New Atlas.
Shillitoe comments on the functioning of the Keshi system: “Yes, at first it seemed a bit weird. But once you get used to it and trust him, and do not look at him, he starts to feel very natural. He drives like a normal motorcycle, but at first he feels disconnected. But it is stable; you can remove your hands and simply slide, without problems!”
As inconvenience we have the surface that occupies the Keshi system itself, which reduces the visibility of driving when we are at the motorcycle controls. Shillitoe comments on it: “Ah, it’s like a formula 1 with the halo. It has a single beam of light in front of the eyes when you go straight. The main alerons are above your sight. And when taking a curve, you have a totally clear vision.”
The creator of this ingenious management system is in the process of testing. Its next objective is to be able to test it in circuit, on the other hand, the only place where its use would be legal. He says: “It is more designed for one -round races or for uphill events.” Taking into account that design and construction has taken a little over a year, Shillitoe is aware of what could evolve, if he can have the necessary means for it.
About this concludes: “I remember when Ducati opted for his carbon picture, and it was too rigid. I think the Keshi system could be integrated into that carbon box because it incorporates the absorption of lateral impacts … Look, I dream that I get somewhere, but I don’t know! I can’t exaggerate much until I tried it well. But I have taken it to the road limit, and it is capable.”
