Real 'Akira' Motorcycle

News for nerds writes "At Tokyo Motorcycle Show in Japan (2/3/4 Apr.), the official licensed model of the motorcycle in the anime movie Akira (poster) is displayed. This Kaneda bike is not a mere replica, but a full working model (more pics at ITmedia) with twin-steering system and 249-998cc water-cooled 4-cycle engine, and on its cockpit is DVD-navi-system + trackball & ten-key + custom computer-controlled LED meters - all licenced by the author and the publisher of Akira. Though at the show only miniature figures are sold and real price or release date is unclear, you can check out the manufacturer's website for later info."

Comments

Re:Drivetrain

[Moofie]

Lots of motorcycles are chain drive. A thin aluminum frag-guard would keep the driver perfectly safe in the (unlikely) event of a chain failure.

That's not a nelly little bicycle chain. Motorcycle chains are stout stuff.

Here's a mirror

[ErichTheWebGuy]

http://erichv.com/akira-bike/news040.html.htm

Re:Drivetrain

[MajorDick]

Actually several chains on mororcycles is not uncommon, Harleys have in some case 2 , a Primanry and a Secondary, I can think of several vintage brit bikes that had 2 and 3 .

Losing a chain is not the danger , not even getting whacked with a broken chain at 60-70mph, a chain guard will stop almost all damage, it hurts but its not too bad with no chain guard like when my race bike let loose..

The REAL problem, and I give you this from a lot of riding and racing experience is when a chain catches in the back wheel/brake assy, one of my WORST ever accidents was due to exactly this, I had laid the bike down earlier and apparently bent the rear sprocket. I lost the chain at 50 or so mph, it catapulted me over the handlebars , then the bike ran over me, I was OK when I first hit the ground but the bike running over me broke 4 ribs, my jaw, my left elbow and my right wrist. I was 16 I walked home the rest of the way (1/4 mile) leaving the bike in the ditch, collapesed on the couch and called my mom and said mom im really f***ked up and hung up , she got home in like 10 minutes flat (normally a 30 minute drive) came in saw me bleeding all over and writhing in pain and said "OH Thank GOD I thought you were f****ed from drugs or something"

Re:Real bike?

[cwg_at_opc]

tetsuo is seen muttering about the mecanicals of of the bike, something like:

"...ceramic, double-rotor two-wheel drive, computer-controlled anti-lock brakes, 12,000 rpms"..."

so i believe there's an electric motor(s) in each wheel hub
and a battery(ies) underneath the bodywork, probably under
the seat. remember that this movie was made in 1987, so a
ceramic rotor electric motor wasn't quite practical yet.

a fan page is here: http://www.bbakira.co.uk/kanbike/bike.htm

googling for "anime akira motorcycle" nets you 6,960 hits,...
many sites think that there are any number of working prototypes
and an even larger number of non-working models.
i can't wait for the real deal!