Slashdot Mirror
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."
I'd like to be the first to say, "TETSUO!"
And it goes:
a aaa....
Kaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
neeeeeeeeeeee....
DAAAAAAAa
Oh, shush, someone had to do it...
KENADA!!!!
Its not what it is, its something else.
I would absolutely hope there is an ample shield on that seat in case the rube-goldberg-ish chain came off. Otherwise cool.
Comparing it to Windows will be a moot point, since El Dorado is going to have a 40% larger code base than XP.
Does it leave neat glowy trails in the air? And what about the background music? I want to hear drums and people yelling "DAH... DAH... DAHDAH!" in the background whenever I crank this baby up.
If you like it so much, then steal one for yourself like I did!
...
Wow... I wonder what the price tag will be.
If only I could afford it!
...on its cockpit is DVD-navi-system + trackball & ten-key + custom computer-controlled LED meters...
Yeah...that's, uh, a great investment for a motorcycle.
This is THE Holy Grail, until someone builds an EVA .... God, how I am glad I am entering the job market this year! All that cash, burning a hole in my pocket! Where do I sign for one?
is it that bad seein a hot chick again? if i see a hot chick walkin down the hall i dont say "repost"
It's a shame their server wasn't as fast as that motorocycle.
Anyone got a mirror?
- Sherman
This is why the japanese should build up a military. We'd have mechs walking around and defending tokyo from alien invasions in no time. Except they'd have to be piloted by children who were finicky and subject to teen angst.
Geoff "Mandrake" Harrison
Some Random UI Hacker
That's badass and all....but how does it handle? Does it take cornering well?...etc.
Or, is the bike merely for show with crappy performance and sluggish control?
Life is not for the lazy.
Mirror of the motorcycle
;)
Another mirror of the motorcycle, but a different pic
Play nicely with the mirror now
I've been watching American Chopper and just dreaming of the day I could have enough cash to order a custom light cycle.
It would be the PERFECT thing to go with my TRON costume: TRON Costume by BaumSquad
Until I can make that happen, I'll just have to save up for this thing! Kaaannaaaaeeeedddaaaaa!!!!
Ok after this ill be one millitary issue laser rifle short of living out my childhood dreams of hunting down psychic ex-best friends.
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. -Fight Club
Already taken a wicked slashdotting... Anyone grab the pics? Also, anyone have a rough translation of the site that isn't down? This is really cool, kinda reminds me of that concept peugeot did that was a warthog from halo. But when can i get one of these?!!
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
If all you do is ride a sci-fi reproduction, the girl has to know something about either motorcycles or sci-fi to suss you out.
Where the nerd factor comes in is the nasal bragging about the animation director's signature on the cowling. That keeps you from getting laid. Also not showering for days before or after riding in your reproduction sci-fi leather riding suit. Ewwww....
It has been a looong time since I saw that movie, but I seem to remember the bike being an electric vehicle, and this is not one.
"Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative" - Miyamoto Musashi
I think that goes for OS's too
Well not if its going to be sold in Japan, there is a 500cc limit on motorcycles, hell it take many,many years to be even allowed to ride the 500cc big iron, you have to start at 5cc, liscences are issued accordingly, its funny they cant buy the big bikes they sell abroad new, BUT there is a lookhole that allows them to re-import used bike > than 500cc, I solg my 83 GPZ 1100 to a broker that specalizes in exactly doing that he made a million in the late 80's early 90's doing that.
without the corporate decals on it. I want one!
bash: rtfm: command not found
http://erichv.com/akira-bike/news040.html.htm
bash: rtfm: command not found
I actually do ride motorcycles, including a sidecar outfit -- the most evil-handling form of vehicle mankind has so far invented -- a triked superbike (ZZR1100: incredibly fast in a straight line, terrifying in corners) and even a recumbent bicycle (Linear LWB) in city traffic.
From this, and from reading reports of earlier home-made customs in the style of Kaneda's bizarre feet-forward bike, I believe that thing is going to handle like an utter, utter pig. Looks like a fish, moves like a fish, steers like a cow.
Despite this, I want one desperately, right now.
Liam P. ~ "Intelligence is a lethal mutation." (me)
All i want is someone to start producing that cool ass jacket with the pill on the back.
Of course, I could always pair up with the Chernobyl gal...
This is very safe.
Custom which "is similar to the Kanada motorcycle well" motorcycle "STINGRAY", the consumer request type incoming order production shopping sight "it is you swallow", with there is a case which is sold, but this to the last those of non official recognition. Is, but the concept model which this time it is referred is exhibited obtained the acknowledgement of the Ootomo ocean person of the AKIRA writer and Kodansha publishers, Ltd. etc. which is the publication cause, it has become the "official recognition Kanada motorcycle".
Any bike that involves a not just a BJ, but "swallowing", as part of the transaction is really more of a lifestyle accessory.
I always worry when they start to put too much technology into something that is inherently better the simpler it is. I can just see it now, the media coverage about how it is now illegal to watch DVDs while biking because some idiot gave it a try and killed himself.
That really is my homepage, no kidding.
You know what, now I almost want them to do it just to see how utterly WEIRD it would be.
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
i commented below about the drivetrain specifics, but i
forgot to add these notes:
if anyone is doubting the stability of a "recumbent" design
such as this needs to look at Dan Gurney's Gator(see his
website:
http://www.allamericanracers.com
it's been tested by a couple of the mtorcycling mags with
generally favorable reviews.
"...that's as white as it gets; all the bits are on..."
The Akira motorcycle always reminded me of the lightcycles from TRON. Tre-cool!
ttyl
Farrell
CAN-CON 2019 - Ottawa's only book oriented Science Fiction Convention! October 18-20, Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada h
How many articles will it take before slashdot implements a simple mirror?? It could be automated as part of the publishing process.. just do a simple static mirroring of the image or page linked from a story. If a server becomes unavailable or otherwise in error, add the mirrored links.
Sure, some sites might love all the hits of a "slashdotting". But obviously there are many others that die under the load, or get disabled by bandwidth limiters, or various other problems.
If the site owners want to know the stats of how many hits they got, you could include stats for mirror hits.
This is not rocket science.. This problem occurs every day. In the current story, the server for the main article is barely responding, and the link for the image is responding with a "don't steal bandwidth" message.
Actually, the problem is they are blocking the links from slashdot. Open a new window and past the link into it and it works. I forget what it is that allows that to happen, but the link is correct.
Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
you know the only reason Dodge really bankrolled the Tomahawk was a sexy way to display the Viper's engine at car shows. When they go working on it they decided it had to work well... and it works well enough that the last i heard nobody has dared to go top speed.
it was after a HUGE response they built some to sell. The ones they sell are missing one component... maybe a final drive chain or something? the reasoning on that was liability. the bike is just way too much for anyone to ride full throttle.
And you have half the geeks in the world dying (happily, but still dying) of lust.
thad
I love Mondays. On a Monday, anything is possible.
So, anyway... I was watching American Chopper a while back, and I got to thinking:
- "I wonder what would happen if I went to OCC with one of the turboshaft engines that MTT uses for their bike, a copy of Akira, and asked Paul Jr. to replicate the Kaneda bike..."
And then I remembered... they're artists. They're not really engineers. Making that bike work would require so many engineering challenges to be overcome that, well... they'd have to outsource a lot of it.But I'd sure love to watch them build one!
(Too bad I can't afford it... anybody else want to join in and start a pool? We could have the 'Slashdot Bike' built! (Anyone remember the 'Slashdot PT Cruiser'?) Too bad the .com boom is well and truly dead, or we'd be looking at a fleet of the things!)
The version in the article... it looks a bit fat and heavy. I don't know how much fun it'll be to ride. As much as I like the appearance, it's just pointless if all it does it look pretty.
"...America's great minds of today, teaching America's great minds of tomorrow. Poor bastards." -- A Beautiful Min
Try this out instead. Looks better, almost definitely lighter, and it seems to have better cornering clearance. Plus it stands a good chance of making it to mass production for under $10k.
when you could be riding one of these
Ronald said nothing. He flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse, and rode madly off in all directions.
Networks around the world suffered varying degrees of damage today as 20 million geeks achieved simultaneous orgasm.
Anonymous Luddite: "What do you think of the dehumanizing effects of the Internet?"
Andy Grove: "Not Much."