1917 Ackerman Spring Wheel

[panhead_jim]

Here's something from a long lost corner of motorcycle history, the Ackerman Spring Wheel. The idea was to replace the spokes with sprung steel straps so that the wheel itself acted as the suspension.

Ackerman Spring Wheel

[sirhrmechanic]

I have seen pictures of those and I think I posted one from Floyd Clymer's Motor Scrapbook a year or so ago.

So here's the million dollar question: Has anyone actually ever SEEN one of those things? Were they really ever built? Or were they an advertising or 'promoted' item that never made it past the pages of some magazines? Do they exist? Has anyone seen them on a motorcycle (outside old publicity photos?)

I'd love to know how (if) it worked. Because knowing a bit about suspension dynamic and harmonics... my hunch is that it would be one terrifying ride!

Cheers,

Sirhr

[LouieMCman]

What comes to my mind is Leaping Lena at WTT. The ride may be better than Lena but imagine going into that first corner at about 50 MPH knowing the wheel is going to flex in some direction or other....

[T. Cotten]

Folks,

There is a simple reason why such things are not practical.

Your machine hangs from the spokes, rather than to sit upon them.

Or at least it should.

....Cotten

[Ohio-Rider]

Now I'm going to lay in bed tonight trying to figure out how the bike is being held up by the spokes and not setting on them. Thanks alot Tom.

[T. Cotten]

Steve!

Imagine you have a machine sitting upright, and a bolt-cutter.

What happens if you cut away only the bottom half of the spokes?
It can remain hanging under tension.

What happens if you cut away only the top half of the spokes?
The bottom spokes will fold under the weight.

...Cotten

[pete @ occhiolungo]

a little more about Ackerman spring wheels

Hello Sirhr. I have seen such wheels, but not on a motorbike. There was a set at the WAAAM museum a few years ago. And I've seen bicycles with modified versions of those wheels, and modern cars and SUVs too. I don't know if they'll ever replace spokes or solid wheels, but there are multiple companies around the world who are working on them. Youtube has several videos.

If you want to read more than what that website posted, I have some photos and stories here from a couple of years ago: http://occhiolungo.wordpress.com/201...spring-wheels/ And that reminds me that I should be watermarking the images I put on my website, as they are appearing verbatim on other sites a year or two later...

regards,
Pete

I have seen pictures of those and I think I posted one from Floyd Clymer's Motor Scrapbook a year or so ago.

So here's the million dollar question: Has anyone actually ever SEEN one of those things? Were they really ever built? Or were they an advertising or 'promoted' item that never made it past the pages of some magazines? Do they exist? Has anyone seen them on a motorcycle (outside old publicity photos?)

I'd love to know how (if) it worked. Because knowing a bit about suspension dynamic and harmonics... my hunch is that it would be one terrifying ride!

Cheers,

Sirhr