Computer renderings of concept bikes are two-a-penny these days, but this one deserves more attention than most. Metalback comes from a leading automotive designer called Jordan Meadows, and it’s an attempt to marry the ethos of the traditional café racer with contemporary green credentials. “The concept is powered by a v4 engine running on bio diesel,” says Meadows. “Its frame and skin are crafted from recycled aluminum. This has the advantage of saving weight to enhance performance, while reclaiming pre-used material. In the manufacturing process, the alloy is treated to patina and age naturally without expensive and harmful paint applications. The net effect is a raw natural surface which suits the classic cafe racer, and recalls the romance and power of vintage WW2 fighter planes.” It’s an interesting approach and Meadows has the history to back it up: until last year he was Design Manager at Mazda’s North American Design Center, and his CV includes stints Volkwagen, Chrysler/Jeep and Ford. The big question is whether a mainstream motorcycle manufacturer would be prepared to go down this road—and is the public prepared to buy into it? [Image © Jordan Meadows Design.]
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13 Comments
Why is it that when car guys design a motorcycle they have to make an integrated tank fairing thing that almost always looks hideous.
weaksauce.
driveway drop = instantly totaled
I found your site a while back. I admire your taste in machinery enough that I check you out nearly every day. Having said that, this is one really hideous bike.
Meh.
“a raw natural surface which suits the classic cafe racer” – I don’t agree. I can’t think of a single traditional cafe-racer I’ve seen that uses a raw metal surface, the majority go for trad. Norton colors or similar.
Seems saying your bike (or in this case a drawing of a bike that doesn’t exist and is based on a v4 biodiesel, which being unnamed also probably does not exist) has “cafe inspired styling” is just the standard verbiage when marketing your product nowadays.
If it could be kept at a reasonable price I’d take it.
As a traditional Cafe bike; controversial and bound to piss off the old fashioned purist- But when I look at this thing next to the horde of silly concept bikes it’s got genuine greed cred and it looks Bad-a$$! In fact its fresh and original which is exactly what a (concept) should be. Thumbs up!
Lots of interesting ideas here. I agree that car designers generally struggle with bikes, Jordan has done pretty well here but a few aspects of the design don’t quite hit the mark – like the front and rear styling elements which follow the same form as each other, this can work on a car but not so well on a bike.
The overall look for me is ‘musclebike’, meaning I like it. But why would you make a modern green biodiesel engine that looks like a Harley donk???
Looks a lot like a Honda DN-01 to me.
Different strokes for different folks I suppose, not to my taste.
Why even speculate on it? It does not exist and never will. Bad enough space on this quality site gets wasted on countless harleys with nothing more than paint jobs and pipes, but at least they are real 3 dimensional bikes.
I have an idea, a bike with a million hp, the best handling ever, that uses no fuel at all. Now I just need to hire a teenager to do a computer pics and state my intent to use whatever materials are currently trendy/green/unrealistic and I too can be a revolutionary design artist. Go me, I am so amazing.
It is just a picture not a bike, why is it even on a bike site? It belongs on http://www.unprovenandunlikelytoeverbebecauseitisjustatheory.com.
I really like the one piece tank/seat pan/cowl, although that itty bitty seat looks like it would be quit the nutcraker.
This bike doesn’t have one piece bodywork. You can see the line where the 2 pieces would theoretically come together, so a driveway drop should not total anything.
The horizontal line front-to-back is nice to see instead of the too common slanted, ass in the air styling that creates empty space above the rear wheel of many sportbikes.
Steel trellis frames can still be made light
Henry Carter: Car designers – even brilliant ones like Giorgetto Giugiaro of VW Passat/Golf fame – also f**** up thing when not integrating the tank and the fairing; just have a look at his Ducati 860GT, but be sure to have a barf bag ready.
Just had a look at some additional pics on the designers website. That thing is HOT!!!! Would be sweet to see in the flesh if someone built it!!!!
interesting that all of the other eco and electric bikes look cheap and plasticky while this has some soul and grit to it… As for car-designers versus bike designers sure not all of them hit the nail on the head but it is interesting that you dont see Bike designers doing cars…