Innovative hubless motorcycle design unveiled

[BaZa®]

Innovative hubless motorcycle design unveiled

PRESS RELEASE

January 16, 2008



NEW JERSEY –– Howard's Killer Customs (HOWARDS • KILLER CUSTOMS) unveiled their version of the rear wheeled hubless motorcycle and many other unique engineering features in their latest motorcycle build. Competing with other builders like Orange County Choppers, West Coast Choppers, and Choppers Inc, HKC has refined the functionality and implementation of the hubless illusion on their chopper which began life as a classic 1969 FL Harley-Davidson.

"Using my experience in drafting and automotive industries I was able to conceptualize a different way to make the hubless wheel function in a more practical way. Combining that with my father's extensive machining and fabrication skills, we are able to create our bike entirely in-house and do things that most every other builder would have to outsource," Howard Sofield, the owner and designer at Howard's Killer Customs, explained. "Over 4,000 hours of design and build time went into this project and we could not be happier with how it turned out. It looks and functions perfectly."

The new hubless motorcycle is estimated to be worth over $150,000 which is nothing out of the ordinary for a booming custom motorcycle industry. Differentiating yourself from other designers continues to be the key to success in this industry. This new motorcycle, with its wild green and orange paint, certainly achieves individuality.
Pictures and a full write-up of the bike can be seen at the dedicated website http://www.HowardsHubless.com

[chilly]

Thats gonna piss Hagons off

[45Brit]

why would Hagons care? This isn't a new idea, there have been several versions of it around in recent years. The actual idea goes back to the 1920s at least, in one form or another

It's just a pointless gimmick with no real development value. The stresses on the bearing surfaces are too great and the bending stresses adversely affect the alignment of the wheel. Typical chopper thinking really, 'can I do that' rather than 'what use is that'.

the chopper industry has to have a constant flow of new gimmicks to keep people's attention, to keep them buying overpriced chrome junk with no actual use, and this is one of them.

[chilly]

Yes i know Brit45 they have been around a while,i was just jesting about Hagons,see the smiley ?.
Well it impressed me the first time i saw it,and i was intrigued as to how it worked,and no i wouldn't buy one,but i still like to see innovation as much as the people who tried the disc type brake in the 20s ,but the materials and technology didn't help, so it went on the back burner for a few years.
I reckon its good to see people pushing bounderies ,rather than looking at the same old perfect restorations over and over again.

[Penfold]

Originally Posted by 45Brit

It's just a pointless gimmick with no real development value. ....................................... Typical chopper thinking really, 'can I do that' rather than 'what use is that'.

But you could train a little dog to jump through the rear wheel as you cruise down the high street!

Now that's progress!!

[Chiefy]

Yep it's real pointless, a bit like sticking a 45 lump in an Ariel frame.

I think you've missed the point a bit, no-one builds a chop to develop a concept, it's all about what you want and what you can do.

Howard's method of doing a Hubless is different to the way Billy Lane built his around 5 years ago. The concept is similar that's all.

There's loads of guy's on here that have built all or part of their own custom bike, yep me included, some I like, some I don't, but I do respect anyone that can turn out a nice ride.