VIDEO: "Shocker" electric motocross lacks actual shocks
Patmont Motor Werks Shocker - Click above for hi-res image of both sides
Having already successfully incorporated its patented Cantilevered Independent Dynamic Linkless Indispension (CDLI) into lithium-powered scooters and wheelchairs, Patmont Motor Werks (PMW) has now upsized their suspension system and installed it into a motocross prototype. Still in the early stages of development, the "Shocker" is intended to be a tri-sport machine (street, dirt, and freestyle) that relies on electric power, allowing it to be operated within communities without worries about emissions or noise by-laws.
Weighing in at a rather trim 198 lbs, the bike holds 2.3 kWh of lithium polymer batteries and runs at 78 volts nominal at 250 amps continuous. The sealed liquid-cooled DC brushless dual axial gap motor (ok, breathe) is 94 percent efficient at 3000 rpms with throttle-controlled regeneration abilities that can extend your riding time. Speaking of the throttles, this one is wireless so freestylers can do bar spins and tail whips to their hearts content. Besides the impressive running gear, the most interesting part of this motorbike is the way the frame is suspended. The unique design is said to allow for 13.5 inches of travel front and rear and give it dynamic anti-dive properties under braking. If everything works out as planned, a production model will get its own purpose-built aluminum frame and, like all PMW products, will be built at their facility in Nevada. Hit the jump for some footage of this promising prototype putting down its power to the pavement.
Gallery: Patmont Motor Werks Shocker
[Source: Patmont Motor Werks]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Paolo 6:31PM (6/16/2009)
Can we PLEASE just hear the sound of the bike? What is it with all these EV videos that think they need to plaster music over the drivetrain sound???
A very large part of the point of E bikes is the lack of noise, SO LET'S HEAR IT!
Reply
Steve Patmont 9:07PM (6/17/2009)
Sorry Paolo,
We'll tone it down with the background music on the next one.
There really isn't much to hear. No chain slap noise from chain guides like on most of the other electric bikes. We have a constant center to center distance between sprockets with this design. Just a pleasant turbine like 0-6000 rpm hum from the primary sprocket/chain power transfer.
Josh Hancock 6:57PM (6/16/2009)
Hope he doesnt ever hit a bump or take that off road, that front suspension would be rigid on anything but smooth surfaces
Reply
mike 8:43PM (6/16/2009)
So... is the suspension generating power?
I recall reading something a while ago about a research team from university of michigan ( it think ) that had developed shocks where oil was forced through tiny generators as the shock rebounded.... it seemed quite interesting and promising.
They had some amazing figures about the amount of shock travel for an average car on an average road.
It seems like suspension energy scavenging systems are a natural and great idea.
-Mike
Reply
Derk McRockgroin 11:56PM (6/16/2009)
That power generating shock absorber is called the "GenShock System".
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-05/power-made-shocks
D.H. 10:07AM (6/17/2009)
This cushioning works with rubber and not oil, no liquids involved or needed. its patent of its own. the cushioning does not dive-in like regular motorbike suspension but evedes slightly forward thus increading the wheelbase when braking for even more stability.
itperfect for offroad aplications and also onroad.
the characteristics can be altered within 5 seconds with a simple wrench, so you can stiffen it up like if it was sportsbike or set it in a way that makes you using half of the traveling of it when just sitting there with the riders weight on it and you can fly over curbs and obstacles as if they wherent there, still with no danger of going over the bar or alike due the way the cushioning works.
I rode that setup on one of their scooter products so this is 1st hand experince here.
Reply
Steve Patmont 1:15PM (6/17/2009)
Dear Josh Hancock,
The next PMW Shocker testing and video will be off road, trail and MX. I think you'll change your premature opinion.
Thanks for the interest everybody, and thanks Domenick Yoney for posting this.
Reply
Robert Smith 5:24PM (6/17/2009)
I want one.
billwas1 4:15PM (6/17/2009)
I like it. My biggest problem with ecycles is their lame performance. This thing was zipping along nicely.
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Paolo 7:02PM (6/18/2009)
Thanks Steve, I look forward to hearing it. I *love* the turbine sound of EVs.... and you have a major selling point with the lack of noise. An audio comparison of a similarly powered 2 stroke petrol bike and the Shocker might be a good way to get it across....
It looks the business, man. I was initially a bit taken aback by the suspension design, but I think you're actually on the money with strength, lack of brake dive, and travel. Get these in the hands of some pro freestyle motocrossers and see what they can do.
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Sean Goulart 8:31AM (6/20/2009)
Very interesting...although it does not look to be as fast as the Zero or Quantya units, the suspension is unique. We'll be testing the Quantya soon and looking forward to that.
It dodes appear in the video that there is brake dive, and how does this design prevent this? Is it a "smart system" with e-shock or what? The swingarm design does not inherently stop the cantilevered force under braking...please explain?
Thanks - Sean
MXNewsfeed Editor
Reply
Steve Patmont 2:36PM (6/20/2009)
Sean,
Thanks so much for your interest.
Though we're still sneaking up on controller output incrementally, the Shocker has significantly higher power and therefore more speed potential than both the Quantia and ZeroX.
The CIDLI suspension system on the PMW Shocker is an attempt to improve upon the many disadvantages we're all stuck with when it comes to traditional telescopic motorcycle forks.
We've so far been able to actually improve the steering precision by eliminating the flex associated with the various traditional telescopic designs at no weight penalty (the Shocker prototype front end is 5 lbs lighter than stock systems). Most of the traditional and high on the bike unsuspended weight is also eliminated resulting in faster wheel action over square obstacles, and an improved lower CG. No "stiction" from braking/obstacle fork flex or heat producing friction, expensive precision and plated components, and no more leaking seals.
When traditional forks are fully compressed on a high performance dirt bike, the wheel base is actually shortened up to 10" and moved aft under the CG just at the wrong time. CIDLI suspension avoids that and actually slightly grows the wheel base equally front and rear under full compression.
CIDLI does produce a variable trail front wheel geometry, but there's however no design problem at preventing the all important "trail" from ever getting close to negative, or even going neutral. It is surprising how this bike is not only very "flickable" but also stable at both speed and soft sand conditions.
Concerning anti dive under braking, the disc/caliper braking torque actually lifts the front swing arm and cancels the forward weight shift dive at the front suspension knuckle without locking out the shock absorbing function.
Each suspension unit has only one moving part.
I hope this answers some of your great questions.
Sean Goulart 12:30PM (7/07/2009)
Hi Steve,
Thanks so much for your detailed reply.
OK - you have hooked me. When can we ride it?
Best,
Sean Goulart
Editor
MXNewsfeed.com