ECOMOBILES PERFORMING

[PaulBlez]

For more information and photos of Ecomobiles and Monotracers, see monotracer dotcom and bikeweb dotcom. PNB

[PaulBlez]

Contrary to what's been stated here, both Ecomobiles and MonoTracers have always used watercooled BMW K-series 4-cylinder motorcycle engines. Ecomobiles were fitted with K100, K1100 and K1200 engines and all MonoTracers (apart from the electric ones) have been fitted with K1200 LT engines. The only exception was the original 1982 prototype which used an air-cooled BMW Boxer 1,000cc twin engine. PNB

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

@PaulBlez Thanks for the interesting information. Wonderful machines!

[guitartec]

If they race these, will they be able to deploy the training wheels to duke out their position?

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

@guitartec I have not heard of any races with these interesting vehicles, but who knows?

[piedevant]

@ADMIRALSCORNER I took part in and helped to film the first Ecomobile World Cup at the Most circuit in the Czech Republic in 1991; some of it was shown on Top Gear. Since 1994 the annual gathering of Peraves Ecomobiles (and latterly, MonoTracers) has been at the Brno GP circuit. The first electric Ecomobile was built in 2008 and it lapped faster in the rain than any of the petrol powered machines did in the dry. See "'X-tracer prototype testing on wet Brno GP racetrack" to ride on board! PNB

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

@piedevant How great to find someone who has been so involved with these fine vehicles. Thank you for your input. The more we hear about them and their history the better!

[tubamanb]

I want the handle bars down beside my seat so I can fall asleep at the wheel like

every one else on the road ! Also notice how stright up the driver sits. Not good.

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

@tubamanb I think with the high costs involved you can specify what arrangement you want and they will build it for you

[takadi]

Make it electric

[fordgt402]

What a sleek design! Its beautiful!

[sabzz23]

Are these machines electric or gas powered.

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

@sabzz23 They use a variety of conventional air cooled motorcycle engines. fed by petrol (which is gasoline in the USA ! )

[bobbyhill789]

new gp class? lol

[bababacardi]

i think they're dangerous to drive, if you get to close to cars in a regular traffic and the sidewheels flip down .... you're in trouble.

even if you fall at low speed that chasis will slip over 4000 miles until it hit some ...wall?

[mandaltby]

I grew up in Yugoslavia, as a kid and remember the laws being much tougher. If you kill someone in an accident, the chances are you'd be in jail a few years. I see that the laws here in the US don't give enogh of a penalty to actually make people stay off the phone. Even now writing this many people will think me of a little cunt for complaining, but you kill someone on a bike due to a traffic offense and you get a $120 ticket. The charges should be the same as if you were driving drunk.

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

I quite agree with you that motoring penalties are not in tune with modern living. I keep reading in the press about uninsured drivers in the UK who if or when they are caught, being fined less than they would normally pay for insurance. That is just stupid, and does nothing to deter them from doing it again! They do get points on their license which makes insurance dearer for them to buy but that just encourages them to drive uninsured again!

[ps2monster]

Yeah, then you got a black guy smoking some weed and he gets thrown in jail. Total bull..

[kicoskiki]

@mandaltby al je radila narodna milicija....

[ortzinator]

@mandaltby that's not true at all, it's manslaughter at the very least

[mandaltby]

totally hats oft

I love it , and would like to see more vehicles like this.

In America the Big 3 car companies have been forcing these big vehicles down our throat. They even made laws to make vehicles like this hard to sell to the masses. The state of economy and fossil fuels is finally making the whole world question the way we get arround. Laws are way to lenient if you are on your cel phone and kill a biker. When its the same a takinga shot gun and killing him.

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

Yes its a world problem. In the UK now the smaller polution your car makes the cheaper is the road Tax which is a very good idea. Electric cars have zero road tax to pay. Unfortunately the more electric cars there are, the more carbon dioxide will be produced at the power stations,so its hard to win! Its now illegal in the UK to use a hand held mobile phone when a car is in motion which is good for safety.Some people still do it unfortunately as the Police fine is not yet large enough.

[mandaltby]

they should make a convertible, with a roll bar, so in the summer you can chill in the air, and put in an AC. This could revolutionise the car industry. really sweet

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

They certainly are different to most other vehicles. When I win the lottery I will get serious!