Talk:Megola

If the Rotary engine were mounted sideways like on a biplane, then yes, it would have odd handling. But since it is inline, it simply provides additional stabilization and balance.

I simply MUST see this in-wheel engine. Fascinating!

The article says the bike had excellent handling, but physics would seem to suggest otherwise. Having a huge gyroscope attached to the front wheel is generally a good way to make handling extremely tricky. Nor would the large wetted surface being pushed into the wind help matters. So how did this design avoid these issues? Maury 12:51, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

The direction of mounting makes no difference. That wheel will want to remain pointed in one direction. Attempting to turn it would result in precession across the axis. This is simple physics. That's not to say the precession would be bad, but it's going to be there. In this particular case I believe the force would attempt to flip the bike over. Bicycle dynamics is complex, but I do know a little more about it than the average bear, and above 12 km/h (on a typical 700 mm road bike) the gyroscopic forces from the front wheel decrease stability. I find it difficult to believe that dramatically increasing this would be beneficial. Maury 16:41, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

Just type megola into a Google image search and all will be revealed. http://classic-mopeds.crazy-box-berlin.de/other/germanbikes/megola.html for example.

Whatever you believe, the "unorthodox 5-cylinder Megola was raced by Toni Bauhofer and reached speeds up to 140 kmh." Bauhofer came 6th in the Bergprüfungsfahrt Solitude on 18. Juni 1922, and second on 17. Juni 1923. When they say excellent handling, they're saying it for 1922, not now. Seasalt 13:27, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

I believe the direction of the mounting would make a difference. Having the mass of the pistons moving in the same plane as the wheel would seem to be a good idea. Movement perpendicular to this plane could introduce undesired vibration and harm stability. I also disagree with the idea that a bicycle wheel becomes unstable above 12 km/h. Perhaps a specific design becomes unstable due to flaws but, not in general. There does seem to be a point (speed) where the steering mode of bicycles and motorcycles changes -- the point where counter steering becomes appropriate. Bikes, at speed, lean in order to turn. A large rotating mass would tend to keep the bike at a given lean angle thus adding an element of stability. Counter steering is used to change the lean angle and steer the bike. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.17.49.166 (talk) 17:03, 10 June 2009 (UTC)

First Monocoque Frame?

Was this the first sheet-metal box-section frame in a road-vehicle? Dick Holman. User:Archolman 01:40, 3 December 2010 (UTC)