A motorbike chassis is just some metal that's been formed and welded to hold everything the motorbike needs in place, like the engine, suspension, fuel tank and rider, to name just a few things, right? Well, sort of, except that its design, the material used, and how it is constructed is critical to how a motorbike feels and gives confidence to the rider. Get the sums wrong on a bike chassis and it doesn't matter how posh the suspension or tyres are, or good the rider is, the bike will be a hound. Just ask Honda how its MotoGP season went in 2023.
Walk into pretty much any motorcycle showroom and you'll see bikes with frames that have different approaches to the same goal. Steel tubes are the go-to solution for KTM on all of its frames and Ducati for most.
Fabricated alloy is probably the most common material, and the construction technique for beam frames is used by pretty much everyone, and the Ducati Panigale and Monster use cast alloy 'front frames', which is essentially a way of connecting all the front suspension to the engine, effectively using the engine as the frame. There's a mixed bag of concepts and approaches to frame building, which suggests that there isn't a right or wrong method or material, which in turn suggests there are pros and cons for each concept. So, I took a trip to one of the best chassis builders in the business to ask some questions...
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Fast Bikes UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Fast Bikes UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
DAN LINFOOT THE WORLD AT HIS FEET...
The racing world is full of characters who generally like to keep themselves to themselves, and I respect that. However, some of these people have a great story to tell. I'm incredibly fortunate to be friends with a few, have access to many more, and through my role with the award-winning podcast Chasin' the Racing, I get to sit down and chew the fat with some amazing individuals, so I wanted to give you lovely bunch a peep through the keyhole and an opportunity to get to know a bit more about some of these 'people of interest'.
ROSSI'S RANCH - LA 100KM DEI CAMPIONI
It's not every day you get the invite to trade paint, drifts and stories with Rossi and a bunch of world champions, but that's how life played out for the Neave twins a few weeks back.
RATING RUBBER...
We love a tyre launch, and especially ones of a sporty disposition. So when Michelin dropped us a line about not one, but two additions to their range, we didn't need our arm twisting to get stuck in and see what they're all about...
2017-2021 SUZUKI GSX-S750
Is the understated Suzuki GSX-S750 worth considering in the used market?
YAMAHA MT-09 - If you like your bikes nutty, naked and packed full of punch, you'll love the fourth-generation Yamaha MT-09.
Ten years ago, I found myself a part of the maddest, baddest, and arguably most illegal motorcycling I've ever a put my name to.
BACK TO THE FUTURE - KTM DUKE 990
It's been a while since KTM last had a 990 Duke in its range, but the name is back - and this new addition is perhaps one of its most exciting offerings ever. Here's why...
A CUT ABOVE
Four years on from the revolutionary release of the RCV-inspired Fireblade, Honda's given its flagship sportsbike a masterpiece of a makeover.
Steve Parrish
I'm fresh back from the South African Classic TT races and Christ, it's still bloody raining over here.
Christian Iddon
Well, my last column was all about just how I'm going to be the most prepared I could ever be for the season ahead.
SHOEI X-SPR PRO
I'll cut to it... when it comes to my kit, I don't mess around - especially when it comes to helmets.