The Compressed-air Motorcycle Concept

When you think of green vehicles, the last thing that comes to mind is stylish. But five design students at the ISD of Valenciennes (France) Charles-Edouard Berche, Ugo Spagnolo , Adrien Fuinesl, Frédéric Dobbelstein and Jean-Philippe Paries beg to differ for their 2010-2011 final project. They’ve come up with a concept design for an environmental-friendly bike called the Saline Bird, was specifically designed for quirky speed record-holders Les Triplettes de Bonneville.

The Saline Bird, compressed-air motorcycle concept. (Picture from: http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/)

The motorbike is powered by an compressed air engine fed by three air tanks with a total capacity of 27 liters which is nestled under the riders chest, roughly in the same location as on petrol powered bikes.

The Saline Bird (Race version) Open Class. (Picture from: http://www.trendhunter.com/)

All of technical parts are mounted on a frame made of carbon fiber. The Saline Bird is an interesting bike that one would assume to be inspired by the skiing sport.

The Saline Bird (Race version) with leather skin parts. (Picture from: http://www.trendhunter.com/)

The conventional body panels are replaced by leather skin parts that can be slipped on and off "like a sock" in order to switch between the different categories (with body panel or without it).

Headlight detail of the Saline Bird (Road version). (Picture from: http://www.carbodydesign.com/)

With riders forced to lean forward to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle, it sure looks like one mean, green machine. It can also be turned into a road model by replacing the handlebar. Technical partners of the project include MDI (engine), LUXFER (air tank) and BRM.

Back light detail of the Saline Bird (Road version). (Picture from: http://www.carbodydesign.com/)

This isn’t the first motorbike concept to use compression air as a concept fuel, but it would be great to see the concept drawings make the leap from computer to reality to see is the compressed air powered concept could actual perform. Only time will tell. No word on a public release or a continuing build this bike. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CAR BODY DESIGN | TREND HUNTER]

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