Motorcycle

Preface:
Hello. I’m a college instructor and coordinator for a 3D Graphics and Animation program. I’m working along with my Advanced 3D Modeling Class on their Transportation Project. Most of the students are using 3DS Max, but me a a few other students have chosen to to use Blender to prove to the school that quality results can be achieved. I’m trying to get the school to let me switch the program over fully to Blender. My department chair remains unconvinced. I’ve used Blender professionally for 6 years with successful results for a few national clients. Autodesk has universally removed student licensing, so accessibility is a real issue, unless you have $3600 for 3DS Max 2010 or make due with a 30-day trial. Blender is free, easier to use, and has at least 80% for the functionality of Max, but I guess I’m preaching to the choir, so to speak.

Project:
I’m creating a near-future motorcycle concept using mostly polygon modeling and a bit of spline modeling. The frame and front forks are based on an Harley V-Rod, but that’s were the similarities will end . I’ll post my progress of the next 3 weeks.

Click to view full resolution:

http://www.ironfuzz.com/public/moto_01_thumb.jpg

Update:
Still modeling main components and roughing out the shapes. I’ll probably go with a non-standard engine layout. Maybe an inline-2 instead of a v-twin. I will be converting this bike over to run on a hydrogen fuel cell for a movie I’m working on.

Click for full-size:

http://www.ironfuzz.com/public/moto_02_thumb.jpg

Wow,great job so far!And for such a noble cause!I hope you succeed,people should realise the real power of blender!:smiley:

looks good, are you going to model the tread, or use a texture?

That will be nice! But you need really much of your time if you wanna prove to the others that the blender is better than 3ds max. I still hope that this does the trick. :slight_smile:

Thanks for the feedback and support. I’m not trying to prove that Blender is better than 3DS Max. I’m try to prove that 3D is 3D and the software is just a tool. Besides, it will save our department a lot of money that can be spent on real workstations.

Spacetug: I am going to model the tred. Probably will try a broad, modern pattern.

Well,the biggest “selling” point of Blender that it is totally FREE and Open Source,and 3DS max costs a zillion dollars…So I think the school would still consider using Blender(because the money issue) if your work wouldn’t show that it is better than 3DS max,but looking at the progress you make,I don’t think that will be a problem.

Looking good so far.
Best of luck!

Loving your cause and motorcycle :smiley: can’t wait for more

This is a good start. Looks like you understand motorcycles and how they go together.

How about a square-4, like the old Ariels?

Update:

Decided to go with the inline-2 twin-turbo. Also stuck on some other body pieces. I’m modeling the engine now, and already roughed-out the turbo piping. I borrowed the turbo from another project I worked on: http://ironfuzz.com/shotgunblues/55-i6-wip. Sorry for the terrible lighting (shadows). I haven’t setup studio lighting yet, just AO and a few omni lamps.

klaatuteela: I did look into the square-4 engine. Kinda cool, but I needed more space for the mechanical stuff since I wanted to go turbocharged. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Click for full-size:
http://www.ironfuzz.com/public/moto_03_thumb.jpg

Update: Finished modeling the engine, turbo system (except intercooler), handlebars, and body panels. Next up is the rear suspension, tire tread, and hand controls.

Click for full-size:

http://www.ironfuzz.com/public/moto_04_thumb.jpg

I dig the massive swingarm, and I really like that you used the rim-mounted disks up front. Very modern and cool.

The front fairing bothers me from a practical standpoint, though. It appears to be attached to the front forks, possibly the sliders themselves. Attaching it to the fork sliders makes the entire thing unsprung weight, which means it reduces the effectiveness of the front suspension, not to mention that the whole thing will be constantly jiggling from the suspension working on the pavement. It’s also a rather large sail, mounted such that it would have a fair amount of leverage on the steering. A crosswind could easily catch the fairing, and with the short cafe bars the rider wouldn’t have much leverage to counteract the crosswind. Trust me, that’s a very bad thing.

Just my 2 cents. Other than the fairing, I like it a lot.

Thanks again klaatuteela. I’m not a rider, so I don’t know these practical motorcycle things. I’m more of a car guy. I’ll go back to the drawing board on the front fairing. I do want this to be a more realistic bike design. I wanted to design something that could be created for real, but with a futuristic flair.

Your not far off the old (and very good ) concept of the “Dustbin” fairing. I think an update of this could be fantastic.

Update: Changed the front fairing significantly, attaching it to the frame, rather that the front forks. Finished the tire tread, changed the body panels slightly, and modified the rear fender and swing-arm. Any feedback is welcomed. Thanks.

Click for full-size:
http://www.ironfuzz.com/public/moto_05_thumb.jpg

Update: Added some basic materials.

Click for full-size:

http://www.ironfuzz.com/public/moto_05_materials_thumb.jpg

Lookin’ real good! Even though you said you had added basic materials, I don’t imagine you would do that much more. The smooth, untextured materials just add to its clean, new look.