What is the formula? How much horsepower? What will it look like?

Follow my progress in the following web pages as I learn the truth. This is where I apply everything I know about consuming less fuel and liking it.

Begin the story Feb 20, 2008, below

Why we need a new class of motor vehicles

Americans have developed such a thirst for fuel that we cannot generate enough from our own resources.  Today, we import three of every four gallons from other countries. Some of these countries hate us and want to destroy us. Guess where their money comes from.

 We need do reduce our fuel consumption by 75%. Our 7 mpg trucks need to get 28 mpg.  Our 25 mpg cars need to get 100 mpg.  Our 40 mpg motorcycles need to get 160 mpg. If we did this, we would not have to import anybody else’s fuel.

This is my passion

The goal is to make a cycle we will want to ride across country that gets at least 160 miles per gallon.  We must begin with the right horsepower and then streamline it. Here you may follow along in my design process.

Hi Craig: It seems that your "High Mileage Luxury Touring Bike" of 1981 would actually meet, or at least come very close to, the requirements of the Freedom Machine.

100+ mpg highways speeds? Yes. Carrying capacity? In the tailfairing... not quite sure if it'd fit 4 bags of groceries but it looks like it could fit at least 2. So what am I missing? Why reinvent what's already been done?

Best regards, Keith

My reply pretty much explains what I am doing here:

"Hi Keith: These are a good questions. That was when the speed limit was 55. There is a very big difference in 70 with a 30 mph headwind which makes it like a 100 mph wind.

The 1981 machine was very good in side winds. Very good indeed. However, it was a little awkward getting on and off the machine and I got wet in the rain. Storage was decidedly too little.

On the new machine, being developed here, I had hoped to be able to have the sides continuous... with no breaks, for superior streamlining, and better weather protection, which was another goal.

The 1981 design was a "one-off." This time, I would like to end up with pieces for a kit that can be used by other dreamers. I want it to fit everything. For example, shipping is being addressed. Can you imagine how much it would cost to ship the 1981 design?

Thus, I began anew."

Craig Vetter Dec 10, 2009

Do not expect Detroit or Japan or our government to solve these problems. "Doing more with less" does not make anybody money. But, "Doing more with less" can make our country stronger.

Follow along. See how easy and how much fun this is. I hope you get inspired. We can do this together. Begin now:

More is to be gained by adding a tail that can be gained at the front

Step three is to put my existing Streamliner fairing over the Helix and see how close they fit. PhotoShop makes it easy

We can see that they are much too small and will need to be "stretched"

Actually, it may be easier to begin from scratch. We'll see.