True Saxon
25-02-05, 09:10
Well, after much speculation. Honda have released details about their RN01 downhill bike. More specifically its "gear box" or "Mission Case" as honda seem to call it.
Who would have guessed it. No major technology break throughs, just a redesign of the standard drive system. Well ok, not quite that simple.. but still simple (ish).
So they have stuck a rear mech, cassette and drive ring in a carbon box. The cleverest thing is that the main drive wheel (attached to the cranks) Floats. So when you change gear, it moves across keeping a perfect chainline.
The arrangement they have used also allows for changing gear whilst not pedalling. Neat eh?
If you want a full insight into the workings of the "Mision case" then go buy Dirt Magazine.
Or if you are fluent in japanese watch the MOVIE (http://www.honda.co.jp/HDTV/MTB/rn01-gearbox/). Makes me wish i had took japanese at school.
Obviously its not as simple as it sounds, but it is still fairly simple.
I think Honda claim to have spent 5 million on developing the frame and have 7 actual bikes. Could we soon see a production version of the frame available to mortals? Its possible, but what would be the price tag.
I think its a brilliant piece of engineering, its fairly simple and it looks like it could be self maintainable (to someone with knowledge of bike maintenance and mechanics). And above all it seems to work well.
Well done to the engineers at honda.
Who would have guessed it. No major technology break throughs, just a redesign of the standard drive system. Well ok, not quite that simple.. but still simple (ish).
So they have stuck a rear mech, cassette and drive ring in a carbon box. The cleverest thing is that the main drive wheel (attached to the cranks) Floats. So when you change gear, it moves across keeping a perfect chainline.
The arrangement they have used also allows for changing gear whilst not pedalling. Neat eh?
If you want a full insight into the workings of the "Mision case" then go buy Dirt Magazine.
Or if you are fluent in japanese watch the MOVIE (http://www.honda.co.jp/HDTV/MTB/rn01-gearbox/). Makes me wish i had took japanese at school.
Obviously its not as simple as it sounds, but it is still fairly simple.
I think Honda claim to have spent 5 million on developing the frame and have 7 actual bikes. Could we soon see a production version of the frame available to mortals? Its possible, but what would be the price tag.
I think its a brilliant piece of engineering, its fairly simple and it looks like it could be self maintainable (to someone with knowledge of bike maintenance and mechanics). And above all it seems to work well.
Well done to the engineers at honda.