Be honest - could it be more than just a `concept`?

[Mark Hooton]

Guys, I really REALLY know I might be opening myself up to some spectacular negative replies/abuse on this one due to its radical design.

Anyway, a couple of us LC/WC/Bog/Water closet/privvy owners (yes, I`ve heard them all) asked me if I could come up with a hugger - seemingly its a bit of an issue getting anything decent sooooooon (and I`m not referring to my work of course ) - I refer to the higher quality stuff out there .

Not having plastic injection moulding gear I was a bit stumped to offer a solution but I did come up with this, I have no idea if it will be of any help to us in the LC section but I`m sure the lads will let me know.

Its not meant as a commercial item, or it would be in the vendors section as it isn`t for sale but does anyone think it might have any commercial appeal as it can be made to fit the standard GS and GSA?

Obviously I don`t think it will appeal to the serious off road lads as even though its very well made its just too `blingy`

If it does have some general appeal I might look at spending the time to see if it can be made commercially........... (if not I will go and drink some more wine and be happy at that).

And please, before any of us `rip me another a**hole` (code for - `somewhat lacking in diplomatic negative opinion`) for it being too radical/fekkin useless (theres nowt like it on the market to my small mind) I would politely and respectfully ask YOU what YOU could come up with and please remember I`ve simply tried my best with the tools I have.

Spec:

Bracket - Laser profiled (on only 1 of 6 machines of its type in the Country!) 6mm aluminium.
Hugger - Laser profiled from flat sheet and hand formed and Tig welded into shape from 2mm thick aluminium.
Finish - Powder coated satin black.

[/url] photo 4 by cymarceng, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url] photo 3 by cymarceng, on Flickr[/IMG]

and just so you can see it a bit clearer - this is one of the very early prototypes.

[/url] photo 2 by cymarceng, on Flickr[/IMG]

and purely as an aside - this design took my single figure IQ to the limits so to save a little time walking outside to the bike I brought the bike to my desk!

[/url] photo 2 by cymarceng, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Yonkyo]

I've got to admire your enthusiasm, imagination and innovation mate.

Now, if only you could make one out of Titanium (much less unsprung weight), and sell it to me for £199, and i'll have one..

Looks a bit like an Armadillo shell

 

[Schtum]

It certainly looks better painted black that it did when it was naked, Mark. I think the aesthetics would be improved if you were to create a round profile on the rear end of the hugger, rather than having it squared off like that. Apart from that, I'd also bin the plastic coal scuttle on the back wheel.....

 

[Mark Hooton]

I've got to admire your enthusiasm, imagination and innovation mate.

Now, if only you could make one out of Titanium (much less unsprung weight), and sell it to me for £199, and i'll have one..

Looks a bit like an Armadillo shell

Well perhaps I should try for you mate?

And yes funnily enough I had named it the Armadillo/Predator concept hugger!

And most importantly (to me anyway) thank you for the positive criticism, to be fair a few other lads have recognised the effort I have put in and it makes it all worth it.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Fair play to you for trying but it's not my cup of tea.
I've got 'Hugger' on my Christmas list but I wouldn't be pointing Santa in that directiion. Sorry.

 

[Mark Hooton]

It certainly looks better painted black that it did when it was naked, Mark. I think the aesthetics would be improved if you were to create a round profile on the rear end of the hugger, rather than having it squared off like that. Apart from that, I'd also bin the plastic coal scuttle on the back wheel.....

Much appreciated positive criticism mate, thank you, and I will certainly take it on board. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

 

[Mark Hooton]

Fair play to you for trying but it's not my cup of tea.
I've got 'Hugger' on my Christmas list but I wouldn't be pointing Santa in that directiion. Sorry.

That's absolutely fine fella - I`m sure the hugger you are getting from Santa's sack will be brill - ride safe eh.

 

[stevemersey]

I like it. I was thinking of making one in carbon fibre - but that is very predictable - your Armadillo approach is unique I think.

 

[Mark Hooton]

I like it. I was thinking of making one in carbon fibre - but that is very predictable - your Armadillo approach is unique I think.

Yes very unique and there has been quite a bit of kind positive appreciation with the fellow LC riders so I will add your thoughts to theirs.

 

[trainman]

Yes very unique and there has been quite a bit of kind positive appreciation with the fellow LC riders so I will add your thoughts to theirs.

nicely done Mark, my only question would be on cleaning mud and crud off the inside, with it having angles and not being smooth would there be dirt traps?, I guess it wouldn't show but I know how anal some GSers are about cleanliness

by the way as an x RAF radar man I suspect this shape would be ideal stealth technology, if you could do the whole bike in it, it would solve the speed guns issue!

 

[DrFarkoff]

Okay here's a helpful one the wheel top will throw crud at the "hugger" so instead of the way you have the "scales"

fit the rearmost "scale" under the one in front like a slate roof style?

That means water and crud wont be driven into a fixed edge and fill it but will hopefully be deflected

 

[Alan R]

Hello Mark,
My opinion on your hugger (for what it's worth). Your design looks a bit 'mad max' utilitarian. I also think that unless made with suitably thick gauge material (with the resultant weight penalty) it may vibrate a fair bit and be noisy and possibly suffer stress fracture near the mounting points. I've seen a carbon fibre hugger on which the rear most edge caught the tyre: it simply shattered and lost about 100mm of it's length. A metal one, if grabbed by the tyre, may curl under and cause much more damage to the tyre/swing arm. You have produced some excellent products for which your ability to cut shape and profile sheet metal is well suited. I'm not sure that a multi faceted hugger is appropriate and may be no more than a triumph of form over function.
Alan R

 

[Mark Hooton]

That's a very valid point fella - the only concern is if I reverse the scales to avoid stuff getting wedged it might look a bit daft as it tapers and flanges out towards the rear if you see what I mean? Brill observation though!

 

[DrFarkoff]

Send me that prototype and I will fit it on Me 04 1200

and we'll check it out

That's a very valid point fella - the only concern is if I reverse the scales to avoid stuff getting wedged it might look a bit daft as it tapers and flanges out towards the rear if you see what I mean? Brill observation though!

 

[Poshtosser]

Mark, I'm a fan of your work and have bought a couple of bits as tyou will know but to be honest I just find the aesthetics of the hugger uneasy on the eye. In this case i think plastic molding is far more suited to the job. Sorry - just being honest for what my opinion is worth.

 

[Fanum]

As a stand-alone item, it looks fucking hideous Mark.

IF however, it was part of a themed style with other parts across and along the whole bike with that ARMADILLO type armoured theme, it might just work really well.......

1) it would only work with a bike on Knobblies, as it's a Mad Max type roughty toughty feel......
2) You'd need a matching item at the front end, and probably a few more places on the bike with the same 'feel' to them to make it work, IYSWIM.

Hand protectors.......they would be the obvious place to have a complimentary stylee item .......and a front fender/mudguard as well.

As a single, one-off item, I think these would stick out like John Holmes' willy in a Nunnery bathroom, but as part of a 'set of clothing' for a GS, I can really see it working

 

[topcat2006]

I think it is too close to the tyre particularly if you have knobblies and off road. Imo the mudsling concept is better as it is further from the tyre.

Maybe you can design something with vertical sides that would fit on the frame and shield the sidewall of the tyre as well as the tread.

Difficult to do I know without introducing presses or welding and therefore extra cost into thw concept.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[Mark Hooton]

Pal your opinion is very important to me, there is nooooo need to apologise!

 

[Mark Hooton]

As a stand-alone item, it looks fucking hideous Mark.

IF however, it was part of a themed style with other parts across and along the whole bike with that ARMADILLO type armoured theme, it might just work really well.......

1) it would only work with a bike on Knobblies, as it's a Mad Max type roughty toughty feel......
2) You'd need a matching item at the front end, and probably a few more places on the bike with the same 'feel' to them to make it work, IYSWIM.

Hand protectors.......they would be the obvious place to have a complimentary stylee item .......and a front fender/mudguard as well.

As a single, one-off item, I think these would stick out like John Holmes' willy in a Nunnery bathroom, but as part of a 'set of clothing' for a GS, I can really see it working

brill awesome valid points thank you

 

[Mark Hooton]

many thanks

Guys, thank you all for the valuable input - I don`t feel that it has any commercial value however as a `loony radical concept talking point made by a mad man` I think it rings bells - I`m not going to put it in the vendors section but I will put it on my site as after all the hard work that has gone into it (and fella`s I must be mad........) then I will at least showcase it.

Nuts has asked me to look at the prospect of a `mudslinger` which I will contemplate but that is going to be non radical - simple as I can make it and purely functional.

For once..................

Thanks again fella`s