Lochead Quasar Covered Motorcycle
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
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The Quasar Story: The concept of the Quasar was first mapped out in 1968 by Malcom Newell and Ken Leaman when they met up in Scotland on holiday.
The design is unlike any standard motorcycle design in that the rider sits low inside the machine rather than astride it, and this design concept quickly gained the technical term Feet Forward based on the riding position.
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Prototype work lasted through the early 1970s and it was not until 1976 that the first production Quasar was sold. Production was sporadic at best, with Wilson Brothers producing an initial batch of six bikes, followed by Romarsh. John Malfoy of Romarsh oversaw the production of a further ten vehicles. Meanwhile, Malcolm Newell, arguably the father of the design, struck off on his own and produced a small number of Quasars from his cottage. While production numbers are hazy at best, its probable that the figure did not exceed 30.
This Quasar is a replica and was designed and built by Dave Lochead in New Zealand.
Dave explains:
"As a schoolboy, a few of my friends would buy Superbike magazine and lust after the latest Italian, English, and occasionally Japanese motorcycles featured."
"But I was blown away with the articles on Malcolm Newell and his Quasar and Phasar designs and vowed that one day I would own one. Sadly production was so limited, and Quasars changed hands so rarely, I wasn't able to buy an original so I decided I'd build one."
"I didnt have acess to any factory drawings until late in the construction, so I designed the frame myself based on the few photographs I could find on the internet and in books. Naturally this ended up being a little hit and miss as I made several modifications to the frame and forks to improve strength, decrease frame flex and improve handling"
"I designed the bodywork directy onto plywood sheet using photographs as a reference, and glued it all toghether, and gave the bodywork two layers of fibreglass and resin. The more complex shapes were carved from foam and glassed."
"The end result is a very distinctive and effective motorcycle, and one that I am very pleased with. The riding technique takes a lot of getting used to as the Quasar doesn't take rider lean and steering inputs like a normal motorcycle, and effectively the rider has to learn a whole new set of techniques to ride it. That being said, once it is mastered, the Quasars speed and handling comes as a large shock to standard motorcycle riders when they encounter it."
While the Quasar represents a motorcycle evolutionary dead end, it remains the most widely recognised feet forward design 30 years after the last example was built.
Since Dave Lochead is the latest person to construct and ride a Quasar, we leave the final comment to him:
"It is a shame the Quasar never took off as many motorcycle riders, if they ignore their prejudices, would find a Quasar a very effective, fun way of experiencing two wheels -- distinctive, very comfortable, fast and practical -- and I love it....."
Historical Aviation Film Unit
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my grandad invented this motocycle (Malcom Newell) with his friend and i have never been more proud to be who i am than when i first learned that he made this. Its a shame that i never got to see him before he died but this bike needs more recognition! i have got the chance from my uncle to ride one of these many times
Nice - thanks for the history.
OMG, THAT’s a lot to be proud of, for sure! How very cool that you saw this, I bet it blew your mind! Where was this filmed, do you know and where was it produced? I’ve never seen one in the US and this blew me away that it came out in the late 70’s! Unreal! Can you believe that this is an historical film? Man, I’m getting old.
Your grandpa was a badass!!!
@rendaowe the film isn't from the 70's, the bike is.
One is selling one on Facebook market place 16.000
Wish this bike had been continued, would have loved to see it's evolution. My search for a motorcycle continues!
check my channel .....update soon ! th-cam.com/channels/LbGm34wv_mHQTkqPnyD4Vg.html?view_as=subscriber
@Skibidoop why's it so ugly though?
@@wally99szarek If you seen that on the road you'd be like wtf? 🤣
I could totally imagine the villain in a really bad 80s post-apocalyptic war movie having a fleet of these with laser guns mounted on them.
They were built in Calne Wiltshire,i worked in the building where it was built as a print finisher for a screen printing company...always fascinated me to see them.
A chap I knew had one in the late 70's. I must admit it seemed to us like a joke novelty bike but he loved it. I remember that it had fiber optics from the rear light and indicators that was routed to the cockpit so when the light came on there was coloured pin pricks of light to tell you the light was working. I found it fascinating at the time.
I remember many years ago seeing a kit for sale for motorbikes, that consisted of a fibre optic cable connected to the rear light of a motorbike and ending up by the instrument panel. Again the aim was to check is your rear light and brake light was working. Similar to what you mentioned.
@@montyzumazoom1337 It was soooo cool at the time. That was the only cool thing about the Quasar Ha! Ha!
When I saw this bike, I dreamed about it all my adolescence! And I still like her so much.
I remember one these from when I was a kid. A man on the housing estate I lived had one he collected the 3 wheel bond bugs and I remember the day he got quasar it was white with orange piping and he sprayed it all orange with white piping to match his bugs.
I think this concept deserves to make a comeback. These days people are worried about rising fuel costs, rising insurance costs, rising repair costs, damage to the environment, etc. Motorbikes are obviously better on gas mileage and cheaper on insurance and maintenance costs, but you always hear about people being badly maimed or injured in accidents. That last part makes them not worth it.
But with this enclosed motorbike idea, it makes an accident a lot more survivable with better protection.
Great concept. I wanna build something like this. Thanks for the video
Go for it!
This concept has to be looked at by some smart manufacturer. It is not possible that the vast majority of motorcyclists dream of perfecting this project and decades go by and we do not see this in any production line that lowers costs, improves design, increases safety and deals with those who want to end with this wonderful concept.
Dunno why but I can imagine that bike being used by pizza men in the future
lmao
Read a lot about them in Bike Magazine back then, but this is the first i’ve seen actually moving.
Notice that big smile on his face in most shots?
Saw one of these in Eastbourne UK in 2003, it was a Quasar, I took some photos of it but they have now been lost. It was only one I had ever seen in the flesh.
There is a yellow one on display at the national motorcycle museum near Solihull.
Cool video. I met Malcolm Newell a couple of times, he was a really nice fellow.
When the bike first comes over the crest, it looks like some kind of war machine missing a bloody big gun.
great to see this , i remember seeing a quasar in the 1970s , i thought it was built by a guy in swindon who had a shop called "bike bits " in the gorse hill area of the town .
i remember it was metallic red and running a reliant 750cc engine , same as used in the reliant robin or bond bug .
i have an ariel arrow cafe racer that came frrom the same guy at around the same time although it was my fathers freind who originally purchased the unfinished bike .
Awesome. Best wishes to all who come across this comment. Cheers
Thank you! Cheers!
I would liked to see what braking hard looks like and the amount of space needed to brake.
This is a scary machine. In the event of a crash, the rider can not separate from the motorcycle and the result can be catastrophic.
Why do people think in the event of a crash, a rider can successfully changes his trajectory to save his skin? The only reason riders and bikes goes different way is because motorbike ricochet a wee bit harder than a limp human.
You have your thinking cap on the wrong way !, so if in a car crash,, you would rather be thrown out 😅 ?
With a lightweight titanium frame, carbon fibre bodywork and a well chosen engine, new versions could be built to be as light as is practically possible.
I recall Mr. Newall said that he originally fitted the Reliant engine to prove that one could use aerodynamics rather than horsepower to attain high speed touring!
check my channel .....update soon ! th-cam.com/channels/LbGm34wv_mHQTkqPnyD4Vg.html?view_as=subscriber
I gather center-hub steer appeared on a few of the Quasars.
I wish they added retractable outrigger stabilizer wheels...and accelerator and break pedals... I assume the Voyager ( Royce Creasy ) motorcycle was inspired by this design.
This what we need today
It's awesome i want this type of bike
its good it always raining in my country Malaysia we are tropical weather here i think this design will help us a lot in working delivery also in working vehicle . Also it will also help us reduce jam in Malaysia. If it can produce friendly engine environmental it even a bonus
ผมออกแบบไว้เมื่อ สิบกว่าปีมาแล้วแต่ไม่น่าเกลียดแบบนี้ หานายทุนอยู่แต่ของที่ทำๆกันอยู่คล้ายๆแต่ไม่เหมือนที่ผมทำ ของผมมี3ล้อแต่ลักษณะการขับเคลื่อนเหมือนมอเตอร์ไซด์ใช้เครื่องยนต์ 150 cc ระบบเกียร์ออโต นั่งได้ 2 คน ภายในเหมือนรถเก๋ง แต่ไม่เน้นหรูมาก แต่รูปแบบเป็นโมเดิล ตั้งใจให้ทดแทนมอไซต์ แต่ฝนตกไม่เปียก แดดไม่ร้อน เข้าช่องแคบๆได้ เข้าโค้งด้วยความเร็วสูงได้พอประมาณ เพราะไม่เน้นให้เอาไปวิ่ง เหมาะกับนิสิตนักศึกษาหญิง นั่งกระโปรงไม่เปิด มีความปลอดภัยสูง เป็นส่วนตัว ฟังเพลงชิลด์ๆ เวลารถติด เข้าตรอกซอกซอยจะปลิดภัยกว่ามอไซด์ เดินทางไกลได้ ทัวร์ริ่งสนุก มีที่เก็บสัมภาระเล็กน้อย เดิมที่ออกแบบไว้เป็น 2 D แต่ตอนนี้ทำเป็น 3 D แล้ว ว่าจะเสนอขอกู้แบงค์ แต่ไม่มีหลักทรัพย์ค้ำ เลยดองมา จนต่างประเทศเขาก็ออกมากันเป็นคันจริงหมดแล้ว แต่ไม่เหมือน เพราะเน้นเป้าหมายต่างกัน ด้วยราคาไม่เกิน 5 หมื่นบาท
Exactly!!
I cannot comment on this bike. The original Quasar had a Reliant Robin 850 engine. Latter versions had a Honda VF750 engine (The one with the crap camshafts!). Also developed were the 'Phaser' which was an Open topped Quasar with a K. Z1300-6 engine. Seen this one in action & it was quick! Met Malcolm Newell. He was a lovely bloke, alas now dead. Met him when I was working at Avon rubber co. He wanted to make a 200mph tyre, he was developing a Quasar style bike with a Cosworth engine!
Give it joystick steering and you can pretend you're in an apache cockpit lol.
That is brilliant Dave. I'm another old crusty who remembers the Mike Newell Quasar from the 1970's, and the superbike photo shoots ;-) .
The quasar always seemed such an intelegent idea to me, much more efficent and comfortable than a face first bike.
Well done for building the replica, it could only be a Kiwi who would do that. Do you still have it on the road?
i like the looks of that early bike it looks more cofortable than the modern riding position of say a sport bike an even a harley
Lovely piece of film ........ thanks for putting it up .
80's futuristic vehicle, in 2015
The only bike I would lke to ride from now...
I was overtaken at great speed by one on the M4 just west of London in the 70's. At the time I thought WTF was that!Never seen one since.
Took the A1 to the moon.
Looks Really comfortable
Interesting video. Well done
Looks like those things the Doods were riding trying to get Harry the taxi driver in Heavy Metal.
Give me the Loch Nar!
Brilliant.. Back in the seventies Rob Plant and John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) had a pair of these (Quasar), they used to come to Mustow Green Garage where I worked on the Petrol Pumps
no
@@sponge111111 yes... sorry for the late reply lol
Nice for long range ride!
good idea, but those window posts need to go, they block too much forward view, maybe a "c" shaped configuration for the roof support coming up from behind to support the wiper setup and the top of the windscreen
Time for an update brother its old school.
Add 23 kW motor and add 54 kW battery with three ft diameter broad tyre muddy tyre..add two decker passenger seat on upper and lower side but wide should not be more than 7 inch for congested Road with folding model
Ha! Ha! Ha!
i remember seeing the original of this bike like 1000 years ago, why has it not been more popular, get some student to round off the corners and make it look like something from minority report or tron. i'm sure you enjoy riding it, but, it would be nice to see more on the roads.
WELCOME TO THAILAND
so many Thai people like
THAT S WHAT I M GONNA DO TO MY BIKE
I had a BMW C1 for a while, great bike but too expensive to run and they only made it to get their average emissions down like with the Smart Car but that was a lot more popular. There is a big market for these kinds of bikes, especially us over 40s who have more responsibilities and can't afford to be in hospital for months on end.
Interesting looking bike but Mate, your riding style and lines your using are quite questionable.
Do you have to change gear ? (Could you do, please, a more explicit video) ?
Gear change was left foot operated rocker affair.
Best design as per Nz weather beautiful country 👍🏻
I had one of the last Quasar out from Romarsh just b4 they went into receivership and would like to hear the sound of the engine on this version instead of the monotonous soundtrack. Good looking replica by the way although the originals had the headlights behind the windscreen for a more aerodynamic effect
this has got the headlights behind the windscreen.
Yes in calne,factory was taken over by calne screen print years later i worked in that building screen printing..Then went to Romarsh Transformers...
Everybody remebrer MALVOM NEWELL please 🙏
*Malcom.
Motornya keren, nyaman juga sepertinya dikendarai 👍👍
Out of curiosity, what made you choose the GPZ500 engine? If you made another one, would it be a Quasar or a Phasar?
2:58 First time I've ever seen a riders eye view from the Quasar. The A pillars restrict the riders view a bit.
Obviously, much like the left a pillar in a car, except here you're less capable of leaning to see behind it.
Would greatly benefit from a a front and rear camera.
I would definitely like to know more about this machine. ~Mainly about the mechanicals, so that another could be made. Also the originals were very heavy, how much this one weight please?
Great to see this design back on the road, thought they were the dogs watsits when they first appeared. Wasnt there a goldwing 1100 version out as well? I seem to remember the seat being a sprung hammock design that I didnt like. Anyway, bloody well done m8.
There was at least one Gold Wing powered version.
Maybe now is the time to relaunch a Quasar for the next generation??? It is a shame it never saw commercial production. Be nice to ride a couple of them across Australia, and see how many miles you get to the gallon
Wonder what it sounds like
I think the closest modern equivalent must be the Swiss disigned Gogomobile one tested by J C on Top Gear available here on youtube
Ecomobile
what gearbox was used and where did you get the adapter plate cheers in advance ALAN Sheffield, England UK
I'd love to have one of those, but sending one from NZ to NM might be a bit costly.
But damn it's nice!
Chris: this one cost a very small amount (US$500-$600) to ship to the UK, so it's not actually that expensive. If you're serious about it send us an email to admin@aviationfilm.com and we can put you in touch with Dave, the builder.
how did you go about registering this in NZ ?
any pitfalls ,tests ?
muy bien , y esta al estilo del pueblo que necesita
Sorry to hear that - I'd have loved to see it on the road.
However if the proceeds fund the next one, thats all good. What are you planning next??
After all, it is nice to have a roof.
What side of the road are you suppose to drive on? You seem to drive using both sides
Left.
How much price and How to purchase in Lahore city Pakistan ???
Great work. A replica? How did you manage with the bodywork - did you have access to the moulds? And what engine did you use? Love the bike - looks like loads of fun.
@TheNakedWombat
Nod recon bike much ?
We got a few Seconds of Motorcycle Music.......Bikes do make their own Music ....no need for Background stuff
great idea.
Eu gostei
Do a search on Google or TH-cam for "LIT C-1" and you'll see an awesome motorcycle that's similar to the Quasar, but with an amazing extra feature. Too bad the original Quasar designers never thought of that idea, because then the Quasar could have been more successful.
I want to travel around of Thailand .
about 1,700-1,800 km.
your motorcycle okay ?
No problem
I'm feeling like it so much .
What engine are you using in it?
vf500 i think, good choice small and light
Please make a hybrid with electric and petrol and on single charge with more than 1200km and tyre flat muddy light with diameter 3 ft and ground clearance 2 ft and make two on backwards decker but don't increase the width of body not more than 7 inch but length should be 12 metre around with two seat decker on upper portion and three seat on lower decker with adjustable folding but width should not be more than 7 inch
What type of engine does the Quasar use?
it uses a reliant robin engine
This I love
Always fancied one of these....until I saw this film!
That's horrendous in a sidewind I'd imagine. Joking aside it's a shame that the concept was never really developed commercially. You'd think there's a market for a "Tron" style electric FF two wheeler
This is what we should be driving god damnit. Next time youre in one of those traffic jams look at the vehicles around you. How many 5 and even 8 seated cars do you see with one thick headed moron in them not bothering to take their neighbor to work whose stop in on the way? Too many cars with not enough people in them. Imagine all the drivers with no cars on the road, imagine how much empty space there would be. Now drive these 70MPG machines around and what do you get? Clean and clear roads
I wanted to watch a vid about some advanced Bike Thinking / design, I got about 20% of the Bike , & 80% earacke crap noise (Music !!!!)
if you tint the "window" you can keep the sun out too.
this motorcycle is just begging to be the inspiration for a space bike in one of my web comics XD thing is so cool!
why did this concept of enclosed motorcycle never catch on???
Because you can't take anyone on the back.
Al Hartstein ....And by that I mean girls !
+Al Hartstein - You could take a pillion rider on the Quasar. The backrest for the rider is thin and can be moved forward and the pillion squeezes in behind.
I don't think it would be suitable for long journeys, but it was very intimate.
who knows but i think it needs looking into hence my project that i'm going to MSVA test, check my channel
Good 💯
The back end is crying out for panniers tapering to the back. If it was electric, there's enough room for 20KWH between your legs, easy! This would allow the front end be fixed for better slipstreaming. Imagine the easy 200+ mile range in relative comfort while costing zilch to run.
Contemporary mid tier scooters can do in excess of 80 MPG.
kmg501 this has a larger engine you boob, a 400 cc will always fun less efficient than a 125, especially a 400 from the 70s
modern FI 400 can easily hit 50mpg, at least on highways.
cool!
Neat-O!
No bugs in your face :)
helmet leather jacket boot and BLUE JEANS ... only beaten by the guy in full leather armore but NO GLOVES ... safety first ... :)))
i love it always did
Is the rider deliberately weaving all over the road?
Yes, it was deliberate!
What's the point? You will still get wet in the rain and cold in the winter.
very cool hi like nice bike
Malcolm Newell can be seen talking about the Quasar, while sitting in an original example of the beast, in the Feet First segment which I wrote and presented for Top Gear back in 1988. There is also footage of the VF750 powered one and another with hub centre steering running side by side, with me sitting as a passenger in the HCS one. Here: th-cam.com/video/foAgByo_txA/w-d-xo.html
Need in india
50 mile per gallon is bad.
sweet
Surely nobody bought one of these monstrosities 😂
There is something wrong here, not sure what it is but that thing looks inherently unstable. I'm am a biker and have been for many years, watching that being ridden along the road it is plain to see that the rider is constantly having to adjust the attitude of the machine. This is not the case on a conventional bike. It seems almost impossible to keep it from weaving without continual correction from the rider and the lean angles don't look stable. Perhaps it the center mass that is wrong, everything looks way too high. I suspect it was a pig to control despite the efforts to make it look otherwise. I guess the proof is in the fact that no major manufacture took up the design. Modern equivalents are much lower, the rider sits way down between the wheels and the center of gravity is generally much lower than on this. Oh and it looks awful.
check my project ,170kg unlike this which probable weighs nearly 300kg !