Recent content by cocky pilot

Dragondog the streamlining of locomotives was not for top speed but to improve mid range acceleration and reduce fuel consuption at high cruising speeds. That is a simple matter of physics which needs very little explanation. At uniform speed the energy expended is equal to the energy consumed...

You have changed the discussion from the practicalities of technology to using materials called unobtanium at 1000 degrees C ....I propose using superman to solve all future dicussions. Mike why not admit you were wrong for a change, you flyboy and dragondog may have a pint together which could...

if producing steam is the criteria then an oxygen plus hydrogen rocket trumps most conteders the subject of discussion is or was a direct coupled steam engine. BTW 5000 Horse power is quite a big number but not really in the case of locomotives and loads, do the math.

Yes Mike back to the braking effect unless the cross wind is producing friction? (you said)....................... Its called the flange effect If you read enough then you will find references to the effect of side winds I have managed it and so why cant you? If you think that steam has no...

An internal combustion engine produces no power or torque at zero RPM a steam engine does because the combustion is in the boiler not in the cylinders. An internal combustion engine produces maximum torque at a given RPM and maximum power at another given RPM. A steam engines torque starts at...

The biggest factor in a trains max speed is a side wind which turns every wheel into a disc brake. A direct coupled steam train produces maximum torque at a standstill, the actual horsepower tails off at about 125MPH which is about the speed superheated steam expands. heres a steam beast...

The speed of pre war locomotives was just a vanguard for what came after. The german behemoth with powder injection and all the bobs and whistles set a record, the British in the build up to WW2 set another record but actually all they proved was the maximum speed of a dirct coupled locomotive...

BMWs were raced as side cars but as normal bikes they won the Barcelona 24 hr race here is a link with a picture Gus Kuhn Racing 1973

Beemers and guzzis both do its the torque reaction. People used to race them too I dont know how but they did.

Well this was always the bike to have for me BMW R90 in two tone yellow http://fr.academic.ru/pictures/frwiki/66/BMW_R90S_gold_1975_r_TCE.jpg

Desmos are different they use an actuator to open the valve and another to close it, (no springs) it means you can shut the valves much more quickly and the valves dont float or bounce but you need keep on top of them and know what you are doing. I dont know if youve ever compressed a valve...

hey i liked riding it I didnt say BUY one. They are good bikes now but were worse than triumphs until the 1990s Does anyone else use desmodromic valves?

Hi I dont know if youve ridden a ducati but they are a bit strange, loads of noise and uneven firing but actually as smooth as paint when you get going.

Mike if you are doing 100mph then a low riding position is comfortable and you can hardly hear the exhaust Ive done it on a Moto Guzzi Lemans But on that it wasnt the extremes you see on cafe race custom bikes...Thats just for posers who havnt noticed that a racing bike has a racing frame and...

Beemers are cool too as long as they are boxers. I liked the way they rocked from side to side at the lights and the footpegs wernt in line.