I agree that it's unlikely it will ever see the light of day. However, if that's the case then why be specific in regards to the horsepower? Why 400 hp? Why not just 200 or 300, etc ?
Thats an interesting list, it appears that the Piaggio MP3 300ie is the only one that is actually purchasable. I can't seem to get any solid info if the Indian one exists outside it being announced, and the other 3 bikes are concepts one one-offs.
I would love to see the Piaggio come to the states, but if Erik gets his patent that may interfere.
The battery company PR is nice. SOP for smart marketing.
I confess I finally read the patent. Just now. I'll have to look at it again, but if I understand it Erik just patented the Motorcycle. Freaking brilliant!
There are parts about the suspension/drive train that cover a wide range of applications, and so forth. How much will get challenged and how much upheld when/if it goes to court, I dunno. He didn't exactly patent the Motorcycle as a whole, but the claim is there. Sorta.
I'm not a patent lawyer, so I could be completely wrong on this.
In any event..... Looks like a brilliant Idea, and 400 hp is pleasing to the ego.
Also admitting to dire lack of skill, I'm not the kind of guy who practices Wheelies like I perhaps should. I'm content to know how to stop them, and most of the time I keep my g loads and vectors reasonably sane. Perhaps unduly influenced by a youtube video of some poor schlub flipping a Lightning onto his chest at a drag strip, ( ouch! ) and having been advised on this site that slamming down a wheelie can ruin your shock mount/engine case, I strive for smooth launches, not tire rippers. ( although I do tend to float the front on that 2nd gear shift If I get too enthusiastic.... )
That's with a touch over 90 HP. 400 hp in a short GP style frame? scary. ( and what else is a Buell? ) One wonders how much 400 hp would weigh? A Hayabusa sized bike? hmm.
So if I understand this correctly, there's nothing inherently "new" in this patent, but it's the first time that a hybrid motorcycle has been legally described as such, even though such things have already been built.
Is that a fair description? or am I missing the point here? I confess the US legal system baffles me.
You get patents for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, you get them to defend yourself from some other troll screwing with your hard work.
There is an industry out there right now of people getting or buying rights to crappy patents, and then rolling from company to company with threats of legal action coupled with offers to settle. The settlement costs are calculated to be less than the cost of mounting any kind of significant legal defense, so it is hard for a defending company to justify fighting the patent. So nobody fights to overturn it, and the trolls just hit one company after another.
The best defense against these trolls is to be sitting on a patent that could mess with their patent. Or keep them from getting the interfering patent in the first place by beating them to it.
EBR and Buell have a LOT of patents. I've not seen them be predatory or trollish with any of them.
As a business, you have to file these sorts of things if you don't want to later get eaten alive.
