Safety Platform
Safety Platform
A Device for Learning
LABOR SAVING inventions often are designed by lazy people. Safety devices are created by people who care for the welfare of others, and who wish to reduce the hazards and fears of a specific set of circumstances.
Small Japanese step-through motorcycles are ideally suited to the training of beginning motorcyclists. John Kelly, of Laguna Hills, Calif., at age 68 a somewhat elderly beginner himself, recognized the fact that a sense of balance is sometimes waning in elderly people, and not yet fully developed in immature youngsters. And, he saw the need for a device to assist would-be motorcyclists of his and younger generations.
Discussion, study and some hard work— including fiberglass lay-up sessions in his apartment kitchen-have resulted in what Kelly calls a “Safety Platform,” a device which can bring the sport and utility of motorcycling to older and younger segments of the population.
Kelly requested CYCLE WORLD staff members to test and evaluate his creation, and to ascertain its worth. He also asked test crewmen to determine if he unknowingly had incorporated hazards into his prototype platform.
The platform is comprised of a pair of large, wheeled footboards with outrigger wheels which greatly resemble miniaturized road racing sidecars—one on each side of a 50-cc Honda step-through bike. The platforms extend outward to fenders, or wheel fairings, which are fabricated of fiberglass. These footboard/fairings rise slightly at their leading edges to provide a small degree of splash protection.
A flat steel frame structure extends under the bike to join the two platforms into a rigid assembly. A pivot member extends upward from the center of the crossmember, between the Honda’s swinging arm pivot and gearbox casting. The platform assembly is secured to the bike at this point. A hinge fixture incorporated here allows the bike to lean from side to side, approximately 40 degrees from vertical. Two 3.00/3.40-5 tires and magnesium wheels are mounted 28 in. apart. The center pivot point is sufficiently high so that both wheels cannot touch the pavement surface at the same time.
The pivot placement makes it possible to corner the four-wheeled Honda 50 in an almost normal two-wheeled manner—once the rider becomes accustomed to the idea that the platform provides a secure ground plane, which in effect is a portable section of roadway on which the rider can firmly plant his feet.
When a rider wishes to park and dismount, a lock secures the bike perpendicular to the platform. To accomplish this, a small lever, mounted below the seat on the step-through frame section, is pushed forward. This action rot' es a V-block which engages a rigid sear ba. > latch the bike to the upright platform fis mer ^er.
t . firs try, the experienced motorcycle rider has u great tendency to step over the outrigger to place a foot on the ground when coming to a halt. This is unnecessary with the safety plàtform.
At walking speeds, the machine is difficult to balance, as the two outrigger wheels do not touch the road at the same time, but practice builds confidence in the platform as riders
become accustomed to the portable ground effect.
Test riders recommended that the pivot point of the platform assembly be lowered, and the diameter of the wheels be increased to approximately 10 in. to improve handling.
And, riders discovered that when turning sharply to the left, the Honda’s gear change pedal disappeared below the level of the platform, making a gear change impossible. Likewise, the rear brake pedal became unusable when the bike was turned sharply to the right. However, this appeared less important because on the Honda 50, with automatic clutch drive, the left handlebar lever, in addition to the pedal, operates the rear brake.
Once underway, at moderate speeds, the safety platform equipped Honda 50 is a joy to ride. The outfit certainly is more sporting than three-wheeled electric golf carts, now in favor with residents of senior citizens communities. The machine offers anyone unfamiliar with the balance techniques of a two-wheeled vehicle the opportunity to learn them, and to enjoy the benefits of motorcycling. With slight modification, the Safety Platform perhaps would appeal to a far wider segment of the consumer market.
A private venture, and an exercise in home engineering and construction, John Kelly’s Safety Platform is an effort worthy of a manufacturer’s backing. Kelly himself doesn’t wish to develop, build and distribute the platform. He would rather an energetic young firm take over license to assemble and distribute the devices. After all, John Kelly is a retired man.
