Engineers and Tinkers in here

So, I need feedback for my new product development course. We have to come up with a product, which we will later file for a provisional patent (given out like candy) on. My group, after hating all our original ideas, came up with a device that would help tie down the rear end of a motorcycle (think track bikes or the like, that don't have the usual tie-down spots) in a similar fashion as a Canyon Dancer.

So far our basic idea was to have some sort of reinforced pad that would go on the bike seat, with arms and eyelets that a tie-down could hook onto. This would distribute the weight across the seat, and allow the rear shock to be compressed to help secure the bike in place. The arms would ensure that the straps don't rube the fairings, swingarm, etc. This would be a method that would be practically good for folks with a truck who don't want to install a pitbull wheel axel stand into their bed, or for folks who rent trailers for their bike hauling.

So what do I need from you guys? Well, we have to do market research on what people think of the idea, ways to improve it, etc. etc. etc.

So what do you think? Ideas? Concerns? Better ways of achieving this goal?

For some god forsaken reason if this idea ever makes money, I'll pump it all back into the site for as many raffle prizes we can get (there's an incentive).

Talk amongst yourselves

-:banana

:nana piccy mate, can't critic what we can't see
where is the prototype :thumbup

tbh I don't want to go down the route of compressing the suspension anymore. I've damaged a few seals in the past and I think it is down to this.

Their is a product out which straps the bike down using the tyre, I'll try and find some pics.
I have thought of a way of doing it through the axels of a bike though with another steady through the swing arm pivot

I was at the california superbike school a few months back, who had a product on show that went over the back wheel to tie it down.

http://www.superbikeschool.co.uk/product.php?show=2,19,58

What you describe sounds similar to the strapping used on ferry's...A foam filled 'sack' section which sits on the seat with eyelets or straps that can then be ratcheted down onto the hooks in the deck of the boat, whilst the bike is on the centre stand (What's one of those?) or the side stand - appears to work fine! For your use though it's getting around the hooks in the floor, what to secure the strapping onto!

so what do you guys think of these options? the first one attempts to only secure the rear wheel, while the second two variations hold the hold bike in place.







-:banana