Oruga Unitrack

[Hugh Janus]

The Oruga Unitrack doesn’t appear to have steering, and likely turns just by leaning over on the edge of the curved track. (Oruga/)

When it comes to motorized off-highway activities, motorcycles already have some pretty strong credentials. As replacements for ATVs there are even more extreme designs like the two-wheel-drive Rokons, but the Oruga Unitrack (under development in Latvia) takes a different approach.

According to its developers, the Oruga Unitrack is “the world’s first all-terrain electric monotrack vehicle designed to be versatile, rugged and robust with the environment in mind, and one that is created for use in a variety of terrains, seasons and operations.” It replaces conventional wheels and tires with a single track to spread its weight across more surface area. It’s still arguably a motorcycle—after all, there are two “road wheels,” even if they’re accompanied by a third idler wheel mounted high at the front to help climb large obstacles—but it’s unlike any motorcycle currently in production.

Side view of the Oruga Unitrack. (Oruga/)

There have been monotrack vehicles before, albeit not in mass production, but the Oruga Unitrack aims to combine that idea with an electric powertrain, and unlike most of the home-built designs we’ve seen before, it features suspension and a curved track surface that allows it to lean into corners.

At the moment, Oruga has only officially shown some concept drawings and recently appeared at the Outdoor Riga trade show in Latvia’s capital with scale models of the upcoming machine. However, the design registrations for the finished machine have also been officially published via the European Union Intellectual Property Office, giving a clear look at the intended appearance of the Unitrack.

In this view you can see the curved unitrack. (Oruga/)

It seems that, despite the use of tracks, it has two sets of conventional tires on each wheel, forming a gap between them for the teeth that stop the track from running off center. The tires will, presumably, also add some cushioning, although the Unitrack has coil-spring suspension at both ends.

Despite the presence of handlebars, it looks like they’re there as something to hang onto and a place to put the controls rather than having any steering ability. The curved surface of the track means the machine can be leaned into corners, so moving your body weight is likely to be the main means of turning.

The handlebars don’t appear to be attached to any sort of steering system. (Oruga/)

There’s no detail yet on the power level of the electric motor, the Unitrack’s range, or its weight. At the Riga event the team behind the machine were polling visitors to get information on where potential customers would like its performance and price balance to be found. The results, as revealed on a video on Oruga’s Facebook page, suggest a top speed of no more than around 60 mph, a demand for a long range of between 60 and 120 miles, and power between 100 and 150kW (134 hp to 200 hp).

The company plans to have a full-scale prototype in action later this year and to be preparing for production in 2025.

Source

[Catteeclan]

Cn't get my head round how it steers, maybe the lean.

[Buckster]

Just now, Catteeclan said:

Cn't get my head round how it steers, maybe the lean.

[Catteeclan]

Just now, Buckster said:

Now that makes sense