Dan’s Main Design Project Inspiration

I want to make a bicycle. More specifically I want to bring to life a zombie apocalypse, punch you in the face, cafe racer inspired cruiser bicycle. Finding my project for the main focus of this course has gone through a lot of refining, but I think I have settled on this final idea.

I began with an idea to build my own cruiser and purely aesthetic oriented bicycle. Wanting to stray from the many bicycle frame designs already out there the next natural place to turn was motorcycles. Choppers came to mind as I really enjoy the aesthetics of some, but frankly riding one is just not my style. Then, I was exposed to the cafe racer motorcycles through another students aesthetic exploration in this class. I really loved the stripped down performance oriented and to me what looks like a “hunched” feel to these bikes, with floating seats and narrow handlebars.

http://www.neversaycool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/NU-Cafe-Racer-005.jpg
http://www.neversaycool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/NU-Cafe-Racer-005.jpg
Technics-Sporty-20_Original
http://www.neversaycool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Technics-Sporty-20_Original.jpg
tumblr_o22sz36l5Z1v2xxuno1_1280
http://40.media.tumblr.com/f433549148c4750a3c945db46dc913bc/tumblr_o22sz36l5Z1v2xxuno1_1280.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next inspiration also came as a result of an aesthetic discovered for the class. In one of our guest lectures the film “A Faster Horse” was mentioned. In that film about making the new Ford Mustang a designer mentions drawing inspiration form the Joe Lewis fist in Detroit and that resonated with me. I have always liked that artwork and love the aesthetic of a clenched, punching fist. I want this bike to PUNCH through the air and anything in front of it.

joe-louis-fist-statue-jefferson-and-woodward-ave-detroit-michigan-gordon-dean
http://www.rantlifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/joe-louis-fist-statue-jefferson-and-woodward-ave-detroit-michigan-gordon-dean.jpg
joe-louis-fist-detroit-mi-nicholas-grunas
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/joe-louis-fist-detroit-mi-nicholas-grunas.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have seen a few bicycles with a similar aesthetic but while I can’t say exactly my design right now I will definitely bring my own style and aesthetic to it. One idea I’ve kicked around is riffing off the Mad Max and zombie apocalypse scrap and repurpose theme. This could be my “crap hits the fan, end of the world” carriage. I don’t know if i’ll get there but I’d also like to integrate a small motor as I expect this build to get heavy quickly.

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/joe-louis-fist-detroit-mi-nicholas-grunas.jpg
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/joe-louis-fist-detroit-mi-nicholas-grunas.jpg
http://www.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/viks-steel-tube-urban-bicycle-designboom03.jpg
http://www.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/viks-steel-tube-urban-bicycle-designboom03.jpg
bicycle, bikes, cafe racers, cruisers
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6 Comments. Leave new

  • […] Main Design Project Initial Inspiration […]

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  • […] and emotion that I can’t quite put my finger on although I tried to in a few posts here and here. If it was subconsciously influenced by any aesthetic movements would say the closest is a […]

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  • Jacob Mccormick
    February 28, 2016 11:02 pm

    Sweet idea, it’ll be interesting to see how the aesthetic turns out on a bicycle, and it’ll definitely be a head turner.

    Reply
  • I find it cool that you are trying to combine two types of bikes. I am not sure if thus will help, but if you would like to give your bicycle a motorbike frame, you could try looking at the CU Senior Design Shell Eco Marathon team. I believe that they are making a fiberglass shell for their car and might be able to help you if you want to make a frame. I think that both them and another CU Senior Design car team have been working with bending metal to make car frames. You could probably ask them for advice.

    Reply
  • This is an awesome idea. I plan on building a custom cafe racer soon but never even thought about applying the look towards a bike. Awesome idea especially for this class since it has a reasonable time schedule

    Reply
  • Sreyas Krishnan
    February 26, 2016 12:22 pm

    I love the way you described your project hahaha. Can’t wait to see how you make the bike punch me in the face zombie apocalypse style!

    Reply

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