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27/10/2005: "Blue Melly in Action"

The Melly Blue Rage project bike was in action recently, on track in Switzerland.

This unusual two stroke design, featuring part of the engine utilised as a structural member of the chassis, is ultra lightweight and was ridden at speeds of around 250kph by Yves Briguet.

The Melly prototype bike is the result of three years of construction, and two years of trials and tune-ups. With the technical and scientific support of the University of Applied Sciences in Valais, the bike has been disassembled and reassembled many times, and several motor and transmission types have been tested.

The main feature of the Blue Range Motorcycle is its original frame. The frame is an essential part of the bike, and Gérard Melly has machined the frame from a 450 kg aluminium block, which also incorporates the gearbox into the frame.

The aim was to achieve the highest possible rigidity with the least possible mass. Stress concentration could be reduced through milling. These qualities were revealed by the digital simulations carried out at the University of Applied Sciences Valais and demonstrated in on-road tests.

Top notch high-performance parts were then fitted onto the frame: A Showa fork, Marvic and Marchesini wheels, Brembo disk brakes, a Millet Racing exhaust, an Öhlins rear damper.

As for the motor, a Polaris model was chosen in the first place, but the amount of work involved in regulating the fuelling and adapting the exhaust system of this motor, which was originally designed for snowmobiles, was huge. Melly Technology eventually turned to the Austrian company Rotax.

Their motor is also a two-stroke engine with almost 180 horsepower.

Melly say they plan to look at racing the Blue Rage in order to develop the concept still futher.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.co.uk)