From: charlie@elektro.cmhnet.org (Charlie Smith)
Subject: Re: Spagthorpe Chihuahua?
Organization: Why do you suspect that?
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 93 14:20:18 GMT

In article <C0Cs16.Bon@vuse.vanderbilt.edu> dab@vuse.vanderbilt.edu (Flash) writes:
>Is it TRUE?!  I heard thru the barleyvine that J. Spagthorpe is coming out 
>with some sort of pocket-rocket ala YSR50 or GSXR80 or CBRR90RRR.  Has anyone 
>SEEN one at any of the bike shows?  Specs!  Whaddare the specs?

Hey Flash!  This was covered in the last BMW Riders Association (RA) On The
Level mag ... don't you remember their comments on the Cologne show coverage
done by the MOA people - RA made a big issue out of MOA not covering the 
Chihuahua!

According the OTL, the Chihuahua is based on an 1800cc version of the new 
BMW twin and has a Maseratti Birdcage type space frame modified to use the
drivetrain as an integral frame component.  It was estimated that the frame
is built up from approximately 8347 soda straw sized titanium tubelets, each
being between 1" and 5" long; this results in two major frame components that
together weigh in at 2.853 Kg.  This bike also had a mono-post trailing arm
*front* suspension with 100% anti-dive/anti-rise geometry built in!  It was
able to do this without resorting to any suspension movement snubbers or
other weight adding components.

The Chihuahua is reported to have a fairing laminated out of radar frequency
(10.5 and 24 GHz) absorbant multilayered foam, such that the bike will not
reflect any more radar signal than an aluminum framed Trek bicycle, this
results in a 80% reduction in the range at which the bike can be clocked by
police radar; this is assuming that the rider does not have metal framed
eyeglasses.  As an aid in direction finding the Chihuahua will be equipped
with dual front disk brakes, pre-drilled at the factory, with a red tinge on
the left disk rotor and a green tinge on the right rotor.  The rotors will
be acceptably large to permit engagement with San Francisco cable car tracks
to allow cornering on rails when desired.

Overall, the Chihuahua weighs in at 241.3 lbs, and with the nominal horsepower
figure of 162 that was quoted for the 1800cc twin the bike should actually 
arrive on the showroom floor with acceptable performance capabilities.  It
is estimated that the Chihuahua will out accelerate a P-51 Mustang from rest
to any speed achievable by the Chihuahua; and further, the Cologne show exhibit
had an action film showing that the Chihuahua could accelerate downhill quite
a bit faster than acceleration achieved by an object in free fall.

The Chihuahua included options of things such as the Venison-Be-Gon (V-B-G)
{tm} deer whistle, a holder for the DoD auctioned bra, and a cellular phone
based SPAM system to permit realtime posts to wreck.motorcycles on the
front and rear tire pressures.

OTL went on to say that word on the street says the Chihuahua will show up in
dealer showrooms early in spring of 1993.



Charlie Smith   charlie@elektro.cmhnet.org  csmith@dsac.dla.mil  whois ces10
MOA# 52888, RA# 15633, DoD# 0709, AMA# 574722, Buckey Beemers 411, BK Ohio V
               BMW K1100-LT, R80-GS/PD, R27, Triumph TR6
                 Soon to include Spagthorpe Chihuahua
                           Columbus, Ohio