White Motorcycle Concepts Unveils WMC300FR

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WMC’s new 300FR uses both electric and ICE power, with Yamaha’s Tricity 300 as the platform. (White Motorcycle Concepts/)

Remember the WMC250EV electric land-speed record challenger that was revealed earlier this year? This is the second project from its creators, and it’s designed to show that the same aerodynamic thinking can work at real-world speeds as well as those beyond 200mph.

Created by White Motorcycle Concepts, the WMC300FR couldn’t be more different than the WMC250EV. Where the previous machine was all-electric, with two-wheel drive and a purpose-made carbon chassis and a name derived from the 250mph-plus top speed it was designed for, the new design is a hybrid three-wheeler that’s heavily based on Yamaha’s Tricity 300 leaning trike/scooter, to keep costs to a minimum.

Related: WMC’s Radical 250EV Completes First Stage of Testing

The leaning trike utilizes a central duct to reduce drag while also offering engine cooling benefits. (White Motorcycle Concepts/)

In addition to borrowing the Tricity’s suspension and steering system, the WMC300FR adopts much of the original bodywork and the original Yamaha 292cc single-cylinder engine, which makes around 28hp. However, the firm’s target is to use a combination of hybrid power and aero innovation to create a machine that’s both faster than the original and offers much-improved emissions and economy.

The heart of the design is the same essential aerodynamic idea that forms the basis of the WMC250EV; a central duct that channels air straight through the bike, between the rider’s legs and out through the tail. As well as reducing frontal area, the duct is intended to reduce the coefficient of drag. On the original WMC250EV, the air channel was huge – easily big enough for a child to crawl through – and while the WMC300FR’s version is rather smaller, its intended benefits are the same.

The duct’s intake is between the front wheels, from whence air is moved up over the engine and out through the tail. (White Motorcycle Concepts/)

The three-wheeled layout of the bike makes it the perfect candidate for the system, with the duct’s intake between the wheels. From there, the airflow is split, with most of it being channelled up, over the engine and out through the tail while a smaller proportion is diverted into the radiator to cool the engine.

The trike pairs a 5kW electric motor driven by a pair of 56V batteries to work with the Yamaha 292cc single cylinder engine to boost efficiency. The fuel tank and batteries are behind the rider. (White Motorcycle Concepts/)

Since aerodynamic benefits are felt more as velocity rises, and the WMC300FR is designed to spend much of its time at city speeds, the firm had to look elsewhere to maximize the economy and emissions improvements. With plenty of electric bike experience from the WMC250EV, the idea of adding an electric motor to the mix makes sense. A 5kW motor, driven by a pair of 56V batteries, works with the Yamaha single-cylinder engine to boost acceleration and efficiency at low speed. Combined with the duct, the company reckons there’s a 50% improvement in CO2 emissions when compared to bikes with similar performance.

To accommodate the duct, the Tricity’s fuel tank is moved to a new position, behind the rider, with the batteries stored above it. That’s possible largely because the WMC300FR is a dedicated single-seat design, intended for ‘First Responders’ (hence the ‘FR’ in the name) like police or paramedics. In fact, the company has involved motorcycle cops in the UK from the start of the project to help guide its direction, with National Police Chief Council motorcycling lead, Chief Constable Nick Adderley, being consulted from an early stage.

White Motorcycle Concepts aims to produce the trike in sizable numbers, mostly for use in municipal security and medical aid applications. (White Motorcycle Concepts/)

While the WMC250EV land speed record bike is very much a one-off, White Motorcycle Concepts intends to manufacture the WMC300FR in greater numbers, initially in a small run for police use. Rob White, the company’s founder – who will also be riding the WMC250EV in its bid for the land speed record next year – said: “We were encouraged by the great reception the launch of our WMC250EV high-speed demonstrator and the high level of interest that the project has subsequently gained. Whilst our concept in its most extreme form will help us go faster, its real-world application is all about improving range and reducing down time – major considerations in the electric vehicle industry at present.

“As the recent COP26 summit highlighted, we are still at the beginning of a revolution in aggressive carbon reduction and this global shift in thinking presents a unique opportunity to think radically about motorcycle design, finding the most efficient and cleanest way to power the future of transport. I am delighted to reveal our first product, the WMC300FR, which we have developed specifically for the first responder market. There are a whole host of innovative features that mean the motorcycle reduces CO2 by 50%. For us this is just the starting point, and we will continue to innovate to accelerate the de-carbonisation of the automotive sector.”

Profile cutaway of the WMC300FR showing drag/airflow, battery and engine/motor locations. (White Motorcycle Concepts/)

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[Ian Frog]

[Stu]

16 minutes ago, Ian Frog said:

 

Probably good for chasing scooter rider thieves in a city though! 

[Bender]

58 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

Probably good for chasing scooter rider thieves in a city though! 

You mean to try and get them to take it  

[Stu]

Just now, Bender said:

You mean to try and get them to take it  

 

You would probably have to pay them............

[Six30]

how could you take a copper seriously , pulling up on that .

[Stu]

43 minutes ago, Six30 said:

how could you take a copper seriously , pulling up on that .

 

Do you take them seriously anyway?