KTM CX design study

[Chris Ostlind]

KTM's new design collaboration with Austrian Industrial Design School, Joanneum, have also created a new machine for watersports and watercross, called the CX. This craft utilizes styling cues from the snowmobile, jetski and ATV motorspots environments, along with a solid understanding of boat design realities.

The CX is propelled by the suspension mounted rear belt. When not being driven, the CX rests in the water with the rider's lower legs immersed, much like a surfer.

A very interesting machine that is sure to be the future source of incredible amounts of complaining from non-motorized boating enthusiasts. ;-)

[Fanie]

Well, I hope whoever is going to bugger around on one of those is going to get his whatsmecallit caught in that belt and pulled right through the drive mechanics.

What would the point be other than as you said be an irritation ?

[amolitor]

Yeah, it looks like an absurdly inefficient jetski, with a whirling Belt Of Doom.

Looks like another art student disguised as an "Industrial Designer" atrocity, to me.

[Chris Ostlind]

Interesting take.

If you take a look at this video clip, another concept may emerge as to avaliable power and how it gets applied to the water.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?...um=4&ct=title#

With a craft that is designed to be buoyant and have forward mounted steering floats, it looks like you could have the beginnings of a new watersport. These things might actually be faster than jetskis and that would really open some eyeballs.

I'd like to see a race course which is primarily water oriented, with strategically placed landforms that have to be crossed.

[marshmat]

It looks to me an awful lot like a snowmobile that sort-of floats.

That a snowmobile on flat water can outrun a jetski with the same engine is, I think, a fairly well established claim.

Trouble is, the police and SAR teams are always fishing said snowmobiles (and their drivers, if the driver is lucky) out of 3-degree water when something goes wrong, more often than not the result of a case of beer being drained too quickly. So making the thing float would seem a prudent idea.

[Munter]

Making the whole thing sink would be better...

[Chris Ostlind]

Originally Posted by Munter

Making the whole thing sink would be better...

I take it, then, that you're not a fan of engines in floaty stuff, Munt? ;-)


I see your point and I've had some less than fun experiences with that crowd myself. On the other hand, I've also ridden a lot of motorcycles over the years, both on and offroad and I understand the experience from their perspective, as well.

I'm of the opinion that any offroad vehicles, including waterborne, when driven responsibly and respectfully, should also be allowed on the public waterways... within reason.

To put it all in balance... I've also seen lots of hotshots on very fast beachcats exceeding the speed limit by a large margin in a crowded SoCal harbor and that does not speak too well for the sailing crowd.

While it's more likely to see a jetski being operated outside the rules, it can go both ways.

[Tcubed]

There are definitely some big differences that need clarifying here.

Whilst yes the beach cat might be behaving irresponsibly, it;

1- Makes almost no noise.
2- Leaves almost no wake.

Oh and...
3- Actually requires some skill to use well.

***

I myself am a fan of motorcycles, they're great.

Differences between motorcycles and 'motorized watersport'

Motorcycles are actually useful, legitimate form of transport.
Motorcycles are pretty much restricted to staying on the road (be it tarmack or dirt), they don't suddenly cut across your backyard making a filthy din and tearing it all up.

***

The antics of the Icelanders is done in desolate place where they're not going to be getting on peoples nerves. For all their seeming craziness, the nordic people are very civilized and considerate. Plus they have a little excuse since half the year they live in seemingly perpetual darkness.

***

Here there are plenty of males lacking 'something' that make up for it by flaunting the fact on their frivolous and 'symbolic' toys and destroying gorgeous beaches in the process. Hopefully the economy will crash quickly enough so this latest aberration doesn't make it here.

[marshmat]

The thing about nuisance jet-skis is that they're relatively easy to stop... I've heard that a foot or so of yellow poly rope, separated into its component strands, works wonders on a high-rpm jet pump.

We have a speed limit of (I think) 10 knots over ground in the main channel south of here. The ships follow it (otherwise they'd run aground), but small craft don't care and nobody stops them.

Up on the Rideau, though, there are long stretches with a 10 km/h (5 knot) limit. If you go blazing through these on plane, people will give you the finger, yell, and possibly call the cops.

Responsible use is a matter of what the conditions are like, and who/what else is around. I've encountered many respectful jet-skiers.

Still, when I'm at the launch ramp, boaters usually ask "What is that? Did you build it? How fast will she go?" and jet-skiers tend to ask "When will you get your trailer the f*** out of my way?"

****
I still don't think the KTM CX thing is much more than a floating snowmobile without the safety shields....

[Munter]

I had another close call with one kiting the other day. The neanderthal riding it was too busy trying to impress his passenger with aggressive riding to notice that he'd driven into a crowd of 10 or so kiters and was travelling at high speed near kiters in the water. It isn't a nice feeling knowing that there is an idiot nearby with enough petrol to make him a menace with no idea of the presence of people in the water nearby.

As noted above - that paddled belt looks like the perfect way to stop jet-skiers from procreating. Maybe I should be encouraging this new fangled machine?

[Knut Sand]

I know a few people that have this fun with the snow mobiles...
I also remember my question to one of them: " Last summer, seaside, that fellow under the bridge? was that you???"

Reply was sort of: "ehh, well, yes, somebody said it couldnt be done" (Thats the peeerrfect flag for any Norwegian...).

He started from a sloping (badly built) quay. out into the sea, full throttle, very carefully turns and back again, he said the belt were actually starting to slip, so he considered that he actually had had a tiny amount of luck... but Ive seen them do something similar, wintertime, freshwater....

The belt slipping thing; they have automatic belt gearing, so if a spray of water comes inside the engine compartment, it starts to slip, if youre lucky the drivewheels are warm enough to make the water evaporate, in salt water, you'll not quite get rid of all the slippery stuff.

I like the design study though, from an enviromentalist view; well; smaller the better, much fun comes sometimes in small packages.

I would also have added some more bouyancy aft....