Ner-a-Car
The Ner -a-Car was an American motorcycle manufacturer " Neracar Corporation of Syracuse ," which was offered from 1921 to 1926 for sale. It was the first motorcycle with a steering wheel hub as front suspension. The name Ner -a-Car is derived from its designer Carl A. Neracher from, who had set out to build a " near-miss car ". [Note 1]
Carl A. Neracher (1882-1969), who was employed as an engineer at Overland had, in 1919, acquired a patent for the " car -like vehicle ." Financial support for his project received Neracher of King Camp Gillette. 1921 was the production in quantities of up to 150 per day at the plant in Syracuse on. The Ner -a-Car was manufactured at the same time in England by Sheffield Simplex Motor Works in license; there but with engine with larger displacement.
Technology
The frame of the motorcycle consisted of two sheet metal parts, in which the motor and the friction wheel is mounted. A wide fenders on the front wheel protected the rider from dirt. Through the free trapdoor women could ride the bike in a normal street clothes. Was directed to a drawbar which has been passed through the hub of the front wheel and was connected via a pull rod to the link. The steering wheel hub had only a small steering angle. The unsprung rear wheel was driven by a friction wheel and a chain. The five courses of the continuously variable transmission in itself resulted from fixed positions of the clutch disc. The engine, a two-stroke single-cylinder with 221 cc capacity, made 2.5 hp (1.8 kW) ( Model A). The English model of the licensee Sheffield Simplex Motor Works had an enlarged to 285 cc displacement engine (model B), in a later version (Model C, from year 1924) a four-stroke engine of Blackburne with a three-speed transmission from Sturmey - Archer. [NB. 2] The maximum speed of the designed as a pure utility vehicle motorcycle was 35 mph (56 km / h). Erwin G. Baker ( " Cannon Ball" Baker) crossed with a 1922 Ner -a-Car, the United States from New York to Los Angeles in 27 days. His average speed was doing 31 km / h with a consumption of 3.2 liters per 100 km.
The price of the 75 kg lightweight motorcycle was 225 U.S. dollars, the English version cost 85 pounds. 1926 included the plants in the USA and England due to lack of demand.
10,000 Ner -a-Car to have been produced in the U.S. and 6,500 in England; today are still about 100 vehicles exist.