Projects: HOSSACK - BMW
HOSSACK K100 on the road 1984. These HOSSACK conversions were TUV approved for sale in Germany.
K1200 series went on sale 2003.
HOSSACK K100 on the road 1984. These HOSSACK conversions were TUV approved for sale in Germany.
HOSSACK and the BMW Duolever
The Story
Norman did not initiate the change to road bikes, it just happened. Departing from motorcycle racing may not have been a wise move but at that time there was no interest in racing machines, the market had dryed up. The BMW conversions started before VG won all his championships and during a sour experience with the MOD. A friend had crashed his K100RS, one of the first K100's in the UK, and eventually Norman began converting beemers. These were more appreciated in Germany where most of them went. The conversion work was considered of good enough quality by TUV to be given their TUV approval. Though the BMWs worked fine they were the wrong bike to work on - Ducati would have been a better choice but Norman never had the luxury of choice.
This video shows me comparing the HOSSACK front suspension system to the standard BMW telescopic design on otherwise identical machines.
I visited Leno's Garage to demonstrate the HOSSACK front suspension for Jay in person.
BMW showed enlightenment too with their Telelever which came to market a year or two after Norman's/BMW conversions. BMW themselves tested more than one of Norman's customer bikes thoroughly and they understood the gains that a wish-bone could bring to structural stiffness. It was a step in the right direction though they stopped half way and kept the tellies. (this was before the K1200) They also missed several other opportunities that the HOSSACK system could offer, namely, lower over-all weight, lower steer axis inertia, lower ride friction, lower manufacturing cost (the HOSSACK up-right does not have high precision parts) some additional geometry/ride options and the one sided option to match their rear end.