Advantages of a single sided swing-arm?

[minime]

Just curious to know what are the advantages of a single sided swing-arm? These single swing-arms are only seen high end motorcycle. They not only look good and make cleaning of chain and wheel easy. Could it be they are more expensive to produce? Are they being used in races like MotoGP or SBK?

 

Any engineers around to explain the wonders of a single sided swing-arm for motorcycles?

 

Cheers!

[Phang]

It looks good and easier to change tire

[kmax]

single side swing arm ?? front or back ??

 

 

http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=374

[mab]

Not only high end leh, nsr150sp, vespas and gileras(if im not wrong) are pro arm.

 

apparently some people claim proarms make better corners. some people say that proarms are heavy.

 

but still, it looks yummy though. hehehe.

[ulysses_sc]

Single sided swingarms only look nice. Nothing else. In order to achieve the same level of rigidity as double sided swingarms, the single sided arm needs to be much more hefty.

 

If you do some research on the Ducati 999 and 1098, you will find that the 999 uses a double sided design, in order to achieve better handling. However, the marketing people had the final say over the engineers for the 1098, as the public simply lusts after the sexy looks of the single sided design. As a result, the 1098 has a single sided swingarm.

[ben1112]

but single arm aligns perfectly straights with the chassis... probably better suspension properties

[Phang]

I would like to know more about the straight alignment of a single arm, could you elaborate on this further?

[KeraKing]

advantage:

change sprocket without removing wheel.

only one side to adjust chain. (no need to align both sides to be same)

easier to remove/assemble wheel.

 

disadvantage:

heavy unsprung weight. for nsr150 is really heavy.

not necessarily sexy. (aprilia GP carbon swing arm looks waaaaay better)

limited rim sizes.

[GuiNNeSS]

if im not wrong single sided swing arms were initially designed for the enduro races whereby quick tyre changes were critical

[DeusExMachina]

For aesthetics and marketing purposes.