One for the album

[jerry]

Thanks Kev I think I get it now. It's all about the chain tension. You were all over it Tim, I'm just a slow learner! J

[JC]

It wasn't just to keep constant chain tension. It was to overcome chain torque reaction & supposedly give more drive. Kawasaki tried it too (called Fubar system) in both MX & RR. Duhamel was said to like it for RR (or at least think it had potential). Weinert didn't - couldn't wheelie readily. I think the story was some yanky entrepreneur (perhaps more cynically called a con-man?) made all sorts of claims & Bultaco bought the rights but couldn't get it to work to any advantage.

[TooFastTim]

Kawasaki tried it too (called Fubar system) in both MX & RR. Duhamel was said to like it for RR (or at least think it had potential).

Oh yeah. Now I remember Kawasakis efforts.

[jerry]

What does fubar stand for? J

[TM BILL]

Fuct up beyond all recognition

[jerry]

Ah of course, thank you Bill

[evo550]

Looks like it's designed to allow the front drive sprocket to be as close to the swingarm point as possible, to overcome the problems created by longer travel and a front sprocket situated a long way from swingarm pivot.

[EML]

What about the shock length, are they the worlds longest? Can someone smarter than me (anyone, that is) work out from the drum/wheel diameter how long they are?

[RED ALERT]

A single shock version made it into the mtb world years later http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=7rn6TzZx04LwBM&tbnid=eqgDXhzBvODY1M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvulkanlandbiker.at%2Fgallery%2FMeine-Bikes-(Trikes)%2FSchwinn_Straight_8%3Ffull%3D1&ei=eOmWUbvZMaWgige_rAE&psig=AFQjCNE12x1KehjlRpRE2Kpl24bAKYKqIA&ust=1368931064876106

[firko]

                                                                                                                                               
                                                                             "Fu-Bar" parallelogram rear suspension and frame as used by Yvon Duhamel at Laguna Seca in 1975.
                                                                     
                                                                              1946 Moto Guzzi Dondalino with parallelogram rear suspension similar to the Gilera Saturno design.

[pancho]

 I don't see a parallelogram on the Moto Guzzi Dondalino but I do see reduced unsprung weight.
 Also I can see how it would stop wheelies, should work for road racing.
 
cheers pancho.

[tony27]

To be honest I don't see how the Gilera back end works at all, there is 2 mounting points to the frame each side but no pivots at the axle end or is the lower mount not connected to the frame & instead to a sprung loaded plate under the engine?

[euro bikes]

Just looked at the Bultaco interesting thing even the front fork legs are from a Matador or Sherpa. My MK9 250 i raced back then had a high pipe the same as that one i got it from Frasers at Newstead, Brisbane,