Lawson All Wheel Drive Motorcycle

Simple design, better suspension, less trail erosion

Ideal All Terrain Motorcycle

AWD stump jump Oct 2012

The Lawson AWD Motorcycle – an all-terrain motorcycle uniquely suited for the recreational/utility market Background: Motorcycles are useful for operating in narrow confines where a four wheeled vehicle cannot fit. However, to successfully operate in difficult conditions, like sand, mud, rock trails, riverbeds, and especially on steep hills, the rear wheel drive design requires even an expert rider to use gymnastics to guide and control the motorcycle, and often the environment is damaged excessively because of the rear wheel spin required. The average rider with a conventional rear wheel drive motorcycle may not even be able to drive through such difficult conditions. An obvious solution is to provide all wheel drive, and several all wheel drive motorcycles do already exist. However, for various reasons, these designs have not been very successful in improving the average rider’s ability to travel over difficult terrain at the speed of the conventional four wheel drive ATV. The reasons include not having enough torque to the front wheel, the front wheel not being driven until substantial slippage of the rear wheel happens, being excessively expensive, or having virtually no suspension so the ride in rough terrain at anything above walking speed is impossible. The answer: the Lawson all wheel drive design. It provides the same advantages that an all wheel drive ATV has over a rear wheel drive ATV. Its all wheel drive and suspension system provides as much torque to the front wheel as necessary, rotates the front wheel at basically the same speed as the rear wheel thus excessive rear wheel slip is not required and obstacles are surmounted by traction not digging trenches, and provides the quality suspension and ride available from a conventional rear wheel drive motorcycle. The LawsonAWD motorcycle combines a unique dual A-arm suspension with a very simple high power drive using two chains and a universal joint to transmit as much power to the front wheel as needed under all circumstances. The basic suspension system is the duo lever design proven on the large BMW road motorcycles which Norman Hossack invented and patented years ago. It provides a full range of travel with excellent suspension characteristics. The combination of this suspension system and the unique drive configuration is what is covered under the Lawson patent. The Lawson AWD system, when combined with an automatic clutch like the recluse system, provides a motorcycle that is very easy for an inexperienced rider to use. With one control for speed, one control for braking, and the traction of the Lawson AWD, the rider can, under virtually all conditions, concentrate on guiding the motorcycle through obstacles, not on the gymnastics required by a conventional rear wheel drive motorcycle in these difficult situations. The basic concept for the front wheel drive system was invented by Martin Lawson and designed using Solid Works with the FEA package and Tony Foale's suspension analysis software. Bill Lawson and Martin Lawson have jointly designed, built, and tested three functional concept motorcycles to verify the design and prove its capabilities. The third concept bike has been successfully raced by an experienced competitive motorcycle rider to prove its durability and capability to perform as a conventional motorcycle in normal conditions as well as to exceed the capabilities of a conventional motorcycle in difficult off-road conditions. The LawsonAWD motorcycle system is patented in the US and international patents are in progress. Additional drive system patents are in progress. The advantages of the LawsonAWD as an all-terrain motorcycle, especially for the average rider Simple to drive Steers under all difficult conditions Can slowly “walk” the bike if necessary under power No need to coordinate the clutch and gear shifting because of an automatic clutch Simple to brake One brake lever controls the front and rear brake simultaneously Easier to Ride gnarly trails Climb steep rocky hills Steer in sand, mud, snow, loose rocks Low environment impact Surmounts obstacles by traction, not by digging trenches Safer Anti-dive, coordinated braking: both wheels brake together Controlled by front brake lever Minimal front wheel lockup in emergencies Great descending steep hills No torque or bump steer Proven design Uses the proven Hossack dual A-arm suspension Same suspension travel and steering lock as in stock forks The LawsonAWD motorcycle is the only system to have Full time all-wheel-drive Full power to the front wheel Race proven, full travel suspension Steering that feels “right” with no bump steer or torque steer A drive system utilizing high strength, simple, low cost components Information on the patents submitted on proprietary drive systems, etc., can be obtained if necessary from Bill Lawson.

Back to LawsonAWD main page

Contacts: Bill Lawson, P.E.: wlawsonntd@usa.net, 715-247-3242. Martin Lawson, M.S. Mech. Eng.: mel_lawson@yahoo.com, 608-338-9165.

More Images

Lawson AWD prototype motorcycle


 View rippin picts of the Lawson All Wheel Drive Mototrcycle at
  http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCiwMrD
 

Lawson AWD motorcycle trail turn


For more information about the Lawson All Wheel Drive motorcycle and tour schedule please contact:

lawsonawd @ gmail . com

Lawson AWD motorcycle is patented.



NewTech Development LLC
1917 County Road I
Somerset WI 54025 USA


Phone   715-247-3242
Fax       715-247-3594