For example - with this gearbox there is less weight . There is less weight because there are less components . Less components is less cost. This gearbox for GasGas in 50 euro less for every gear box. If you produce 5000 units per year. That’s 250,000 euro. Lots of money every year ha ha ha.
Do you think that there are radical changes in the near future of trials design and if so , you must tell me :).
A single sided swinging arm for example. I have been explaining something like this when i tell you about the sprocket being away from the wheel. In my opinion it depends on the customer and whether they want to invest in my idea. I also have to work within the rules of the FIM . Sometimes this is a big problem. At the moment they place a limit on the weight of the bike. In my opinion this stops the progress of the bike.
Do you think that there are radical changes in the near future of trials design and if so , you must tell me :).
A single sided swinging arm for example. I have been explaining something like this when i tell you about the sprocket being away from the wheel. In my opinion it depends on the customer and whether they want to invest in my idea. I also have to work within the rules of the FIM . Sometimes this is a big problem. At the moment they place a limit on the weight of the bike. In my opinion this stops the progress of the bike.
The limit should be based on the homologated bike. For example, if Montesa produce a bike for 75kg , then for the Trial Championship you cannot reduce the reduce the weight of the bike by more than 2kg for the homologated moto. This ways you reduce the amount of money spent by the teams and every rider on the races. So Montesa can race the bike at 73kg. GasGas can race the bike at 2kg less. We should not have a limit that is good for one company but not good for others . This idea is the best way to control the expense. If the limit stays where it is , noone is going to invest to improve. The future is going to be the same as today. The bikes will be 70kg. Does this make sense ? .No !. If the future can lead to bikes being 50kg using different materials and techniques . Why stop this evolution ?. If this stays like this i will have no more work for 10 years ha ha .
The brands no listen to these rules. They produce what the customers want. The customer want less weight . If then the rules for the race need more weight , then fine put weight on the bike for the race. , but I need to produce the bike that is lighter because the customer and the client want this. This is the normal evolution of the car , the bicycles , planes everything. When i talk with the Ossa owner he say i want to reduce the weight as much as we can. If finally we cannot go and ride the race we will make our own competition. Ha ha .
The brands no listen to these rules. They produce what the customers want. The customer want less weight . If then the rules for the race need more weight , then fine put weight on the bike for the race. , but I need to produce the bike that is lighter because the customer and the client want this. This is the normal evolution of the car , the bicycles , planes everything. When i talk with the Ossa owner he say i want to reduce the weight as much as we can. If finally we cannot go and ride the race we will make our own competition. Ha ha .
Have you ever considered making suspension ?.
When i started working inside GasGas with Mr Pibernat i have been producing suspensions inside GasGas . Special suspensions for production then made Italy. These suspensions were then produced inside GasGas but then after the big shake when people go from GasGas they see no sense in do this . Finally you must produce bikes. You are a specialist producing bikes . If you are suspension producing then you cannot be good producing bikes . It is a specialist area and needs all your efforts producing the suspension . One company must make the bikes, another make the suspension . They will then have the know how and invest every day to improve this product.
When i started working inside GasGas with Mr Pibernat i have been producing suspensions inside GasGas . Special suspensions for production then made Italy. These suspensions were then produced inside GasGas but then after the big shake when people go from GasGas they see no sense in do this . Finally you must produce bikes. You are a specialist producing bikes . If you are suspension producing then you cannot be good producing bikes . It is a specialist area and needs all your efforts producing the suspension . One company must make the bikes, another make the suspension . They will then have the know how and invest every day to improve this product.
Xiu makes a range of upgrade powerparts for motorcycles.
Some people say that the bikes are getting so light that bike are getting unreliable. The components are so small that things snap and wear out quickly, where as the Bultacos’s of old are heavy , but they are still running on original bearings. Will the new bikes still be around in 20 years time ?.
This happens in all industry , for example with an old car . It is not the same work now for engineers as in the old days. For example the engineers these days test the components to work for 5 years or 10 years , no more. If you are testing something that can last for a long time is not good. It means you are spending too much on this component. In engineering work for the automotive works this is critical and is like this. A good testing is when the product arrives at a life of ten years. For example in the car industry they use a lot of different materials such as plastics and they are testing this to last 10 years. If they use a more expensive product which will last 10 years then the final product will cost a lot more.
Is this the same in the Trials and motocross motorcycle industry?
Its not so critical as the automotive industry. With motorcycles it’s not the cost. We are concentrated on weight reduction and the testing of new materials . Some years ago the manufacturers placed component levels at double strength level for security. Now noone put double strength level for security. For example I need to know the dimensions of this floor to understand the weight of this floor. For security they put the double , or three times this strength . This is the construction of security. All companies use this . Finally you have to make the decision and decide that limit of security that you are happy with. I can build the security levels in to the software I have. , but I need to take the decision how much security I put there. Another example of how this works was with Mr Pibernat . The project was ever ready to go into production and we needed to test the toolings and the parts more , but the engine and bike was running. He would say “Ok , ok , no more time to test . Put on production”. I would say “Please Piber no”. And this rush would create some problems which would look like bad design , but sometimes it’s because the process and product is not ready and more time is needed.
This happens in all industry , for example with an old car . It is not the same work now for engineers as in the old days. For example the engineers these days test the components to work for 5 years or 10 years , no more. If you are testing something that can last for a long time is not good. It means you are spending too much on this component. In engineering work for the automotive works this is critical and is like this. A good testing is when the product arrives at a life of ten years. For example in the car industry they use a lot of different materials such as plastics and they are testing this to last 10 years. If they use a more expensive product which will last 10 years then the final product will cost a lot more.
Is this the same in the Trials and motocross motorcycle industry?
Its not so critical as the automotive industry. With motorcycles it’s not the cost. We are concentrated on weight reduction and the testing of new materials . Some years ago the manufacturers placed component levels at double strength level for security. Now noone put double strength level for security. For example I need to know the dimensions of this floor to understand the weight of this floor. For security they put the double , or three times this strength . This is the construction of security. All companies use this . Finally you have to make the decision and decide that limit of security that you are happy with. I can build the security levels in to the software I have. , but I need to take the decision how much security I put there. Another example of how this works was with Mr Pibernat . The project was ever ready to go into production and we needed to test the toolings and the parts more , but the engine and bike was running. He would say “Ok , ok , no more time to test . Put on production”. I would say “Please Piber no”. And this rush would create some problems which would look like bad design , but sometimes it’s because the process and product is not ready and more time is needed.
You are very diverse and work with engines and make concept rooms as well as all sorts of things.
Yes this room I make moves with the sun. I am renting this place but one day I will try to move to the place where I live for work. In the future if I have enough money I am going to make some place like this because this is my passion. This is a metal construction inside a box with a gears and it is moving with the sun. In my head I am thinking I need to make this office exactly how I want and Ii finally made my office lighter , less cost ,les old ha ha. The solution was this.
Yes this room I make moves with the sun. I am renting this place but one day I will try to move to the place where I live for work. In the future if I have enough money I am going to make some place like this because this is my passion. This is a metal construction inside a box with a gears and it is moving with the sun. In my head I am thinking I need to make this office exactly how I want and Ii finally made my office lighter , less cost ,les old ha ha. The solution was this.
Some of Xiu's other projects
Rieju enduro 250/450cc
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Rieju Tango Hybrid
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Progressive A-Arm suspension for Quads
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