Super Sky Cycle Registered as a MotorCycle

[Greg Mitchell]

The first Production Super Sky Cycle recieved it's VIN Vehicle Identification Number in a Texas DMV.

[barnstorm2]

Nice!!!!

Thanks for the update!

I hope to have one some day!

[Alan_Cheatham]

The question now is can liability insurance be obtained to legally drive it on public streets. In Texas, you can't renew registration or do vehicle inspections without proof of insurance.

[GyroDoug]

Alan,

Roger hasn't gotten that far yet, but now that he has a legal title for his home made motorcycle, getting insurance shouldn't be a problem. I have gotten several quotes for insurance for mine and it doesn't look like that will be a problem at all. ($100 / yr) Obviously any motorcycle insurance he gets, will only cover him while it is being driven as a motorcycle, so it won't cover him while flying but the motorcycle liability insurance should be inexpensive and easy to get.

But getting the state to recognize it and license it as a street legal motorcycle is an important milestone in the process to have a legitimate Fly/Drive vehicle. And Roger's is just the first. The next few months should see at least 2 more at that stage. This is really a very exciting time to be involved in this.

Gyro Doug

[GyroDoug]

Here is the latest picture of Roger's SSC, It's not totally done yet but it is getting close to being ready for inspection and it should be flying soon.

Gyro Doug

[Mike484]

Obviously any motorcycle insurance he gets, will only cover him while it is being driven as a motorcycle, so it won't cover him while flying but the motorcycle liability insurance should be inexpensive and easy to get.

Gyro Doug

You won't crash while in the air, so if he does have an accident on the ground then wouldn't be considered a motorcycle at that point?

[Alan_Cheatham]

....motorcycle liability insurance should be inexpensive and easy to get.
Gyro Doug

That may not be true if the insurance underwriter gets a look at the machine they are asked to insure. There's a big difference between a trike based on a welded steel frame and established motorcycle and car parts, and the SSC which is a bolt together aluminum structure with undetermined durability.

[Greg Mitchell]

G'Day Allan,

I get what your driving at but I wonder if that reason alone would be cause for the underwriter to walk away from insuring the vehicle, more likely it would manifest itself in a higher than expected premium. I dont know, just surmising. After all if the Big G of the state says it's OK to drive on the highway, go get insurance, that is a big step forward. Apart from the present state of affairs we must remember that Larry and others have been comunicating with the powers that be since the seeds of inseption.

My hope is that the SSC becomes a viable transport alternative....too rough and wild to fly, then ride. Now that I am using the Metro Launch System Pre-rotator on my Monarch and getting off the deck really quick I can see the possiblilities. A small back paddock or designated parking lot is all that is required.

If....No not If but Now! Now I can ride a SSC out of my garage, 200 meters up the street to the Clarence Point Holiday Lodge ride out onto the new strip, fold out the blades, spin up and leave the ground in 3-5 seconds. Actually I dont even need a strip all I need is the CASA inforced legal separations for operating a gyroplane, so a paddock adjacent to the road will do, 100 yards from the road spin up and away you go. (with the owners permission of course.) Head on over the river to the Flying Tea Pot and drop in taxi off the run way, fold up the blades and stow, then drive on up to the restaurant and park it up like any other trike in the car park, get that Cappa and Scones.

Damn the weather turns to shyte. On ya Bike Mate and ride her home.

Cheers,

Mitch ( Happy with my Rocket Ship Monarch, MLS and standard gyro suspension, most evryone else has got some type of GFLG.)

[GyroDoug]

You won't crash while in the air, so if he does have an accident on the ground then wouldn't be considered a motorcycle at that point?

Mike,

I'm not an insurance adjuster and can't pretend to speak for them but I would think if you are in flying mode and crashed, the fact that you were on the ground when you crashed would not mean that it was being used as a motorcycle. I would expect them to deny a claim from a botched landing. I would think the only time you would be covered was when you are driving down the road and obeying the laws of the road just like any other motorcycle would be doing. I suspect most people will simply have liability insurance just to cover the legalities of driving on the road with it. I do see all kinds of problems that insurance companies could have with doing full coverage. As there gets to be more of them on the road and we have some kind of track record to talk about, who knows what could be worked out?
Time will tell.

Gyro Doug

[Mike484]

Was just kidding actually, when I read it I was thinking "what would keep someone from dragging it over by the roadside and say they crashed there?" If you did crash I doubt it seriously you could get up and drag it anywhere.

[danmcgee]

I bet with a little thinking and for me that is dangerouse I might add, but with a little thinking it might be posible to do this with a harley engine then take it Sturgus and win the bick build off.

[GyroDoug]

I bet with a little thinking and for me that is dangerouse I might add, but with a little thinking it might be posible to do this with a harley engine then take it Sturgus and win the bick build off.

Dan,

The Super Sky Cycle already has lots of compromises built into it to be able to drive down the road and to fly. Using a Harley engine (with a lower power to weight ratio than alternatives) would be one more compromise that I personally wouldn't want to make. Without a Harley engine it may not be eligible for any Custom Harley building awards, but I would think one of these taken to Sturgus would still be the hit of the show and I certainly plan to take mine up there once it's done.