Special Ops silent? Motorcycles

[FlyingHunter]

Special Forces teams are all about silently penetrating remote areas and executing complex, lightning-fast raids. Now DARPA is developing a new vehicle to soundlessly race commandos to their missions: stealthy, hybrid-powered motorcycles.

The idea is to develop a hybrid power system that relies on both electric and gas power, allowing special ops to go off-road and zip past enemy forces with the silence of an electric engine, while also being able to handle extended missions and higher speeds with a supplemental gas tank.

In February, DARPA awarded Logos Technologies a $100,000, six-month Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract for a preliminary design to see just how viable the project is.

Source: http://www.wired.com/2014/04/hybrid_bikes/

Well, I happen to own the antithesis to this stealth - Harley ElectraGlide - obnoxiously loud, not very fuel efficient, relatively slow insofar as motorcycles go, and heavy at around 900#. The only thing I find stealthy about it...how it can drain your wallet.

[Outlander Systems]

I'm surprised they didn't just go COTS...

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com

I'm sure Zero would gladly undertake the project.

[GH41]

I'm surprised they didn't just go COTS...

http://www.zeromotorcycles.com

I'm sure Zero would gladly undertake the project.

The Zero bikes would have to loose the drive belt or fully enclose it for any off road work. A stone the size of a marble would take it out. GH

[SteyrAUG]

God please let silent motorcycles become the new standard.

[RMiller]

What? You don't like pipes?

God please let silent motorcycles become the new standard.

[SteyrAUG]

What? You don't like pipes?

Not really, especially when all they do is go around the block all day long. Even less fun after 11pm when people are trying to sleep.

[Tzed250]

I will try to stay out of your neighborhood.

The Kerker megaphone on my ZRX1100 is nearly loud enough to peel paint.


ZRX 9/12 by zweitakt250, on Flickr

[Sensei]

This is old news. SF has been using modified motorcycles since the 80's. Check out this video from a joint CAG / DevGrp operation in the sandbox:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O1NpZxn860M

[ST911]

This is old news. SF has been using modified motorcycles since the 80's. Check out this video from a joint CAG / DevGrp operation in the sandbox:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O1NpZxn860M

Yup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPjWrDmsZ0

[TXBK]

HAHA!! I completely feel into your trap Sensei.

Everybody knows that this is what an all-wheel drive motorcycle looks like.


On a serious note, surely they could have developed an effective muffler to use on their current ATV/UTV's for less than 100K.