James Ellison drafted in to fine-tune Arc Vector's innovative front suspension
Arc has enlisted the help of ex-MotoGP rider James Ellison to finalise the settings for its upcoming, innovative Vector motorcycle.
The Arc Vector is now only 10 weeks away from its first deliveries, and the testing process has progressed into the fine details.
The Vector is an innovative design, making use of hub centre steering (HCS) and a carbon front swingarm instead of conventional forks.
It is not an entirely unique approach, certainly in respect to the HCS. Bimota, for example, made use of HCS on its Tesi motorcycles, and the Metiss - which races annually at the 24 Heures Motos in Le Mans - also uses the unconventional system.
Traditionally, HCS loses out to conventional, fork-based, front suspension layouts due to vague feeling thanks to a variety of complex mechanisms that are necessary to make the system function.
For Arc, the key with the Vector is the carbon swingarm, which they say “facilitates a bike that feels similar to front forks, but benefits from the improved characteristics of hub centre steering.”
Those benefits include a stiffer front end - which should aid agility, and support under hard braking - as well as the ability to run steeper steering angles. On the Vector, Arc is running a 20-degree rake.
To complete the development of the machine, Arc has recruited James Ellison - former multiple-time British Superbike race winner, European Superstock Champion, and MotoGP rider - “to finesse the final spring and damper settings on the Vector’s innovative suspension system,” Arc says.
Ellison has spent two days testing the bike, riding alongside Founder and CEO of Arc, Mark Truman. The pair have been working with a team from Ohlins, who are supplying the suspension for the Vector.
“I’ve been really surprised by the agility,” Ellison said, adding that “the bike changes direction like a much smaller bike due to the steep steering angle it can run. This means the bike can be flicked from side to side with little effort.”
Mark Truman said: “ “Riding the Vector alongside James has been fantastic, his perception and feeling for the slightest change to the settings are second to none and his experience goes without saying.
“James has worked with us to define the production settings that will go to customers in 10 weeks.”
Truman also mentioned “a very exciting program for 10 special customers, people who want to be part of the future of motorcycle technology.” This will take place on 29 July, and more details will be released soon, according to Arc.
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Alex has been working in the motorcycle industry for as long as he has been at Visordown, which has been since March 2022 so we'll let you work it out from there. He's the new guy. He'd be fetching us all coffee 'round the clock if he wasn't based in the arse end of nowhere.
