Motorcycle specifications Les Triplettes de Bonneville Saline Bird 2011 A breath of fresh air

For as long as mankind has been itching to get moving, it has been relentless in its search for new means of transport. Once these were found, innovation accompanied them to make them ever more powerful, fast, efficient or original. Steam engines, turbines, multi-cylinder blocks, electricity, diesel, beet juice (yes, yes), nitrous oxide.... And not everything has been tested yet.
A team of enthusiasts has even come up with a concept of a motorcycle powered by compressed air: the Saline Bird.

Hyper-futuristic , beautifully designed and sleek, this surreal machine would look right at home in Akira or Fast & Furious 31. Whether in Race or Road version, the rider would be excessively stretched out on the machine, constantly in search of the best aerodynamics. A lot of carbon in the design to make the bike as light as possible, Spartan comfort, a fork with longitudinal arms - stylistic exuberance rubs shoulders with technical singularity.

To store its "fuel", the Saline Bird holds two pressurized air cylinders in its back, which also forms its backbone. By releasing the air flow via an expulsion system under the seat, the thrust generated propels the bike. An interesting solution in itself, since it emits no pollutants, is less complex and less costly than a traditional engine, and has the advantage of being a technical curiosity.

Attractive , but not very feasible. With this type of technology, the creation of the "Bonneville Triplets" suggests very little autonomy. Recharging the cylinders would require energy with a disastrous transformation/output ratio. As for the notion of conventional road use.... There's no point in imagining it. That's what creation is all about: ignoring pragmatic considerations.

Imagination is the first step; reality tends to follow.

Design credits: Charles-Edouard Berche, Ugo Spagnolo , Adrien Fuinesl, Frédéric Dobbelstein, Jean-Philippe Paries