Photo: rappensuncle
Swedish suspension company Öhlins will put its hydraulic 2wd system — first seen on the Yamaha WR 450 F 2WD — into production. Capable of improving drive out of corners, as well as safety in slippery conditions, the universal system will fit most of today’s motorcycles.
A hydraulic pump runs off of the gearbox spindle and spins blades in an impeller housed in the front wheel. It can distribute a maximum of 15 percent of the available torque to the front wheel and works automatically based on the amount of throttle used in relation to how fast the rear wheel is spinning.
Öhlins has successfully tested the system on both the WR 450 and an R1; the latter was capable of lapping a racetrack faster in the wet than the stock machine. In total, Öhlins 2wd adds 8.6kg to a bike’s weight.