Okay, all you techie guys and gals out there…what do you think or make of an All Wheel Drive motorcycle? They look like a normal bike….what does the jury think of this technology? Does it make any sense? I mean we do have All Wheel Drive Cars right?
Christini’s patented mechanical All Wheel Drive system delivers power from the motorcycle transmission to the front wheel through a series of chains and shafts. There is no energy-robbing hydraulics involved.
The lightweight all-mechanical system works similar to that of AWD systems found on four wheeled vehicles. The AWD system (powering the front wheel) is driven at a slightly lower rate than the rear wheel (approximately 80%). Under optimum traction conditions, the rear wheel is actually driving faster than the front AWD system. One-way clutches within the front hub allow the front wheel to freewheel under these conditions. At this point, the AWD system is effectively passive. Though the front AWD system is turning, it is not actually transferring power to the front wheel. When the rear wheel loses traction, the drive ratio, relative to your forward speed, changes. The AWD system engages, transferring power to the front wheel until traction is reestablished at the rear wheel.
The way the front system works is like pedaling a bicycle down hill. You are pedaling, but because of gravity (acting like the rear drive) the bike is traveling faster than you are delivering power. When you get to the bottom of the hill and slow down (similar to what happens when the rear wheel spins), you will begin to power the bike again.
An added benefit of AWD is that the front wheel does not want to wash out. When a front end tucks, the wheel stalls, stops turning, and begins to push. With the AWD system, as soon as the wheel begins to stall, power is delivered to the front wheel, forcing it to turn. With the front wheel under power, it is nearly impossible to wash out the front end.
Power runs via chain from the secondary countershaft sprocket up to a gearbox located on the frame.
Power is converted to a drive shaft running under the tank to the modified steering head.
Counter rotating bevel gears located within the head tube transfer power to the lower triple clamp.
The lower triple clamp contains a small chain and sprocket system that drives two counter-rotating drive shafts.
The specially coated drive shafts are telescopic and incorporate linear ball spline bearings. They are counter rotating to eliminate torque effect. They run the length of the fork to the front hub.
The Christini AWD front hub is equipped with one-way clutches allowing the wheel to transfer power when needed, and freewheel when not in use.
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Advgrrl Motorcycle Adventures & More 
It’s really cool tech. I’ve been reading a thread by Craig of CJDesigns on ADVrider that is just fascinating stuff, describing his build of an AWD KTM 950 Adventure, begining with parts from Cristini. Mind boggling ingenuity.
Don’t you just love this crap? it’s all fascinating…love reading and learning about what others are doing and what is being offered.
Thanks for the mention! Much appreciated. Let us know if you have any questions.
thanks for stopping by
What a clever system especially such an elegant solution to avoiding viscous coupling clutches and other heavy bits. Will be interesting to see what the future brings, I could see development on a small electric motor in the hub similar to what several car companies are doing to give awd capability to their hybrid models, ie Peugeot/Citroën’s diesel hybrids etc…
yes to hybrids!