A Las Cruces-based mechanical engineer and former motorcycle racer has developed a patent he believes could simultaneously make bikes faster and safer.
Michael Roseborrough’s K-Link design currently has a status of patent pending. His goal is to license the patent to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). He said he is in the testing phases with two OEMs.
“I would like to see it find its way into mainstream motorcycle manufacturing,” Roseborrough said.
So, what exactly does his invention do? According to Roseborrough, K-Link is the first change to the overall motorcycle chassis structure since 1934. In motorcycle jargon, he said, his design — which he has actively worked on for about four years — is anti-squat, anti-dive.
“The statement in my patent is that the chain force is converted to a downward force at the rear wheel, which increases traction at the rear wheel. It also minimizes the squatting effect during the acceleration caused by the chain pulling the rear wheel upward into the chassis,” Roseborrough said. “And on deceleration, the chain acts to prevent the motorcycle from lifting on the front end, which is a diving effect that occurs when you decelerate the motorcycle.”
Essentially, this is intended to make the bike more stable. Wheelies are apparently almost impossible to do on a bike using the K-Link design.
A former flat track circuit racer, Roseborrough said he competed at the national level for about eight years.
When asked if this new technology would be accepted in the motorcycle racing circuit, Roseborrough said different sanctioning bodies have different rules. He said it would have to be addressed within those rule structures.
K-Link received assistance from the Arrowhead Innovation Fund at New Mexico State University. Roseborrough said a grant was given to Sandia Laboratories through Arrowhead. Sandia Labs then provided technical assistance to validate the analytical aspects of Roseborrough’s design.
With multiple manufacturers now putting the patent to the test, Roseborrough isn’t ready to pump the brakes.
“I have no idea if it's going to be successful. I have no idea how long it's going to take," he said. "That being said, I'm continuing to do developmental work."
