Quasar
Quasar were motorcycles produced from 1976 to 1981, by Malcolm Newell.
These models were specials and unconventional. One of the most memorable ones was a feet-first design known as the Quasar, which took the idea of enclosure to new limits. The machine was elongated and the occupants sat between the wheels, under a roof and behind a windscreen fitted with wipers. At the back, over the rear wheel, was a luggage compartment onto which was mounted a large rear-lamp system. At the front, under the lower part of the windscreen, were two headlamps. In all, it resembled a cabin-style, car-type body, but without the doors.
The frame was strong, acted as a safety roll cage and was fitted with leading-link front suspension, and cast alloy wheels with twin front and single rear disc brakes. The engine was an 848cc Reliant driving a four-speed gearbox with shaft final-drive. Many of the other fittings were as those of a car-heater, de-mister, indicators and full instruments.
Production was small-scale and, as Newell moved on to new projects, construction was always passed on to others. One such project was the Phasar, powered by a massive Kawasaki Z1300 six-cylinder engine, but without a roof.
See Also
Sources of Information
- The British Motorcycle Directory - Over 1,100 Marques from 1888 - by Roy Bacon and Ken Hallworth. Pub: The Crowood Press 2004 ISBN 1 86126 674 X