Scooter Resource -- 1980 Quasar

Name: Quasar
Built: 1975 - 1981
By: Quasar Motorcycles Ltd
Romarsh Electronics Ltd
1981 - 1991
Malcolm Newell
Numbers: 21 originals, approx 10 later.

Specification

Chassis: Steel Tube peripheral frame
Front Suspension: Earles Fork
Later models Bob Tait centre hub
Rear Suspension: Swing arm with custom shaft drive
Drive train: Reliant 850cc watercooled 4
Reliant gearbox with positive stop mechanism
also
Reliant / MotoGuzzi drive train
Kawasaki Z1300-6
Honda VF750S-V4
Suzuki GS850-4
Brakes: AP Disks
Tyres: 4.25 * 18
Tank: 3 Gallons
7 Gallons
Bodywork: GRP
Others: Windscreen wipers
Radio
Hot air vents to hands
Hammock seat adjustable for solo or passenger
Rear lights, fluorescent tubes behind red grp
Huge custom panniers

Dimensions

Wheelbase: 77"
Width: 28"
Length: 101"
Seat Height: 18"
Weight: 680 lbs

Claimed Performance

Cruising Speed: 100 mph
Top Speed: 100 mph
Fuel Consumption: 65mpg
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Although I tend to wear a waterproof jacket anyway I stay pretty dry in the Quasar. Rain
gets to the outside edges of the shoulders and elbows and then blows off. Hands
completely dry and in line with hot air blowers (bit feeble, got hot grips too).

Aerodynamics of the Quasar are a bit wild. There is the most massive wind roar which I
suspect means loads of turbulence down each side. At speed (80mph+) the front bit
shoves the wind violently aside and the raindrops are possibly thrown outwards by this
turbulence keeping the sides drier than you would expect. A bit like the Dyson vacuum
cleaner, when the air forms fierce spirals each side it throws heavier stuff (ie raindrops)
outwards, so that although it looks as if your elbows and shoulders are going to get
soaked, in fact all you get is a light misting. But although mostly dry the environment for
shoulders and elbows is extremely windy, a loose coat or jacket flaps like crazy as I found
when riding in my normal country-style Barbour coat.

One good idea is the stainless steel rain channels each side of the roof, so that rain hitting
the rool is channeled away rather than dropping down on the rider. It's probably these
channels that break the flow of air and add to the noise.

Although Mr Crowson says that the two little windscreen wipers can be much improved
mine seem to do the job ok when they're working. But when they're not working I'm
absolutely blind.