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 Ecureuil - 1000 ERS
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Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
1019

Capacity : 1000
Model : ERS
Production : 1987 - 1989
Category : (Off-Road) Enduro

ECUREUIL

1000 ERS - 1988

Building the smart cycle

Conceived in 1986 by Joël Guilet on the initiative of the rider/journalist Pierre-Marie Poli, the Ecureuil ERS made news during the Paris-Dakar rallies of 1987-89. True, Team Ecureuil (named for a savings bank whose emblem is a squirrel) was playing a bold hand by testing its revolutionary construction techniques during the world's toughest rally.

Modular Concept

The ingenious nature of the ERS's construction resided in its modular concept. It was made up of three quickly demountable elements – a monocoque body/chassis, the engine-transmission-rear wheel assembly and the front suspension. It only took six minutes to remove the engine and transmission; the ease with which the front suspension could be changed allowed the use of interchangeable modules with ideal suspension geometry for each stage of the event. It was even possible to vary the mounting point of the engine-transmission unit to achieve an ideal weight distribution and alter the wheelbase.

Carbon Fiber Frame

Like a modern Formula 1 car, the 1000ERS was built around a compact chassis monocoque in carbon-kevlar fiber. Weighing less than 14lbs., the monocoque housed the foam-filled aviation-type rubber fuel cell. Bolted below the monocoque were twin aluminum honeycomb cradles carrying the big twin-cylinder BMW engine/transmission unit. The wager almost paid off; in three years Ecureuil demonstrated the validity of its concept but it never achieved its ultimate aim of victory.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: air-cooled 1020cc BMW flat-twin

Power Rating: 80 hp @ 6500 rpm

Valves: overhead

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 5 speeds; shaft

Suspension: reversed telescopic fork (front); swinging fork with twin damper units (rear)

Brakes: disk (front/rear)

Wheels: Michelin Bib Mousse tires - 18, 19 or 21in (front); 17in (rear)

Weight: 375 lb .

Maximum Speed: 121 mph

Racing is a tough school to learn in, and the Ecureuil bikes were pulled out of competition before their development was complete.





Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.