1 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 2 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 3 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 4 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 5 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 6 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 7 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 8 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 9 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 10 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 11 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 12 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 14 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 15 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 16 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 17 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 18 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 19 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 20 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 21 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 22 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 23 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 24 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 25 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 26 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 27 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 28 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,000 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 29 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,000 So, Jimmy, you know how we like to use tools and materials 30 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,000 for purposes they were never intended for, right? 31 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,000 Like transforming them. 32 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,000 It's like second nature for us. 33 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,000 Well, now we have an entire episode devoted to transformers. 34 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,000 Well, that's cool. Like what? 35 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,000 Well, we got one about a guy who supposedly took some 36 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,000 five-gallon water cooler jugs and converted a bicycle 37 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,000 into a fully amphibious commute vehicle. 38 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,000 Sounds dubious, but fun. 39 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,000 But first up, we've got an amazing story about a Frenchman, 40 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,000 stranded in the African desert in his little French car. 41 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,000 This is the Citroën du Cheveau. 42 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,000 Except two of the wheels are busted. 43 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:05,000 He uses the remaining two wheels and rebuilds this car 44 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:10,000 into a motorcycle that he uses to ride back to civilization with. 45 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,000 I think we should get ourselves a 2CV and try it ourselves. 46 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,000 Absolutely. 47 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,000 It's a tall tale of French transformation. 48 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,000 Supposedly, using nothing but hand tools and hope, 49 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:28,000 a working motorcycle was made from a broken-down car. 50 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,000 But before any mechanical metamorphosis, 51 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,000 the guys must start out by meeting the motor car from the myth, 52 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,000 a 67 Citroën. 53 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,000 All right. Taking up some speed here. 54 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,000 Oh, yeah, baby. 55 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,000 Whoa! 56 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,000 Now, this is the actual car we are going to be turning 57 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,000 or trying to turn into a motorcycle. 58 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,000 This car feels insane. 59 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,000 It was originally conceived by a Frenchman in Pierre-Joupe-Logers 60 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,000 in 1935, but went into production in 1948. 61 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,000 Come on, give me all your power. 62 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,000 Between then and 1990, they made over 3.2 million of them. 63 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:19,000 And it's 425 CCN and it puts out the blistering 12-horsepower. 64 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,000 Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you... 65 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,000 The Citroën de Chavaux. 66 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,000 Nice dub, homie. Isn't it beautiful? 67 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,000 It's clearly not fast or furious, 68 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,000 but for this motorcycle from car conundrum... 69 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,000 Let's inspect, see what's going on 70 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,000 under the hood here. 71 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,000 It'll be the car's adaptability that's key. 72 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,000 Where's the engine? 73 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:54,000 I have to say, if ever there was a car 74 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,000 for turning into a motorcycle, 75 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,000 it is this baby right here. 76 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,000 And once you look under the hood, you can see why. 77 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,000 There's very little there. 78 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,000 I'm genuinely excited about getting our hands dirty in this thing 79 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,000 and seeing what we can make happen. 80 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,000 So what are you thinking? 81 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,000 Well, we've run it through its paces 82 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,000 and we know what it looks like mechanically. 83 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,000 I can't think of anything else except for taking this out, 84 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,000 stranding ourselves and see if we can turn it into a motorcycle. 85 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,000 Alright then. Road trip. 86 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,000 Alright. 87 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,000 Here we go. 88 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,000 Off to Africa. 89 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:46,000 The Frenchman in the myth got stranded in Morocco. 90 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:50,000 Oh man, I think that's vultures circling overhead. 91 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,000 But Adam and Jamie's Saharan substitute 92 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:57,000 is a little closer to home. 93 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:59,000 Nice little workspace. 94 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,000 What? Desolate? Perfect. 95 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,000 Prior to this experiment, 96 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,000 all we know is that it's cute and it's pretty basic. 97 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,000 But like any normal car, 98 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,000 it also has four wheels and an engine under the hood and the front. 99 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,000 And somehow we're going to have to reconfigure it 100 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,000 to where we just use two of those wheels 101 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,000 and all the necessary components to be able to power it 102 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:27,000 and steer it in such a way that we can drive it motorcycle fashion. 103 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,000 I'm going to go grab the tool kit. 104 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,000 Okay. 105 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,000 In the myth, the guy is stranded with nothing but a jet. 106 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,000 In the myth, the guy is stranded with nothing but a 2CV 107 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,000 and a bunch of standard hand tools. 108 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:41,000 Alright sir. 109 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,000 We've got a jack. 110 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,000 Hack saw. 111 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,000 And we're going to be replicating exactly that. 112 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,000 Screwdrivers, C-Wrenches. 113 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,000 Perhaps the very first thing we're going to be testing is 114 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:59,000 can you even take this car apart with this simplicity? 115 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,000 Having so few tools would seem like a hindrance. 116 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,000 But with this car, maybe not. 117 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,000 How's this held on there? 118 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:09,000 Oh. 119 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,000 Well that's a nice start. 120 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,000 If the whole car is like that, then we're on free. 121 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,000 Once the hood's literally been slid off. 122 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,000 Adam, it looks like all this stuff comes off that way. 123 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,000 No way. 124 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,000 It's soon joined by the doors. 125 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,000 Who built this thing? 126 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,000 Next, come the seats. 127 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,000 Now we've got a place to sit and have some lunch. 128 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,000 Also without any tools being touched at all. 129 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:40,000 Wow. 130 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,000 And while a few parts do need a helping hand. 131 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,000 I've already got the bumper half off. 132 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,000 Ho, ho, ho. 133 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,000 There we go. 134 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,000 Mostly it's a case of unlock and unload. 135 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,000 I've never worked on a vehicle anything close to this. 136 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,000 This is so basic. 137 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,000 It's actually quite wonderful. 138 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,000 Taking just 60 minutes. 139 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,000 Nice. 140 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,000 It is an encouraging start. 141 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:11,000 But stripping back the car was never going to be the tough task. 142 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,000 OK. 143 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,000 All right. 144 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,000 Yeah. 145 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,000 That's what I'm talking about. 146 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,000 That belongs to transforming what's left into a motorcycle. 147 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:28,000 Now we rocketed through removing all the stuff that we didn't need. 148 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,000 But at this point, taking it the rest of the way, 149 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:37,000 actually removing two of the wheels and making it into something like a motorcycle. 150 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,000 I don't have a clue how we're going to do it. 151 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,000 Without doubt, there's a lot to do. 152 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,000 Ah. 153 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,000 So let's cut to the other chase. 154 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,000 So tell me about this amphibious bicycle. 155 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,000 Well, according to the pictures we've got, and we have a bunch of them, 156 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:14,000 all it takes is eight of these guys and a simple spiel structure 157 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,000 to turn a bicycle into effectively a paddle wheeled boat. 158 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,000 So you want to replicate what you see in those photos and see if it works. 159 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,000 That is exactly what I want to do. 160 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,000 Cool. 161 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:33,000 Crossing one of these with one of these may seem a little far out. 162 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:38,000 Yet in the Far East, that's supposedly what this invention has done. 163 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,000 Unless it's a case of Photoshop fakery. 164 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,000 So there's a lot of steps to this process. 165 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:53,000 The first and foremost being that there will be paddles on this back wheel 166 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,000 that allow it to propel forward. 167 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,000 But the paddles require a fair bit of rejiggering of the frame of the bike 168 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:03,000 in order to accommodate the effectively wider back wheel. 169 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:07,000 With the paddle wheel five inches fuller than its regular counterpart. 170 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,000 All right, here comes the part that'll make you cringe. 171 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,000 Adam first removes the rear of the frame. 172 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:22,000 Before welding a wider version in its place, using exactly the same bracing as in the photos. 173 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,000 It's not pretty, but it'll do. 174 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,000 Next, Adam reinvents the wheel. 175 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:31,000 As he secures the 12 aluminum paddles, 176 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,000 but that was riveting directly to the spokes. 177 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,000 Come on. 178 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:38,000 Come on. 179 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,000 Last bit. Last bit. 180 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:41,000 Let's all cooperate. 181 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,000 Got it. 182 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,000 Yeah. 183 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:47,000 And when the new drive wheel fits like a glove. 184 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,000 It's totally working. 185 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,000 It's time to get buoyant. 186 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:59,000 Now the way this bike achieves its amphibious nature is with these 187 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,000 five gallon drinking water jugs, 188 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,000 which I have been mounted to the steel frame of the bicycle. 189 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,000 And I'm going to do it with these pieces of strap steel. 190 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,000 I'm about to roll them in a machine called a roll. 191 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,000 Despite adding a large amount of steel. 192 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,000 Beautiful. 193 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,000 For both the straps and the bottle jug frame. 194 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,000 Oh my gosh. This is a heavy bike now. 195 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,000 Oh my God. 196 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:33,000 The bike should stay afloat because each jug can support 40 pounds. 197 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,000 And with eight jugs in total. 198 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:41,000 This is the part of any project where I get genuinely kind of excited and thrilled. 199 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:46,000 The overall buoyancy should be plenty enough to support rider and rig. 200 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:51,000 There it is. Ladies and gentlemen, the ugliest bike in all of creation. 201 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:55,000 Now it should have some nuts that lock these from the upright position 202 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,000 so you can ride around. 203 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:03,000 Then when you get to the water, you simply lower them down. 204 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,000 And you're ready to ride on the water. 205 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:11,000 This might just be an amphibious bicycle. 206 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:17,000 It may be a dead ringer for the photos, but down at the pool. 207 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,000 So what kind of job do you imagine that's an appropriate outfit for? 208 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,000 Will it be sing or swim? 209 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,000 6,000 miles from Morocco. 210 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,000 I think I was supposed to turn off earlier. 211 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:48,000 And Adam and Jamie's motorbike from motor car has started well. 212 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:52,000 I love it. 213 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,000 Now you love this suspension. 214 00:11:55,000 --> 00:12:00,000 But as deconstruction turns to construction, the guy's progress stalls. 215 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,000 The challenge is fairly significant. 216 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:07,000 We've got this heavy thing, an engine, which weighs hundreds of pounds. 217 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,000 And it's meant to drive two wheels that are way off-center to the engine. 218 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:15,000 But on a motorcycle, the engine needs to be in the center of gravity. 219 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:19,000 So we have to figure out some way to get the engine as close to center as possible 220 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,000 while still driving a wheel so we have power. 221 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:26,000 And how that's going to work, I have no idea. 222 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,000 There's two key conundrums. 223 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,000 How to provide power to a central drive wheel, 224 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,000 and how to do that without moving the engine. 225 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:42,000 So, sir, I guess it's time to start talking about how we're going to get this thing balanced on a single line. 226 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,000 I know. 227 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:51,000 I'd love to leave the engine where it's at and have like a wheel there and a wheel here. 228 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,000 Do you have any thoughts? 229 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,000 Yeah, I do actually. 230 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,000 These things here are the output shafts. 231 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,000 Right. 232 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:07,000 So if that was simply placed right on a wheel, just having that braid on a wheel, 233 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,000 it could drive the wheel. 234 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,000 Oh, dude, you know what I realized? 235 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:17,000 I'd rather have the engine in the rear of the bike so we're not trying to move the whole engine. 236 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:22,000 And that actually works with the abrasion technique because it means the engine's running in the opposite direction 237 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,000 than the wheel so we can go in first gear and go that way. 238 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,000 Well, where a little while ago we had no freaking idea what we're going to do now, 239 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:36,000 at least we have a plan of attack towards investigating a possible solution. 240 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:37,000 That feels like somewhere. 241 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,000 We've got our car frame with the engine at the front and the two wheels on each side. 242 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:48,000 We're going to start by discarding two of those wheels and reattaching the other two as close to the center line as possible. 243 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:54,000 The wheel under the engine will be the drive wheel and we're basically going to shove it right up against the engine's output shaft 244 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,000 so when the shaft spins, the wheel will also turn. 245 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:01,000 Now, the wheel will actually be turning in the opposite direction of the output shaft, 246 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:04,000 which means that the thrust vector is reversed. 247 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:08,000 In other words, the back of the car is going to become the front of the bike. 248 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,000 At least that's the theory. 249 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:13,000 Ready? 250 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:14,000 3, 2, 1. 251 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,000 It's a plan that is undoubtedly complex. 252 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,000 Nice. 253 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,000 Excellent. 254 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,000 But without access to power tools. 255 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:22,000 Ready? 256 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,000 Uh-huh. 257 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,000 Having the engine stay put is imperative. 258 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,000 All right. 259 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,000 Want me to get this thing up and in? 260 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,000 I guess now's as good of a time as any. 261 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:40,000 And after three hours of non-trivial teamwork. 262 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,000 Okay. 263 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,000 3, 2, 1. 264 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,000 The design is starting to take shape. 265 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:48,000 There we go. 266 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,000 Okay. 267 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,000 Down. 268 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:52,000 There we are. 269 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,000 Ah, bingo. 270 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,000 Bingo. 271 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,000 Now we can finally explain what we've been talking about this whole time and you can see it in action. 272 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:02,000 We've taken one of the swing arms from the back of the car and put it on the front, which is the new back of the car. 273 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Bear with me. 274 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:11,000 That swing arm brings the tire underneath the frame where it is pressing into this one of the output shafts from the engine. 275 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:15,000 Now that output shaft goes in this direction because this was the former front of the car, 276 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:20,000 but it drives the wheel in that direction because this is the new rear of the car. 277 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:25,000 And the groove lines up beautifully with this ridge on the output shaft. 278 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,000 Will this make the bike run? 279 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,000 I'm not willing to say just yet, but I'm hopeful. 280 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:40,000 With the untested drivetrain in place, the guys move forward, literally. 281 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,000 Old baby, don't fail me now. 282 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:43,000 Here we go. 283 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:47,000 Adams hacking through the car's rear wheel swing arm. 284 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,000 Oh my God, this is like breaking out of jail. 285 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,000 So that it'll hook securely onto the front of the frame. 286 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,000 Ha ha ha ha ha! 287 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,000 Oh my gosh, it's starting to look like a motorcycle. 288 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,000 Adams right. 289 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:11,000 What was once a sassy citron is being transformed into a Mad Max motorcycle. 290 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,000 So we've managed to line things up without having to unmount the engine. 291 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:20,000 We've got the front wheel up here and we've got our suspension system. 292 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:28,000 All we have to do now is hook up the steering and then see how it balances and if we can control it. 293 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:37,000 I want to break in here and also point out that in order to control, that's the gear shifter, that's the clutch, that's the brake. 294 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:46,000 One of us, I believe, will have to be sitting facing the rear of the motorcycle in order to maintain the controls while the other is calling out what they need. 295 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,000 Which is kind of how it normally works with us anyway. 296 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,000 Ha ha ha ha ha! 297 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:58,000 With one transformation coming together, how's their water bike working out? 298 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:06,000 We're here at the Brisbane Community Pool to test out Adams' amphibious bike. It should be done by about now. 299 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,000 Ha ha ha! Here I come! 300 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:13,000 Oh my goodness. 301 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,000 Yeah, isn't it pretty? 302 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:20,000 Adams found a very careful job of replicating what we saw in the photos. 303 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:26,000 But the thing is that he's a good 50 pounds heavier than the woman we saw floating on that bike in the water. 304 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,000 I step into this bathroom and ordinary myth buster. 305 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:40,000 And so what that means in terms of how deep the paddles on the wheel go and balance issues, just because she floated on it doesn't mean that he's going to be able to. 306 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:44,000 I come out, super amphibious vehicle commuter myth buster. 307 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:58,000 So, just to recap, if what is claimed in the pictures is true, this thing ought to be able to float, hold me up, move me forward on the paddles and be able to steer, all while keeping me relatively dry. 308 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,000 Yeah. Alright. 309 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:00,000 Good luck with that. 310 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,000 Here goes nothing. 311 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:04,000 Ha ha ha ha ha! 312 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,000 Amphibious bike in three, two, one, go! 313 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,000 Okay, it's holding me up! 314 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,000 Oh, okay, here we go. 315 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,000 Hey, that's not bad. 316 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,000 Okay, steering, trying to steer. 317 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Hey, steering's not bad. 318 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:27,000 Apart from some soggy shoes, it's a decent enough start. 319 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,000 But then... 320 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:31,000 Uh oh. 321 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:33,000 Uh oh. 322 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,000 Now I've got a little chain problem, which I've got to fix on the bike. 323 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:39,000 Uh oh. 324 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,000 Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. 325 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:50,000 Fixing this chain slip in situ is no mean feat, but Adam bends over backwards. 326 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:51,000 Yep, what's up? 327 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,000 What's up? 328 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,000 Ha ha ha ha! 329 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,000 Okay. 330 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,000 And soon, he's riding high. 331 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,000 Hey! 332 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,000 This is great! 333 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,000 Dude! 334 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,000 I'm on an amphibious bike! 335 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,000 Yeah, I'm gonna go in a circle. Here we go. 336 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,000 Not exactly a tight circle, but pretty reasonable. 337 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,000 That seems like it's working really well. 338 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:24,000 Remarkably, the bike's not only buoyant, it's also got good speed and steering. 339 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,000 I'm ready for my first day on the job. 340 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,000 At least so far. 341 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,000 I let my attention lapse for a second! 342 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,000 And go right over. 343 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,000 Adam's off. 344 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,000 And watch more with him being unable to remount. 345 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:52,000 Yes! Yes! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! 346 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,000 He's effectively down for the count. 347 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,000 Okay, admit defeat. I can't get back on this thing. 348 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,000 We found its fatal flaw. 349 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:06,000 This thing works surprisingly well, especially given that it's actually just improvised. 350 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,000 It could use some improvements, though. 351 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:12,000 I would say, first off, it'd be nice if you could use it without getting wet. 352 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:16,000 Because if it's a commuter sort of thing, you don't want to have to change your clothes. 353 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:22,000 The pontoons aren't exactly streamlined, and if they were, you'd be able to go faster with less effort. 354 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:27,000 And then, last but not least, I would say steering also could be improved. 355 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,000 Well, that went beautifully until I took my attention off it. 356 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,000 Then we went over and there was no getting back on. 357 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,000 But all in all, it worked surprisingly well. 358 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,000 But, you know, it does give me an idea. 359 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,000 What's that? 360 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,000 I think I can go one better. 361 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,000 By all means. 362 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,000 Adam and Jamie's 2CV is undergoing a mechanical metamorphosis. 363 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,000 It's starting to look like a motorcycle. 364 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,000 And their next hack is the steering. 365 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,000 We were thinking that we were going to have to use a tiller to steer this, 366 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,000 which is basically just a long stick. 367 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,000 But those are real awkward. 368 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,000 Oh, it's satisfying. 369 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,000 And since it has an existing steering system, 370 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:26,000 I think I may just be able to jury-rig it to work. 371 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,000 Even though now it's on the backside of the car. 372 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,000 A steering wheel on a bike may be a little unusual, 373 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,000 but necessity is the mother of invention. 374 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:42,000 Let's see here. 375 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:46,000 Jamie. 376 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:47,000 That works great. 377 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:51,000 It turns to the right, but it turns to the left. 378 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,000 Well, so we'll just only make right-hand turns. 379 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,000 Next, the guys check the engine controls. 380 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,000 Clutch, brake. 381 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,000 Okay, so the clutch works. 382 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,000 Brake works. 383 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,000 Before crossing their fingers and firing her up. 384 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,000 That is badass right there. 385 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,000 With the engine turning over, 386 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,000 Jamie literally wires in the throttle. 387 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:35,000 It's a little crude, but my throttle is this piece of bailing wire. 388 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,000 If I put a little crimp in it like so, 389 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,000 it accelerates. 390 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,000 I straighten it back out and slow down. 391 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:52,000 And with that, their motorcycle is all set. 392 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,000 It's got two wheels, a unique drive system, 393 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:00,000 gears, brakes, steering, and suspension. 394 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:04,000 The only issue is that it takes two people to operate it. 395 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,000 A driver to control steering and throttle, 396 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,000 and a passenger for clutch and brakes. 397 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,000 So, will it work? 398 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,000 I'm going to start it up. 399 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:17,000 Okay. 400 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:19,000 Come on, baby. 401 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,000 For run one, Jamie will drive, 402 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:28,000 but Adam will first jog alongside, changing gear as needed. 403 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:29,000 All right. 404 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:30,000 Clutch in. 405 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:32,000 First gear. 406 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:40,000 Yeah! 407 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:43,000 Yeah, baby! 408 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,000 Yeah! 409 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,000 That's a motion. 410 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,000 That's a motorcycle! 411 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,000 Ignition's out. 412 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:58,000 That was pretty cool! 413 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,000 Incredibly, their motorcycle did move, 414 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,000 even if 30 feet wasn't very far. 415 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,000 Can Jamie better that benchmark in test two? 416 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:15,000 There we go. 417 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:16,000 Clutch in. 418 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,000 Okay. 419 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:18,000 First gear. 420 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,000 Three, two... 421 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,000 Like last time... 422 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:28,000 Yeah! 423 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:29,000 Yeah! 424 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,000 That's a motorcycle! 425 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:32,000 Whoa! 426 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:36,000 Jamie is in control, but just barely. 427 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:39,000 Stop it! 428 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:41,000 Stop! 429 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:43,000 Brakes worked! 430 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,000 Hey, I used the brakes! 431 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,000 You were helping support it, though. 432 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,000 Oh, yeah, I was helping support it, man. 433 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,000 I'd do anything at this point. 434 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:58,000 So the good news is that we've got steering, 435 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,000 we have suspension, 436 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,000 and we have an effective way of getting power to the wheels. 437 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:05,000 Stop it! 438 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:07,000 Stop! 439 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,000 The bad news is that you have to ride this side-settle, 440 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,000 combined with the fact that you've got this massively heavy weight up high, 441 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,000 and you're trying to balance it off to the side, 442 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:21,000 it's effectively impossible to ride. 443 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:24,000 It's frustrating. 444 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:25,000 It is! 445 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:26,000 Because it's so beautiful! 446 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:27,000 I know! 447 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,000 This is the most beautiful thing we have ever made! 448 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,000 Look, this little powder puff here is beautiful, 449 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,000 and it's post-apocalyptic times five, 450 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:40,000 but what it's not is a viable motorcycle. 451 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:44,000 This is not the device that's going to get you 20 kilometers 452 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,000 from the middle of nowhere and into civilization. 453 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,000 Yep, to get out of dodge, 454 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,000 they're going to need a plan B. 455 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,000 At the pool. 456 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:00,000 Dude! 457 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:02,000 I'm on an amphibious bike! 458 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:07,000 The guys have proved this water bottle bicycle is no Photoshop fake. 459 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:08,000 This is great! 460 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,000 But with clear room for improvement, 461 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,000 Jamie wants to see if he can go one better. 462 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:23,000 I'm going to be using the exact same frame that Adam used on his amphibious bicycle. 463 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:24,000 Time to get to work. 464 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:27,000 With a clean slate, 465 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:33,000 can Jamie scratch-build a water bike where failure is not an option? 466 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:34,000 We'll go. 467 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,000 To find out, he's starting like Adam with the drive system. 468 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,000 It'll work. 469 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,000 But instead of 12 paddles, he's adding 20. 470 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:46,000 Love that tool. 471 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,000 For more power and more control. 472 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,000 Let's see how this looks. 473 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,000 Oh, it's perfect. 474 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,000 For buoyancy, he's ditching the simplicity of the water jugs 475 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,000 and going for some high-tech hydroform. 476 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:10,000 We take a piece of sheet metal and clamp it between two massive plates of steel. 477 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,000 You've cut out an almond-shaped hole in the top plate 478 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:18,000 and attached our pressure washer pump to a small hole in the bottom plate. 479 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,000 Now here's the fun part. 480 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,000 All we do is start the pump 481 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,000 and the water pressure pushes the sheet metal out the almond-shaped hole, 482 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,000 inflating it just like a balloon. 483 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:30,000 It's perfect! 484 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,000 Jamie hydroforms eight half-holes, 485 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,000 which are cut to size. 486 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:38,000 That's one. 487 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,000 Before being paired together. 488 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:46,000 The four resulting pontoons are not only super streamlined, 489 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,000 that's it. 490 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,000 They should be super buoyant. 491 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,000 There are a number of key differences between this bike 492 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:58,000 and the one that Adam built based on the photos. 493 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:02,000 Now the first and most obvious one is that the pontoons are tuna-shaped 494 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,000 because they should move through the water with less effort, 495 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,000 as well as provide me with better steering. 496 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:12,000 Now secondly, I've made the back pontoons able to telescope out. 497 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:13,000 Oh yeah. 498 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:16,000 It's perfect. 499 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:20,000 I'm hoping that the extra foot or two that I've put on these will keep me more stable. 500 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,000 Looks about right. 501 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,000 And then of course, last but not least, 502 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,000 I think it looks way cooler. 503 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,000 Indeed, but to see if it works, 504 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,000 Adam's up the ante with a head-to-head race. 505 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:39,000 Jamie and I now intend to test our amphibious commuter bikes fully. 506 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,000 That means land and sea. 507 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:44,000 So we've come here to beautiful Horseshoe Lake in Fremont, California 508 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:49,000 because it provides all the terrains pretty much any bicycle commuter is going to encounter. 509 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,000 We've got a little bit of pavement. 510 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,000 We've got some dirt roads and right down there behind me, 511 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:57,000 a beautiful placid lake to ride our bikes upon. 512 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,000 But first up, Jamie's going to test this bike and make sure it actually floats. 513 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,000 Jamie positions his front pontoons in the pond. 514 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,000 That's one set. 515 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:10,000 Before spreading out the rear ones for extra stability. 516 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,000 Then there's one last piece of mechanical modification. 517 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:22,000 An electric crankshaft that lowers the paddle wheel into the water. 518 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:25,000 Check that out. 519 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:28,000 And before you know it, 520 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:29,000 he's away. 521 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:30,000 It's working. 522 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,000 It's working exactly as it was designed. 523 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,000 Both forwards and backwards, 524 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,000 Jamie's design is looking good. 525 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,000 Almost too good. 526 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:46,000 One thing I'm wondering though is it looks like one pontoon is sinking. 527 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:48,000 Maybe a leak. 528 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,000 If the goal was to include a single-seater, 529 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,000 if the goal was to improve on Adam's design, 530 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,000 it's hardly mission accomplished. 531 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,000 But with a competition coming up, 532 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,000 Jamie's not going to abandon ship. 533 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:25,000 The story goes that an ingenious engineer turned a motor car into a motorcycle 534 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:27,000 to escape death in the desert. 535 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:31,000 But Adam and Jamie's design 536 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,000 Alright, civilization, here we come. 537 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:37,000 Gained closer to causing death 538 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:38,000 Stop that. 539 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:40,000 Stop. 540 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:41,000 Than preventing it. 541 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,000 But all is not lost. 542 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:48,000 Because back at the shop, 543 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:53,000 the guys of unearth a series of photos that supposedly show the real deal. 544 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,000 Oh, that's fascinating. 545 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,000 Back at the start of this episode, 546 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,000 Jamie and I decided to build our motorcycle without reference to these photos. 547 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,000 And we did that partly because people say these are fake. 548 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,000 Oh, same drive system. 549 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:09,000 But given that our bike didn't work, 550 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:12,000 we're now going to rebuild it to these specs. 551 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:15,000 The engine must be reversed. 552 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:19,000 What's interesting is that both of our design approaches, 553 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:20,000 while incredibly similar, 554 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:23,000 for instance, we use the exact same drive system, 555 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,000 they differ in two distinct ways 556 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:29,000 that may give his design a better chance of working than ours. 557 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,000 Alright, graphics, help me out. 558 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,000 So, this is our bike. 559 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,000 Note the rack and pinion steering and the engine high up on the back. 560 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:39,000 It's these that made our bike hard to balance. 561 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:43,000 But the French guy not only replaced the steering wheel with a tiller system 562 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,000 that ought to give better control, 563 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,000 but he also lifted the engine up, spun it around, 564 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,000 and placed it in the middle, 565 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:54,000 giving the bike a much more easy to handle center of gravity. 566 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,000 But there's a problem when you flip the engine to 180 degrees, 567 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:01,000 and that is the only gear you can make the bike move forward with is reverse. 568 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:07,000 And I don't know if the reverse gear can actually make this thing move fast enough to be stable. 569 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:13,000 To find out, it's time to turn transformers. 570 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,000 One last time. 571 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,000 We don't need this anymore. 572 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:21,000 Only now, they're not only following the Frenchman's photos, 573 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:26,000 they're also using power tools to power through. 574 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,000 We've already proven that we can put together something like this 575 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:32,000 using only those simple tools that the guy had. 576 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:36,000 So, this time, we're gonna use whatever we have handy here in the shop, 577 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,000 and that'll just make it go quicker. 578 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,000 That would have taken a while with the hacks off. 579 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:44,000 Yeah, like a day or two. 580 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:47,000 With a hole cut for the rear wheel, 581 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:48,000 Look at that. 582 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,000 the guys next centralize the engine. 583 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:52,000 That looks about right. 584 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,000 We can lock it down about there. 585 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:58,000 And when Jamie adds a steering system that seems stable, 586 00:32:58,000 --> 00:32:59,000 Oh my God. 587 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:01,000 Is it significant? 588 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,000 Oh yeah, no problem. 589 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:06,000 The guys are confident. 590 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,000 I love that. 591 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,000 But before this bike hits the road, 592 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,000 Two others are gonna have a river race off. 593 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:17,000 This is a tale of two bicycles. 594 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:20,000 One is one whose design we found online and replicated it. 595 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,000 It worked on the water far better than we thought it would. 596 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:28,000 Thus, we'd like to run it through a full set of amphibious computer vehicle paces. 597 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:29,000 Yeah! 598 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,000 At the same time, that design gave Jamie some ideas 599 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,000 and he thought he could improve upon the original. 600 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,000 Thus, he's completed a bike. 601 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:42,000 We're gonna run through the same paces to see if he has in fact succeeded at that task. 602 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,000 Jamie's proof of concept started well. 603 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:47,000 Ha ha! 604 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,000 But ended badly. 605 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,000 But a quick leak fix later, 606 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:58,000 and Jamie's all set for a duck pond drag race. 607 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:02,000 Alright. 608 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:03,000 You ready? 609 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:04,000 Yeah. 610 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:06,000 Amphibious conversion. 611 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:07,000 Implement! 612 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:11,000 The rules are simple. 613 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,000 The guys must transform their bikes into water mode. 614 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,000 Okay, where's number one pen? 615 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:18,000 There we go. 616 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:23,000 Before pedaling to a buoy and back. 617 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:25,000 There we go! 618 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:26,000 And we're off! 619 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,000 First back to the beach boasts the best design. 620 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:33,000 Leaving Heinemann in the dust. 621 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:40,000 I am happy to say that I handily beat Jamie in the conversion to amphibious mode. 622 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:41,000 Ha ha ha! 623 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:42,000 I'm way ahead! 624 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:47,000 I was in the water a good probably 60 seconds before he was 625 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:52,000 and pedaling furiously, as furiously as I could, towards our buoy. 626 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,000 And I thought that I was gonna be able to keep up that lead. 627 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,000 I would say funny things when I'm getting tired. 628 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,000 But sadly, I was totally mistaken because once Jamie started pedaling, 629 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:07,000 it was really clear that his bike was so much more hydrodynamic than mine. 630 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:10,000 Ah, he's catching up! 631 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:13,000 Come on! 632 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:15,000 Come on! 633 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:16,000 We gotta get some more raw power! 634 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,000 Jamie's so much faster in the water that he quickly overtook me. 635 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:27,000 Now, I started pedaling harder, but I was in danger of skipping my chain. 636 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:30,000 And if I did, that was a guaranteed loss. 637 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,000 Ah, I thought this was mine! 638 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:34,000 Come on! 639 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,000 Maybe I'll catch you upwind, Jamie. 640 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:37,000 Yes! 641 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:39,000 Here we go! 642 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,000 So I had to stay slow and steady. 643 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:46,000 Unfortunately, that didn't keep me a consistent distance behind Jamie. 644 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:47,000 Good luck there, little buddy! 645 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:51,000 He kept on outpacing me. 646 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,000 Look, I can actually see a wake! He's leaving a wake! 647 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:59,000 And ended up reaching the shore a good probably three or four minutes before I did. 648 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:00,000 Ding! 649 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,000 And a lot less winded. 650 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:04,000 Worked like a champ! 651 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,000 His bike won, handling. 652 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:08,000 Ah! 653 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:10,000 Come on! 654 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:17,000 I'm glad this turned out the way that it did, because these shapes, even though they did take more work, were far more streamlined, 655 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,000 and it was quite easy to move it through the water. 656 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:24,000 The amount of effort due to the size of the paddles was lower. 657 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,000 It meant that I could pedal a little quicker. 658 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:30,000 It did sling a little more water up my butt, but I'll settle for that. 659 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:33,000 All in all, I'm pretty happy with how it behaved. 660 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:41,000 Well, I am impressed with the design we pulled up, the internet. 661 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:42,000 I'd say it's confirmed. 662 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:47,000 Yeah, I'd say as well. This one worked better, but the concept is sound. 663 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:48,000 Absolutely. 664 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:51,000 Alright, if you don't mind, I'm going to walk back to the car. 665 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:52,000 Okay, I'll race you. 666 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:53,000 Okay. 667 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,000 So, one tale of transformation is triumphant. 668 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:05,000 Will their motorcycle from Motor Car make it two for two? 669 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:17,000 You know, over the years, Jamie and I have gotten the chance to ride on some pre-unconventional vehicles. 670 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:19,000 We've sailed in a boat made solely of duct tape. 671 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:20,000 Yeehaw! 672 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:25,000 Driven as sports car mounted backwards on its frame. 673 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:28,000 Driven a truck with square wheels. 674 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,000 Heck, we've even taken a ride in the mouth of a great white shark. 675 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:39,000 How is this little puppy going to compare to that litany of amazing vehicles? 676 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:41,000 Well, we're going to find out very soon. 677 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:56,000 Jamie and I have been investigating a very cool story about a Frenchman who turned his car into a motorcycle to get him back to civilization. 678 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:59,000 Now, Jamie and I turned our car into a motorcycle. 679 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,000 That is badass right there. 680 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:05,000 Except that, well, we couldn't drive it. 681 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:06,000 Stop it! 682 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:08,000 Stop! 683 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:14,000 So, we've gone back to our motorcycle, reconfigured it to the Frenchman's specs, 684 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:21,000 and now we've come back where this all began at the Alameda runway to see just how drivable this motorcycle might be. 685 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:30,000 After a double transformation, their Mad Max motorcycle is on the final straight. 686 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:33,000 But will it be their ticket to ride? 687 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:35,000 Jamie's up first. 688 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:40,000 The bike now feels much, much better, but it's either going to work or it isn't. 689 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:43,000 Hopefully, I can bail out without breaking my legs on it. 690 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:47,000 With stable steering and a lower center of gravity. 691 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:48,000 Come on, baby. 692 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,000 Yeah! Yeah! 693 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,000 This bike should be better balanced. 694 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,000 You feeling good? 695 00:38:57,000 --> 00:38:58,000 No! 696 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:05,000 But with reverse gear, as its only option, will it go fast enough for a smooth ride? 697 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:08,000 Here we go. Three, two, one! 698 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:10,000 F***! 699 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:12,000 F***! 700 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:17,000 Woo! 701 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:19,000 Hold on, hold on! 702 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:21,000 Dude! 703 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:23,000 Well, it was sort of going. 704 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,000 That was going! 705 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:31,000 But I gotta say, that was actually a pretty good RPM and it was barely enough to keep it upright. 706 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:36,000 Well, that was your only way back to civilization. I would choose this over nothing. 707 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:38,000 I'm not so sure. 708 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:42,000 Despite the unstable steering, the bike is still stable. 709 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:47,000 I'm not going to bring me back to civilization. I would choose this over nothing. 710 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:49,000 I'm not so sure. 711 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:56,000 Despite the unstable start, Jamie did travel a hundred feet, twice as far as his previous best. 712 00:39:56,000 --> 00:40:02,000 But with reverse gear providing little in the way of thrust, balance was still a beast. 713 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:06,000 So it's Adam's final chance. 714 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:10,000 With the RPM cranked to the very max... 715 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:12,000 This thing is terrifying! 716 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:15,000 ...will he escape to victory? 717 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:17,000 Three, two, one! 718 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:20,000 Three, two, one! 719 00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:46,000 Wow! 720 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,000 I have ridden a lot of vehicles in my life. 721 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:56,000 This is hands down the scariest thing I've ever straddled. 722 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:57,000 Look at it this way. 723 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:01,000 I'm able to jump free as evidenced by the film we just got. 724 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:07,000 But if I didn't jump free, if I got any part of me caught under this 600 pounds of steel, 725 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:11,000 I would be seriously, seriously damaged. 726 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,000 That's the definition of scary. 727 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:17,000 With a total journey of just 150 feet, 728 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:21,000 it's not good news for the myth. 729 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:23,000 This one is so close. 730 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:29,000 It's right on the knife edge between busted and plausible, but let's look at some of the parameters. 731 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:36,000 Every two-wheel vehicle needs a certain amount of forward speed in order to stay at balance. 732 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:42,000 And this thing, which can only run in reverse gear, remember, because of the way it's mechanically driven, 733 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:50,000 the full throttle is going at about jogging speed, which in our tests is just not enough to keep it upright reliably. 734 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:55,000 Look, Adam and I, between the two of us, we can pretty well drive anything that moves. 735 00:41:55,000 --> 00:42:03,000 But even in a perfectly flat surface like this, in ideal conditions, this thing is undriveable. 736 00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:11,000 Man, I went back and forth on whether this thing was going to be plausible about six different times during that story, 737 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:14,000 but I think we agree where it ends up. 738 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:15,000 Yeah, it's busted. 739 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:16,000 It's totally busted. 740 00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:18,000 Well, see you back at the shop. 741 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:19,000 All right.