Alan Cathcart testing the pre-production prototype.
Early concept sketches for the initial Aprilia-based clay, 2002. Design #6 (bottom left) was selected for the first model. #7 kicked off the second phase in 2003.
Refining the details before starting the second model.
Getting there on the design, April 2003.
Sort of the final sketch pre-clay, August 2003. Original was in red - yellow was suggested as an alternative for the show bike just a few days before completion.
Foam buck plus chipboard mounts to carry the weight of the clay for the side panels. Behind is an earlier clay we built based on an Aprilia RSV 1000.
The final forms start to take shape. The clay design was completed in 6 weeks, including building the buck. Symmetry, GRP molds, carbon-fiber lay-ups, detail, trim, painting and assembly was done in another 6 weeks.
Part of the model-making time involved building a rudimentary bridge so the surface data could be mirrored onto the other side.
Gemini's Mark Daniels detailing the headlights on the clay model, January 2004.
Show bike mock-up ready to be shipped to the 2004 Indianapolis Powersports Show. The Gemini guys worked through the night to get it completed.
Show bike mock-up.
Show bike mock-up, rear view.
Publicity shot of the pre-production prototype.
Running prototype was tested by Alan Cathcart with very positive feedback.
Nice action shot with Cathcart.
The production version was developed in CAD by a separate company, who had a tendency to lose the plot when it came to the body forms. Reaching an acceptable compromise took a lot of sketches like these. It looks like CAD, but it's actually hand-drawn over a modified CAD printout.
First production version - photo shoot.
Fischer production line in Pocomoke City, Maryland, ca.2009. The tank had been modified by the CAD guys beyond recognition, and the end result was a massive compromise that was a long way from what I'd intended. Never was happy with it, but hey, you should've seen the one they were planning to build!
Top view shows the split between the airbox (front) and tank (rear) in black. The yellow parts were just covers. The whole bike (mudguard too on the prototype) was designed not to quite meet in the middle, so that any inaccuracies in the first batch of hand-lay-ups would be less noticeable.
Production bike with a romantic backdrop (!), ca.2009.
Track tool looks pretty cool too.
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Fischer MRX
Fischer MRX
Phase 1 (Rotax 1000cc)
sketches, 1:1 clay model - 2002
Phase 2 (Hyosung 650cc)
sketches, 1:1 clay model - 2003
carbon fiber show bike February 2004
