Weird motorcycle - BRILLIANT INVENTION! “The handling of this bike was close to telepathy…” 

I used to ride in a group with Dan, Danny Jr, Kevin Erion and some of the guys from AAR and also HRC in Torrance. I'll tell ya that old man was hard to keep up with on that Alligator out on Ortega Hwy even on the full sport bikes we all had. It was amazing the cornering speeds he could carry on that bike. Plus when we stopped he had some great stories. RIP DG

I never knew this existed, but I've always liked my cruiser bikes to feel like I was part of the bike, rather than just sitting on top of it. Definitely looks like it would be comfortable, and relaxed to ride.

I've known two people who own these bikes. Asking both of them about what it's like to ride, they both say it's not "bad", but clumsy until you reach a certain speed. I never rode one out on the open road, but I was given the opportunity. I took off across the parking lot with the intention of riding the bike out on the road, but it felt so clumsy and unstable that I immediately lost interest. When I brought it back the owner told me that most people do that. Following one down the road, they always looked wobbly and unstable going around corners. In fact, watching this video you can see the guy on the racetrack wobbling noticably while the video talks about the "telepathic handling" 😁 Sorry, but these were not great handling machines lost to history because the masses didn't understand how good they were. These were a very interesting pet project that ultimately just didn't perform well, therefore nobody wanted them. It's a low seat step thru scooter with large wheels.

Mr. Gurney was a real example of excellence. I always hoped that this motorcycle would come to become a regular-production machine.

Finally, a recumbent motorcycle.

I have built several recumbent motorcycles. Some of my builds are almost 9 ft. I think if he would have stretched it out just a few more inches had the seat laid back a smidge more and brought the handlebars back to the rider it would have been more comfortable to ride. He was one of my inspirations for when I was first starting building recumbent motorcycles.

That's an astonishing bike. Certainly deserves maybe even more development by one of the big motorcycle manufacturers.

Craig Vetter had a fuel economy challenge some years ago where they rode across country and the winner was the one that got the best mpg! Almost all of them was designed low like this one. Craig had a low tech formula for high mpg. Aerodynamics + 125 - 250cc four stroke single cylinder+ tall gearing. " It doesn't use fuel until the piston goes bang"!

Four-time 500cc GP World Champion Eddie Lawson owns an A6 Alligator, chassis #21, in the Eagle blue and white livery. In 2018, Eddie rode his Gator with us over the backroads of Monterey County, and I had him following me over the super bumpy Carmel Valley Rd…until he finally wicked it up and disappeared in the distance!

Reminds me a LOT of the Honda Helix! I remember being shocked at how long the wheelbase was and how odd the whole thing was until I took it out for a ride. Actually handled really well and was a blast on backroads. Not to mention comfortable

All throughout the video, I was thinking the design looked familiar and it only hit me in the end. I'm wondering now if Kaneda's bike from the cult classic Akira took inspiration from this since they share a very similar design.

Please subscribe, it will be interesting here🤝

The 1953 Norton Kneeler seem like a better way to lower the CG. I couldn't just sit on the Gurney Alligator and take the punishment to my spine, then again my knees wouldn't be too happy after a couple of hours on the Norton! Visibility is the main drawback, seeing and being seen, we all know the consequences of poor visibility. I'm a skinny old man and still ride a sport bike. With knee and shoulder injuries, spreading out my weight seems like the most efficient way to keep riding.

As a short person myself, I think it's really amazing to reach the ground with both feet while also being able to ride a bike with a large-diameter wheel......but I think the handle is too high for the person down to the ground..... Akira bike design is pretty cool

Ever since I discovered the Gurney Alligator motorcycles I've thought it would be could to build a similar chassis for a sport touring type bike built from a 2nd generation Yamaha VMax. In all the time I've pondered the thought of what if, I've yet to see how this could be a bad idea.

I keep thinking of the Quasar from the 1970's or th monotracer.

See also Quasar, Voyager - both pre-dating the Alligator. This fact takes nothing away from Gurney and his achievements, but serves as a reminder to fact check what the internet tells us 😎

Anyone else here after watching a video called “design matters”? It’s a short video about an English guy doing pretty much the same thing, I’d guess around the same time. He had a very different take on the steering, both cool looking bikes and the idea seems to live on with custom builders making recumbent motorbikes.

This guy helped fine time the handling of my car too, every time I hear about him it's always something new & impressive like this

Recumbent doesn't catch on because it leaves you feeling vulnerable. Combination of not having the ability to stand on the pegs for bumps and being low in the traffic is enough for most rider to pass on this.

This is just what I've been looking for.

This is what we need. So much of handling on a motorcycle is all about low center of gravity, and if you can do that and make it comfortable, well that's about it. I believe there is some benefit for the ride in making it with a longer wheelbase also.

Getting 70+hp out of an xr650l motor is a stunning achievement on its own.

😮 this man did what he set out to do for sure. I so want one.

I like how the headlight was taken from a F4 Honda. Incredible build architecture from one's vision! Thanks Dan Gurney!

Would like to see a recumbent sport bike with light weight wheels and powerful inline four for riding twisties.

You said there hasn't been a bike like it since but Honda made the nm4 in 2014

Heard about this bike years ago, but never found out what happened to it. Thanks for the closure Weirdbike. As a modern hi-perf scooter owner, I see some advantages in the Gurney machine and at least one disadvantage. First the advantages. The power to weight ratio is far better than any of the modern hi-perf offerings and top end output much better. The lack of full body enclosure would make working on the Alligator MUCH easier as opposed to having to remove numerous body panels even to do minor maintenance. The low center of gravity would certainly help in the handling dept. and the comments below attest to this. Disadvantage: Only one that I can tell from the video; a locked-in-one-position seating posture. My 2013 Kymco Xciting 500 Ri scooter is guilty of the latter, and I can't stretch out enuff for comfort ( I'm just under 6'). I'm currently considering another brand hi-perf scooter, and if anyone knows about a late model Gilera GP 800 with moderate mileage for sale, send me an email.

Great idea. I Want one.

It would be interesting to see this reengineered with an electric motor & large (for a bike) battery

Fantastic job on this video

I was just at the Peterson Automotive museum and saw this for the first time ever and now this video gets suggested to me. What a coincidence. Great video btw.

Excellent video. Really I was searching a video like this for years, Alligator is a great motorbike!

Thanks for doing a bit on this unusual bike, I remember Dan working on this and reading some articles on it as he developed it, too bod it never went into full production!!

Used to see these on Ortega Hwy from time to time. Gurney was almost always on a Harley. Fun chasing him up the road. I was usually on my VFR 800 or my RC51.

I wouldn't want to give up the higher visibility over standard sedans just for that lower center of gravity.

I love everything about this bike

Buell? Buell'er! Erik Buell? This seems right up your alley to make!

Low Center of gravity, that handles well. As any cruiser can confirm … wait!

Honestly, i dont see why MORE bikes arent like this to begin with. Most bikes you feel like your going to slide off them when speeding up. So it would be REALLY comfortable to be able to just relax on one. But i have to admit, this thing is probably UNCOMFORTABLE as all hell on long rides. But you COULD bid on one today and get it for about $17,000 or more.

Very interesting video! I had no idea this existed. Great work!

Ah, the old Feet First Bikes. I remember the 1975 Quaser that was going to revolutionise the world ;-)

I drove behind a few of these on the 91 towards Corona (CA) years ago. Fun to look at, but never saw them again.

I always hated the original seating on motorcycles. This makes so much sense

Im not a motorcyclist,love all bikes though obsesively😂😂....first time seeing this bike and loving it..❤❤🇿🇦👏

Is great design and works well, but it takes BIG money to put it into production. If they were made at a reasonable price today the operation making them would make BIG MONEY. If say Honda, or Royal Enfield built one today with one of their more advanced engines they could be marketed as a scooter with attitude, like the touring Bergmans from Suzuki.

This is very cool.

Good video. One minor suggestion, I think you’d have been more on point to compare Dan Gurney to Jim Hall and Jack Brabham, who were also successful drivers, engineers and developed their own brands of racing car.

the design actually makes sense. probably ahead of its time. it would only need a good community for it to takeoff in the market.

Saw a couple many years ago, near Mount Palomar. Looked weird, but went fairly quickly through the corners.

Lots of ff bikes in UK from the 70s+80s so nothing new ......

What a gem... Needs a canopy and a Vyrus like front suspension

There should be kits for this bike accommodating specific engines. I would absolutely love one with 1300 Honda!

As the owner of a long wheelbase recumbent bicycle I can appreciate the riding advantages of this motorcycle. Always wanted one. My one concern would be while you are certainly noticed by drivers in open areas, riding amongst typically large SUVs and trucks on a busy road makes you essentially invisible. You are when seated the height of a standard riderless motorcycle. So it would be a fun Sunday morning bike on rural roads.

I think this bike is in the Petersen Auto Museum in L.A. I saw it there a few years ago so probably still there.

Common sense when you look at it I suppose. Far more aerodynamic and lowered centre of gravity. Very clever.

What amazes me is that none of the custom motorcycle builders on 90’s, and beyond, cable TV shows, never made anything like a recumbent style motorcycle!. lack of imagination l guess . BTW check out the Honda NM4 (now out of production), and Suzuki’s “G Strider” concept.

It does look comfy. Probably great for all day rides.

Cool design, i hope there's mitigations related to potential sudden brakes and engine temperatures towards the rider body

I may sleep while driving 😊

I STILL want to ride one! Though if I were to buy one, I'd definitely want more power. Something in the 110-140hp range with 65-80 lb-ft of torque. Either a crossplane twin or a triple.

The hump on top of the GT40 is known as the Gurney bubble.

When a motorcycle has a one-night stand with a SCOOTER.... this is the offspring.

I'm a big fan of Mr. Gurney, his process is well thought out and successful in the end. I would have loved to see his Alligator with the twin cylinder engine design he did. I have a blueprint of this engine on my garage wall, a thing of beauty.

Why did i immediately start hearing "low riideeer" in my head when this started playing?

I wish I had a tube bender and knew how to weld. I'd build something like that for myself cause that's cool af

Amazing lumbar support but I doubt the thoracic spine would take a jolt from the rear wheel.

Cool motorcycle...closest to Kaneda's bike....from Akira😊

It looks like Eric Buell learned a thing or two from Mr. Gurney.

I NEVER knew this even existed. New sub'd here. Mike in Commiefornia.

Never heard of that bike i bet it was a blast to ride

Good stuff.i own the xr650l itz a beast .

Lookes like it would make a great electric motorcycle.

I swear I have been looking for this for decades now, saw these bikes on a documentary some 20 something years ago, but could never find anything on the Alligator so far, I just couldn't believe the thumbnail when I saw it!!!

Ive seen one before but it was called a recumbent. Like the bicycles.

Look 's like a modern ner-a-car, it is a really usefull invention!

It's just the low centre of gravity that improves handling, although other factors are involved such as rake and trail etc, though I wouldn't feel safe with feet forward position

So basically it's the Honda Helix seating position. No wonder everyone liked it.

as an old man with a very bad back, i would love this.... (depending on suspension too...). getting on & off is the main impetus....

Really makes sense to design a bike like this. Should handle really well. But wouldn't want to know what happens to the private parts in case of a collision 😅

yay! I can flat foot both sides!

It’s a recumbent. ❤

Still trying to wrap my head around it. Never judge a bike by the first couple mins on it. Just cause you are not used to it, does not mean it's not great geometry or balance.

I always wondered why we didn’t build bikes like this keep the center of gravity lower allowing us to really grind the tires off on the curves.

I would very much like to take it for a ride.. it sounds interesting..

It makes a lot of sense. Single-seater racing cars (F1, Indy) all seat the driver low down.

That’s a cool scooter.

Followed Mr Gurney up Ortega Highway many times on one of his prototypes. The first time I was just trying to figure out what it was.

That’s Akira position!😬

been riding 50 years this could help me ride another 50 like it thnx

haha that looks really clumsy to ride. Good luck keeping up with even the 600cc boys in the bends.

I want an Alligator. The “sport” aspect of it doesn’t concern me. It just looks like it would be a very comfortable commuter.

Can only imagine what it’d look like if Dan had seen Akira. This has serious kaneda’s bike vibe

I swear I recall a motorcycle from the ‘80’s with that same seating position.🤔

I used to see these guys on Ortega Highway/Highway 74 in the early 2000's.

Scooters, am I a joke to you? . Neat machine nevertheless, thanks for the vid, subscribed!

I would like to take one of these and put a thick plush seat on it. Even after doing that it still would be a really low seat. Then I would make a cruiser or possibly even a chopper-ish type of cruiser out of it.

I've wanted one of these for a long ass time. Shame they're so rare.

Finally a bike for Cotton Hill!

Dear Santa, I want one, please...