Jeff Harp is just a normal guy with a normal day job. He has
a wife and two kids with whom he loves to spend time. Like a lot of people, he likes
to tinker out in his garage and calls himself a "hobby machinist."
But unlike most of us, when Jeff Harp goes into his garage,
he does more than just get his hands dirty and greasy.
Spending one night a week in his shop, Harp has developed
what he calls "a new type of dirt bike." The bike, which Harp has dubbed the
Anomaly, has been in the works for a long time. Harp started making hand
sketches in 2005 and the first computer models of his Anomaly bike were
started in 2007.
"The Anomaly dirt bike designs are driven by functional
improvements over what exists, not for some overpowering need to appear
different," says Harp. He started with a vision of a 600cc bike with a lower
center of gravity that would improve agility while maintaining power and
stability. He says that this type of weight distribution can potentially yield
benefits for trail riders, desert racers and hillclimbers but that it's not
anticipated to help supercrossers or stunt jumpers.
Harp's Anomaly SV2 (shop version 2) utilizes a straight-pull
suspension (SPS) system designed to take the bike's rotational swing arm
movement and translate it into linear movement. A tension rod going through the
center axis of a spring provides suspension for the wheel. According to Harp,
the SPS system makes for a nearly straight pulling action through the use of linkages
that counteract the arcing movement of the swing arm.
Harp has been out for test rides on the SV2 several times
and has been pleasantly surprised with the results. However, he admits it's far
from a finished product.
Harp holds a provisional application for a patent for the
Anomaly SV2, meaning he has one year from the date the application was filed to
finish his work on it and gain a patent. "I really need to get going and get
this out to see if any manufacturers have any interest in this bike," says
Harp. "However, if I never saw a dime, it has been a blast to build."
Many more details are included in the attached PDF.
