Pros and Cons of the Leitra

Michael's opinion - what I like

• Steering is very accurate and responsive and you don't need much force either. It really is fun to drive! The geometry of the steering mechanism is designed to fulfill the Ackermann condition, which basically means, that the hubs of the wheels always have to point to the turning center (for those physicists out there like me you can take a look here)
• The ventillation flaps are really cleverly placed. When opened, the stream of air goes exactly where it helps cooling your body most effectively
• If you take a closer look at the front downside of the fairing (the black part), you will notice that it is bent a bit forward just as you can see it on some high speed trains. This is done intentionally: it helps the aerodynamics to prevent turbulence developing on the underside of the vehicle. This means, in spite of being open, the Leitra does not collect spray from the underside of the bike which would otherwise enter the cabin. Also, it means that you have less air moving around if you don't want so. If you close the ventillation flaps at the front you encounter almost no wind inside. But still the windows stay clear because the humid air cand exit the cabin at the downside.
• The window is placed close to the driver's head, which minimizes the necessary size of the window for a good view outside and therefore also minimizes the greenhouse effect. In summer, when it is really hot, it is not hotter inside the Leitra as it is outside. The front window is made of scratch-resistant glass which makes it possible to mount a windscreen wiper.
• There are no dampers installed in the Leitra, because this would consume energy which would have to be produced by the driver. The carbon fiber springs are stiff enough to be able to use them without damping but soft enough to give a reasonably smooth ride. A very good compromise indeed!

Please notice the important remarks and the disclaimer on my main page.