It’s called ‘Nightmare’ and could be the military transport of the future. It’s the new prototype from LSA Autonomy in America is perhaps the world’s most sinister motorcycle.
It’s also one of the cleverest. Funding from DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has resulted in not one but two such prototypes from rival firms. As well as LSA’s Nightmare there’s the similarly-designed Silent Hawk from Logos.
Both bikes feature engines but are basically electric. The multi-fuel diesels, which can run on almost any liquid that burns, charge battery packs that in turn power electric motors. Both rival bikes are two-wheel-drive, with motors at both ends, and can run in whisper-quiet electric-only mode when necessary.
Alternatively they can use their on-board engines to give longer range. It’s even possible to plug other electrical equipment in and use the bikes as mobile, self-propelled generator units in the battlefield.
The huge silencer on the Nightmare shows that even with the multi-fuel engine running, it’s still very quiet. It manages around 80dB compared to 55dB in electric mode. Elements like belt drive instead of a chain help keep noise levels down.
While the Nightmare is developed from scratch, the Silent Hawk is a variant of the existing Redshift MX electric bike from Alta Motors.
