Shock absorber ‘Kisai-528’ watch is motorcycle inspired. (update)

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Design submitted by Peter from the UK.

Peter says: I could go into a long winded story about my interests in all things car and motorbike related but by now you have all guessed that I am a petrol head. So I decided to do yet another motorcyle inspired design because it floated my boat 🙂

One of the things I like about motorcyles is the fact that a lot of the components are visible and they have a very pruposeful engineered look. I wanted to transmit that ethos into a watch deisgn.

The chassis of the watch is reminicent of a motorycle frame, this chassis captivates the watch modual and connects the bracelet strap halves. The strap halves would be regid components sprung biased in the closed position ( this could have an “over top dead centre” arrangement which would hold the straps in either the fully open position or fully closed) The spring much like a shock absorber on a motorcycle is also visible.

The time telling is told by two columns of LEDs either side of the spring, the white LEDs (like a headlight) describe the hours, the red LEDs (you guessed it like a tail light) describe 5min groups and the indicator orange LEDs describe single minutes.

This watch is unashamebly literal and industrial so may well only appeal to fellow petrol head and people with a similar mindset to myself (god help them!)

Hopefully it will also temp people who are into manga and mecha too 🙂

The motorcycle inspired chassis and strap suspension combined with LED time telling with hopefully help this design stand out from the crowd! 😀

UPDATE: In reply to feedback on the blog I have done a few new images for 528. One is just a new colour combination for Xian, the other two are variations on the display style. I have continued the triangulation of the frame into the display. One is embossed and the other is machined.

39 thoughts on “Shock absorber ‘Kisai-528’ watch is motorcycle inspired. (update)”

  2. Wow superb! Very very nice watch.
    Pete, could you inform me about the closure of the bracelet, that seems to it very interesting.
    5 stars and big Yes, yes!

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    • Glad you likey Patrick, the bracelet mechanism is very simple.
      The spring on top of the watch keeps the bracelet closed, to open you have to compress the spring so it would never fall of the wrist. Alternatively there could be a over top dead centre feature than means that when the bracelet is opened to a certain distance it stays open. (rather like the way some shop doors work, they are sprung so they self close unless you open them beyond 90degrees) Cheers for the support sir! 😀

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  3. It great to see this excellent Concept has been added to the Blog. It sure to get any petrol head, moot sport enthusiast or biker’s engine revved up.

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  4. When I saw this I didn’t think much of it, as I assumed the shock absorber was just there for decoration… When I realised it was part of the strap mechanism, it dawned on me how cool this design is. As a fan of most things mechanical, this is right up there for me.

    If I have a criticism, it’s that the watch function almost seems a little perfunctory and secondary. But I’d probably spend all my time playing with the strap anyway…=) Not that that’s a bad thing.
    I’d like to see the display be a little more visually thematic… Suggestion; what about making the trellis frame on the sides curve or otherwise continue onto the top of the watch, and making the LEDs shine through the gaps? It’d be a pretty dense trellis if each light got its own gap, but maybe there can be two lights per opening? Or there could be a perforated sheet of metal on top of the LEDs, to mimic the weight saving holes some vehicle components have?

    As for feasability, it shouldn’t be that tricky; the most complicated part looks to be the shock, and there are loads of those available (and in different sizes, colours and materials) for radio controlled model cars… Good luck mate!

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    • Hey Anders, Cheers for the thoughtful feedback and giving the concept a chance to endear itself.
      You make a good point about the display. It could be made more in keeping with the theme.
      It would be cool if the leds shone through machined gaps like you say. Shinsoku and fire both has an element like that which really worked well and would be easily made. I will have to have a play at an update if I get a spare moment.
      Cheers again! 😀

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    • I like the idea of continuing the triangular trellis into the display. Three LEDs per triangle would make sense and also make the time telling easier. The trick I think will be to make the display trellis distinctly different from the chassis just so it dosen’t get too samey. Being in a contrasting colour or finish may well be enough 🙂

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  5. Absolutely outstanding :Þ~~~ Although it’s moto inspired, it feels architectural for me… except the damper, although some crazy architect might use such too. I really like that the visually dominant damper is used for the strap clamp closing mechanism. Having a functional reason next to the visual one is good, really good. Time telling is within the topic and is easy. It’s not super duper brand new but more wouldn’t do more. It’s tamely embedded in the geometry and works fine. The geometry… wow Pete. Really wantable. Now you just have to give me the solution for multiple wrist sizes and then it’s perfect (within my subjective terminology). Great work. 5*/VROOOM

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    • I think that the sprung nature of the bracelet would allow it to be pretty tolerant of wirst size. As long as it isnt too loose on small wrists when fully closed it should be ok. If you have a large wrist the bracelet wouldnt fully close but the sping would keep it secure. The only issue would be making it comfortable in that instance.
      Alternately a interchangeale bracelet liner could be a possible something that just clips to the inside of the bracelet in a soft material (like the different size silicone buds you get when you buy in-ear headphones)
      Cheers for the great feedback and support sir! 😀

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  6. It just so happens that my coworker is about to buy a Ducati Monster, and your concept indeed reminds me of its frame. If you want his money, make the chassis red, the strap white, the spring yellow and everything underneath black: those are the colors of his bike (on their website) and I think it looks awesome. I love that the spring serves a purpose. My only concern, and perhaps it’s a personal issue, is that from the top this concept may resemble…a certain part of the female anatomy. Maybe that’s a good thing? Good luck, Pete!

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    • Nice colour suggestion Xian! Yeah there could be few specific colour combos so people could match it in with their pride and joy!
      Regards the resemblance to a ladies “special place” lol I did some squinting and maybe there could be some resemblance. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Sex sells after all, and motorbikes are often curved shapes that could be described as sultry I guess. Cheers for the feedback sir! 😀

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  7. I’m not into motorbikes, but that doesn’t stop me liking this design. The watch just looks great.
    I am not sure about the bracelet, though. Having read your response to Sam, I am still unsure. Personally, I like my watches to be an exact fit and wouldn’t want any chance of a loose fit and the watch slipping around my wrist. Nor would I want a tight, uncomfortable fit. Shame, cos it looks so good.
    Ignoring the strap challenges, as some people will manage, this design is definitely 5* material. Good luck.

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    • Cheers for the feedback Nev! I’m sure if they were to go with the interchangeable liner route I’m sure that a good fit could be accomplished for the majority of wrists. Fingers crossed that a developed version would tempt you 🙂

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  8. if i may make one suggestion, try making the body meet the band more seamlessly and using a beefier hex head. don’t get me wrong i love this watch its only a suggestion, your thoughts?

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    • The band could easily flow better into the body for sure. I guess I went for the simple and maybe a little crude look. The mountings for the shock could be more organic and blend back into the strap.
      Regarding the hex head, would you suggest a larger diameter of hex socket style or more like a hex head bolt (male rather than female etc)?
      This is one of those concepts were there are so many possibilities, that picking the best one or combinations of details is tricky (but hopefully worth it 🙂 ) Cheers for the feedback sir! 🙂

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  9. nothing crud about this watch at all. I like the hex as is but larger so it stands out and center rather than the current size which can overlooked at first glance

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    • Im planning to have a little play with it tonight (hope that doesnt sound too dodgy lol) and see what I can do to improve that area as well as Anders’s suggestion with the display. Watch this space 🙂

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  10. Another awesome design Pete, I am going to have to sell my soul to get enough likes for TF to make it, I want one.
    The clasp concept is right up an engineers street as it has functionality and design in one. The space frame chassis is definitely in line with not only the Ducati (dribble), but also the SVF from Suzuki.
    Kids may like it too as is speaks of Lego Technics, so you definitely have a winning concept again. Got my vote.

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    • Haha Im sure that a soul can be used as a deposit these days lol
      Yeah hopefully it will apeal to the biker and general petrol head (gear head) fraternity!
      When I started to draw it, I had not long ago seen the new Ariel Ace which has a similar trellis shaped frame 🙂
      Thanks a lot Darren, for the epic feedback and support sir! 😀

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  13. Just when you think that this concept can’t get any better it has. The Update’s to 528 design add even more awesomeness. Great work as always.

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  14. The two images with triangulation taken into the frame look great. They also make the time reading much easier. Great update, Pete. Can’t give you any more than the 5 stars already given, so can only dish out more praise.

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    • Praise is much preferable to stars Nev cheers! We know the scoring system can me manipulated but good comments and feedback is priceless! Thanks a bunch! 🙂

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  15. did not like the initial design with linear LED bars, as counting a row of small LEDs is cumbersome.
    the update with the triple-grouping is great. especially the version in last picture, I now would buy (and wear on my motorcycle 😉 ) Unfortunately I don’t see how the construction could make it into reality, because of to limited room for electronic and battery.

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    • Cheers for the comment ObeliX, yeah the packaging will be a little tricky due to the shock partly disecting the main body.
      That said TF managed to package spider and that has a great big hole running through the centre. So fingers crossed there are ways and means. The shock could always be reduced in diameter if needs be or even moved off-centre. I did contemplate doing a version with the shock to one side but just didnt find the time. Maybe in the future I will. Cheers for the feedback 🙂

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  16. You’re really going to need a shock absorber to stop the desire to have this very showy piece.
    As always Pete’re still a master.
    Good luck master Pete 🙂 Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*

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  17. I like the overall look. I was a bit disappointed that the spring wasn’t used in the time-telling. (When I saw your LiveWire, I was amazed) After reading the text, I like how it’s used as a wristband closing mechanism!

    now about the LED’s: I like that it’s using 3 colors. I find the original alignment a bit to plain (& maybe to small in comparison with the rest) & don’t like having 2 +1 on top & 2 at the bottom. (visually pleasing but plausibly harder to read)

    I love the updated dots in triangles versions! I prefer the “machined” model. (& the +1 are all on top)

    I would buy any of the update look.

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    • If this design was made with a more conventional strap and the spring wasnt used to close the strap etc, then it could be used as part of the time telling in a similar way to livewire 🙂
      Yeah I agree with you feedback regarding the time telling. The updated ones continue the theme through the watch.
      Fingers crossed there is enough content here to be developed further 🙂

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  18. This one only has a few hours left, so all that’s left to is thank TF for posting it here and everyone who took the time to comment, vote, like and share. Cheers everyone!

    Pete from the UK 🙂

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