If you spend a lot of time in similar corners of the Internet as I do, then you'll know that there are a wide array of custom motorbike (and motorbike-adjacent) builds that people like to document their build processes of on ye olde YouTube.
From hopped-up mobility scooters to putting Hayabusa engines into just about everything, chances are good that if you've thought of it, someone else has probably at least tried to build it already. Whether they've succeeded or not is another matter, of course. But surely, trying it at all has to count for something, right?
And then there's James Bruton.
The mad British engineer/inventor/3d printing enthusiast has a YouTube channel that's truly unlike any other you'll see, and that's in part because of the particular set of non-Liam Neeson-like skills he brings to the table. While I have no idea whether he could rescue someone's kidnapped family in adrenaline-fueled action movie style, one thing I feel reasonably certain I can tell you is that he's pretty good at 3D printing some of the wildest motorized creations you'll ever see.
Remember this crazy mecanum screw-bike that he built in 2024? If an image of this bike (or maybe even a memory of the video) popped vaguely into focus in your mind, then yes, you'll be happy to know it's the same guy. Maybe you've even subscribed to his channel to see more; I certainly wouldn't blame you if you did, because his mind is clearly a wild place.
But that was then, and this is now. And now, it's time for BALLS.
More specifically, it's time for balance balls. Not the type your local gym or pilates instructor might have on hand; think more the type that circus performers might use.
Have you ever thought to yourself, "Hey, these'd look great on my next custom EV motorbike project?" No?Well, that probably just means you aren't James Bruton. That's OK; neither am I. But that's also why we should probably both be glad he exists and is sharing his process videos, so we all can get a little peek inside that cranium.
Maybe it's the red and black colorway, or the futuristic and rounded shape of the finished machine. In any case, I can't help wondering how easy it might be to do an Akira slide on this thing. I mean, as you'll see in the video, it's already pretty good at donuts. You can't quite push it too hard yet, though; otherwise, it has this one weird flaw of the balls just completely popping off and leaving you on the floor (oops).
But, you know, that's what preliminary testing is for; to address any issues that may arise, then refine as necessary until you get a viable end product. This one looks like it's well on its way to becoming yet another incredibly unique machine that Bruton can show up to events with, confident in the fact that absolutely no one else will show up with anything like it.
