Here are some bikes I never knew existed I knew Suzuki made the RE-5 but never heard of these very early rotary's......enjoy
The only 3 bikes with radial engine Ever Built - YouTube
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Here are some bikes I never knew existed I knew Suzuki made the RE-5 but never heard of these very early rotary's......enjoy
The only 3 bikes with radial engine Ever Built - YouTube
I"ve been a Harley guy since 1971, but those are just cool.
those wheels & tires don't look too impressive for a motor that size! :move eek:
Kinda makes my Softail Deluxe sound like a moped.
If you think about it, why wouldn't somebody try a radial. Every other internal combustion engine has been tried on MC's Including a small block Chevy.
Radial engines are just fabulous! The sound is very distinctive. Completely bonkers in a motorcycle though:thup:
Wonderful motors!
My favourite?
V2, 90'. Imagine where they build them;-)
These of course are radial engines not rotary (Wankel) like the RE-5. Beautiful but impractical in a motorcycle. The rotary was also used by Norton and DKW in motorcycles, also not very practical. I had the pleasure of rebuilding an RE-5 Suzuki engine in the early eighties as a favor for a friend. It was not an easy task for someone only intellectually familiar with the design, no prior hands on. It had good power for a 500cc engine but got terrible gas mileage and in my opinion an unattractively styled machine with its tube shaped instrument panel. A fellow was showing a restored Megola radial motorcycle at a show in the Tacoma Dome. Stunningly beautiful and equally expensive. Best. Tom
Remember the old round loafs of bread we used to get that's what the dash reminded me of a friend has a RE-5 in his collection bit like was it the CX 500 Honda Turbo well before their time but the market was not ready for it.
At present there is a Hyabusa on E Bay/Au fully bombed & turbo'd 400BHP the thing is an 8 second bike for the 1/4 mile asking 20K not for me.
And the other end of the spectrum....
HELICOPTER Engine motorcycle! - YouTube
Just when you thought they could not get any faster (Drag bikes) here is this thing the drawback is your arms stretch 3" every time you do a pass.
In WWII the Germans tried to utilize Hydrogen Peroxide for a propulsion system in a submarine they could not get it to work properly they were called Walther Boats..
But in testing they did with the craft its under water speed would rival a USA attack subs which they are purported to do 50kmh under water but probably allot faster I'd say.
There were a few weapons the Germans had that if deployed properly with out H*tler fiddling would have turned the course of the war namely the 262 Jet and the Type XXI U-boat.
Anyway here's the "Rocket Bike"
ROCKET BIKE -The Fastest Motorcycle on Earth !!! - YouTube
Now for complete bonkers you need to see this: François Gissy Bicycle World Record 207 mph 333 km/h - YouTube
Mad Swiss guy on his Rocket bicycle racing a Ferrari. The guy is nut's
Quote:
Originally Posted by 30Three
what a maniac!!! :yikes:
The best part is the thing has peddles. :lol:
30three: Braking and cornering "optional"?
Actually the guy is French and I believe it is a Swiss company that was involved in making the rocket. could not find the video filmed from inside the Ferrari for a French car show. That was worth a look.
This has been my daily rider for about forty years. More monthly than daily for the last decade or so. For the non English bike aficionados this is a 1960 Royal Enfield Constellation or perhaps a Super Meteor re-badged, re-configured and sold as an Indian for the American market after Indian went under in the 1950s. Around 1976 I was looking for parts for another bike at a motorcycle wrecking yard in south Seattle when I saw the timing cover of this under a pile of machines destined for the crusher. A deal was struck and after a two year refurbishment and normal maintenance, it has been a one or two kick starter since. Of the dozens or more bikes I have bought, restored and sold, this one I have never been inclined to sell. Pic 1) About 1983. My daughter Sarah at six years old. 2) In Nevada high desert. Sarah about twelve. 3) Sarah at thirty six and me with two of my grandchildren, four years ago. She and her husband like Yamaha. 4) The still viable Enfield at fifty seven years old a week or so ago. You can just see Mt. Rainier over the top of the handlebar. When I take the Webleys to the range, this is my preferred transportation. Best to all. Tom
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldpaul
Royal Enfield - Webley (or Enfield!) revolvers - good combination ! :thup: