Rotary Bike!?!
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 635
From: Orange County, NY
Originally Posted by 75 Repu' date='Nov 5 2003, 09:41 PM
Thanx..
And here's a Linkie for YOU, REPU! (Hey that rhymed!)
(I doubt you read my post in this thread, thats why I am pointing it out to you)
https://www.nopistons.com/forums/ind...howtopic=29749
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Mike is a Liar!
Originally Posted by PhoenixDownVII' date='Nov 5 2003, 06:46 PM
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 635
From: Orange County, NY
Originally Posted by 75 Repu' date='Nov 5 2003, 11:02 PM
That is me in the Avatar..
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,848
From: Mike is a Liar!
Originally Posted by PhoenixDownVII' date='Nov 5 2003, 07:18 PM
LOL I know it's you. I was referring to the fact that, unlike you...everyone else has weird fella's and somehow I connect that to them though 
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Posts: 334
RCE Motorcycles
This page discusses the following makes: DKW, Yamaha, Suzuki, Van Veen, Norton. More information about most of them is available on the pages that follow in sequence.
Hercules Wankel 2000 (DKW) 74+
From Germany it was the first production rotary-engined motorcycle. It was called Hercules Wankel 2000 and then DKW 2000 for export. Sachs KC 27 one rotor 294 cc engine. Engine has rotor in line with rear wheel. 32 hp at 6500 rpm, 24.5 ft lbs at 4500 rpm. Top speed 93 mph. 0-66 in 7 seconds. 43 mpg x 4.5 gallons = 193 miles estimated range. Dry weight 350 lbs. Six speed transmission, foot shifted. Brakes were front disk, rear drum. DKW stands for Damf-Kraft-Wagen.
Herkules W2000
Yamaha Prototype 73-75
Twin rotor, modified Yanmar water-cooled engine shown in 1973, almost produced in 1975. Engine was mounted transversely. It had combination side and peripheral intake ports. Charge cooled rotors. 660 cc. 68 bhp at 6500 rpm.
Suzuki RE-5 1975-77
The Suzuki RE-5 was powered by a 498 cc single rotor water cooled engine. It was first shown in 1973 at the Tokyo show. The first model year was 1975 and it was produced for three model years. The instrument panel and tail light were contained in cylindrical shapes to play on the rotary theme.
Van Veen OCR 76-78
Van Veen OCR 1000.
Dutch importer Henk van Veen grafted either a Mazda sports car engine (10A?) or a Comotor (NSU) KKM to a Moto Guzi frame [sources conflict]. Announced in 1976 it was produced until 1978. Dry weight 642 lb (291 kg). Top speed 130 mph. Price £5000. 996 cc, 4 speed gearbox, electric starter, disc brakes front and rear.
Malcolm Forbes, the publisher, got one in 1978. True to rotary form, he took it up to 130 mph before he looked at the speedometer and thought better of it.
Norton - 80s and early 90s
Norton produced several RCE motorcycles:
Interpol II, beginning in 1983, two rotors, 588 cc air cooled.
Classic, civilian version of the Interpol II, 588 cc twin rotor air cooled, 79 bhp at 9000 rpm.
Commander, 588 cc liquid cooled, 85 bhp at 9000 rpm.
F1, 588 cc liquid cooled, about 95 bhp at 9500 rpm.
The British Motorcycle Land Speed Record was set at 191.89 mph in 1991 using a Norton rotary engine.
This page discusses the following makes: DKW, Yamaha, Suzuki, Van Veen, Norton. More information about most of them is available on the pages that follow in sequence.
Hercules Wankel 2000 (DKW) 74+
From Germany it was the first production rotary-engined motorcycle. It was called Hercules Wankel 2000 and then DKW 2000 for export. Sachs KC 27 one rotor 294 cc engine. Engine has rotor in line with rear wheel. 32 hp at 6500 rpm, 24.5 ft lbs at 4500 rpm. Top speed 93 mph. 0-66 in 7 seconds. 43 mpg x 4.5 gallons = 193 miles estimated range. Dry weight 350 lbs. Six speed transmission, foot shifted. Brakes were front disk, rear drum. DKW stands for Damf-Kraft-Wagen.
Herkules W2000
Yamaha Prototype 73-75
Twin rotor, modified Yanmar water-cooled engine shown in 1973, almost produced in 1975. Engine was mounted transversely. It had combination side and peripheral intake ports. Charge cooled rotors. 660 cc. 68 bhp at 6500 rpm.
Suzuki RE-5 1975-77
The Suzuki RE-5 was powered by a 498 cc single rotor water cooled engine. It was first shown in 1973 at the Tokyo show. The first model year was 1975 and it was produced for three model years. The instrument panel and tail light were contained in cylindrical shapes to play on the rotary theme.
Van Veen OCR 76-78
Van Veen OCR 1000.
Dutch importer Henk van Veen grafted either a Mazda sports car engine (10A?) or a Comotor (NSU) KKM to a Moto Guzi frame [sources conflict]. Announced in 1976 it was produced until 1978. Dry weight 642 lb (291 kg). Top speed 130 mph. Price £5000. 996 cc, 4 speed gearbox, electric starter, disc brakes front and rear.
Malcolm Forbes, the publisher, got one in 1978. True to rotary form, he took it up to 130 mph before he looked at the speedometer and thought better of it.
Norton - 80s and early 90s
Norton produced several RCE motorcycles:
Interpol II, beginning in 1983, two rotors, 588 cc air cooled.
Classic, civilian version of the Interpol II, 588 cc twin rotor air cooled, 79 bhp at 9000 rpm.
Commander, 588 cc liquid cooled, 85 bhp at 9000 rpm.
F1, 588 cc liquid cooled, about 95 bhp at 9500 rpm.
The British Motorcycle Land Speed Record was set at 191.89 mph in 1991 using a Norton rotary engine.
