Radial Engine Motorcycles.

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TechTMW · #1 Post by **TechTMW** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:34 am

Sweeeet.

http://www.roveroresearch.com/image/rad ... rcycle.jpg

http://www.roveroresearch.com/image/rad ... cycle2.jpg

I want!!!

#2 Post by **Big B** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:44 am

they've got to sound just awesome

flynrider · #3 Post by **flynrider** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:26 am

Like the current crop of custom choppers, it looks cool, but it's highly impractical. The second bike with the engine mounted in line with the frame doesn't even look workable. I don't see how the back 3 cylinders would get any cooling air.

Big B's right about the sound though. There's nothing that sounds like a radial engine.

jstark47 · #4 Post by **jstark47** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:10 am

Somewhat related was the Feuling W3 engine. The crankpin arrangements were similar to a radial engine, but this thing actually is a viable motorcycle engine. See http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/feuling_w3/. Too bad Jim Feuling passed away before his time.

CentralOzzy · #5 Post by **CentralOzzy** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:33 pm

I LOVE this one!

DieMonkeys · #6 Post by **DieMonkeys** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:05 pm

Those kind of engines are supposed to rotate with the proppeler (on aeroplanes) so if those are actually plane engines then unless they rotated I don't think they'd work all that well. But they be hella cool looking.

#7 Post by **Skier** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:17 pm

DieMonkeys wrote:Those kind of engines are supposed to rotate with the proppeler (on aeroplanes) so if those are actually plane engines then unless they rotated I don't think they'd work all that well. But they be hella cool looking.

No, they are radial piston engines, not rotary piston engines. The cylinder heads stay stationary, they don't spin around the crank. Here's an example of a piston rotary engine that has the rotation you're thinking of.

jmillheiser · #8 Post by **jmillheiser** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:20 pm

not all radial engines turn with the prop.

flynrider · #9 Post by **flynrider** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:21 pm

Most radials didn't spin. The LeRhone and Clerget engines of WWI were radial / rotary engines (not to be confused with Wankel types), and pretty much disappeared after the war. The crankshaft was bolted to the airframe and the cylinders and propellors spun together. There was no throttle or carb. The engine ran wide open all the time. If you wanted to back off on the power, you turned off the ignition.

I had the pleasure of seeing one of these running in an original Sopwith Camel. The guy flying it was truly a brave soul.

TechTMW · #10 Post by **TechTMW** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:22 pm

Check out the 1922 Megola - http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/megola.htm