Exotic powerplants of the 60s

[nudemetalz]

Of course there is Suzuki's 3-cylinder 50cc 1968,..well there would have been had they not changed the rules. 19hp....
http://www.elsberg-tuning.dk/suzuki.html#rp68


Apparently, there was talk of Honda developing a 50 triple, 125 -6 and a 250-V8 also....madness !!!!!

[AllanB]

I read a very good article couple years back about Hondas six cylinder race engines of the 60's (?). The stated that the metal technology used in cams etc is difficult to understand and replicate today. Amazing work. The engine took into account flex on the outer cylinders cam.

[AllanB]

Benelli info here, interesting reading.

http://www.mybenellis.com/BB4.pdf

[T.W.R]

Got some pics of the 125/5 & Taveri's 125/4 and a couple of shots of the 500/4 should see how they're doing the timing.
Plenty of talk about the main players of the time then there's a couple of shots of a privateer built 500/4 West German Fath Special and bits talking about the Guzzi V8 (they actually say that apart from one engine still at Mondello one existing bike was with Berliner Corporation in the US)
MV gets a mention with the 500/4 & 350/3, Kriedler with their twin rotary valve 50, Benelli 250/4 8 speed

really makes current stuff look rather nothing new

[T.W.R]

The two below are real.

So is this:

Alan Milyards v12 Kawasaki

That's the thing that makes me wonder a bit seeing guys do that, and outfits like Morbidelli making big V8 & V12 bikes; why hasn't anyone done a modern 500cc V8 splicing two 250/4s together or 1200 V8 from two 600/4s ??
There's guys out there making V8 motors for gas RC cars & beautiful V12 engines like the Artus

[pete376403]

Did Morbidelli do a v12? I have only ever seen articles about the v8. And that was built largely as a demonstration of what their woodworking machines (ie making patterns for casting, etc) could do

[T.W.R]

Did Morbidelli do a v12? I have only ever seen articles about the v8. And that was built largely as a demonstration of what their woodworking machines (ie making patterns for casting, etc) could do

lol nah it's just the way it's worded...my bad but their 1st production model may as well have been makes the common one look nice

[hayd3n]

Now you are talking!!! I have seen pictures of a V12 version - two CBX engines mated.

v 12 cbx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfguM8Og-1A

[pete-blen]

unable to find a pic on the net...
Suzuki played around with a 125cc rotery MX bike
in the mid 70s.. about the same time the RE5 was in production..
Only ever seen a pic in a mag way back then..

[T.W.R]

unable to find a pic on the net...
Suzuki played around with a 125cc rotery MX bike
in the mid 70s.. about the same time the RE5 was in production..
Only ever seen a pic in a mag way back then..

Nothing mentioned in the Petersen's Motorcycle Buyers Guide 1975 ; It's got the test release for RE5 including photos from the October 74 press release in Phoneix for 24 motorcyle journos and a comprehensive rundown on the RE5 development the opening sentence is a beaut " Dawn...The rotary wake up! as of February 1, we're all members of the antique club of America"
Got 1100 mile test report of a RE5

Here's a few more interesting pics though

1) Torao Yamaba 500cc 1908 1st japanese bike
2) Suzuki's 1st attempt 1952 50cc 2 stroke
3) Daihatsu sidevalve 1920s
4) Mazda 700cc
5) Mikuni engine (started life on electric generators then put on bikes)

[T.W.R]

Few more

1) Japan's most popular bike of the 50s; Cabton 500 ohv twin
2) Meguro type 97 The Great Grandad of Kawasaki
3) Marusho 250cc ohv V-twin
4) Honda's 1st complete bike 100cc type D 2 stroke (circa early 1950s)
5) Katayama Sangyo 250cc 2 stroke boxer
6) Honda's 1st 4 stroke 150cc type E

[pete-blen]

you most lightly wouldn't find it in a buyer's guide
as it was never put into production...
from memory it looked like a TM/RM motor
with a rotery houseing in place of the barrel..
But it went and was being raced / tested as in the pic it
was on a stand in the pits somewhere...

[T.W.R]

you most lightly wouldn't find it in a buyer's guide

3 pages of the RE5 engine development inside a 12 page test , it isn't just a buyers guide