Unusual Sightings

[GTS_Rider]

Not sure if this link will work, and not sure if there's an existing thread like this... but I move forward anyway...

Hercules Wankle is what I got. Never heard of it, nor seen one in real life...

[Croak]

A Roto Moto?

[Kneescrubber]

A Roto Moto?

Yes, Suzuki and Norton also had rotary engined bikes.

[miles]

In real life unusual sightings, I've been seeing an original Fiat 500 almost every day recently.

[Wide Track]

Wankle made some experimental rotary engines for the marine market, back in 1965.  Owens/Concord built a 27' boat they tried a twin engine configuration. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Wankel_engine

[Slartibartfast]

Check out the pipes at the end of the vid. Apparently they had to be made from some exotic alloy to survive the heat.

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CFgQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dph-n7-naQxo&ei=Cz6wT82GMMGM6QHot8yaCQ&usg=AFQjCNFEKCzUY5y4sffyFJKg6o8nRkQZiw

[KodiakRS]

I saw not 1 but 2 b-kings yesterday.  

[veefer800canuck]

Pipes would either be titanium, of if that wasn't enough, Inconel.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inconel

[Slartibartfast]

Pipes would either be titanium, of if that wasn't enough, Inconel.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inconel

Yep, that's what I remember, thanks. Love the sound of that rotary Norton.

[Rogue]

Interesting.  I wonder what kind of gas mileage it gets.  

What I'd really like to know is, was the owner wearing leather or was that a Hefty plastic trash bag for a suit?  

[Jason F.]

There is at least one every year in the VJMC corral at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival. I took some photos a few years ago of it but am not sure where I stored them.

[Carbonero]

Yes, Suzuki and Norton also had rotary engined bikes.

Norton has plans to bring one (back) to full production, according to an interview with Norton's CEO on Steve Rapp's radio-show podcast.

[veefer800canuck]

Interesting.  I wonder what kind of gas mileage it gets.  

We don't use "Rotary" and "Gas Mileage" in the same sentence.

Unless you interject the modifier "Lousy".  

[bungie4]

Snapped a pic of this one at Barbers in 2010.

[expatbrit]

Streetfightered out Bimota Tesi 1D?

[X1Glider]

Streetfightered out Bimota Tesi 1D?

I think you mean "Crashed Bimota Tesi 1D?"

It looks like something someone crashed anyway.

[veefer800canuck]

It's so ugly, they hung out the CLOSED sign on the store!

[expatbrit]

I think you mean "Crashed Bimota Tesi 1D?"

It looks like something someone crashed anyway.

No, I think the guy just took the fairings off. Owner is in his mid 70s, with a goodly collection of bikes and his comment was that he thought it looked better that way.

[Carbonero]

No, I think the guy just took the fairings off. Owner is in his mid 70s, with a goodly collection of bikes and his comment was that he thought it looked better that way.

If he thinks THAT looks good, his other bikes must be v-stroms.  

[expatbrit]

If he thinks THAT looks good, his other bikes must be v-stroms.  

I think it's that single piece aluminium frame that does it. I don't know everything else he has, but I've seen him on a Vincent, a Desmosedici, and an RC30...

[davenay67]

I think it's that single piece aluminium frame that does it. I don't know everything else he has, but I've seen him on a Vincent, a Desmosedici, and an RC30...

I hope they aren't all 'butchered' like the poor Tesi..!!  

[Croak]

I think you mean "Crashed Bimota Tesi 1D?"

It looks like something someone crashed anyway.

That's the whole schtick behind streetfighter styling, amigo.  

[davenay67]

That's the whole schtick behind streetfighter styling, amigo.  

Bollocks..!!

That's a full-ass (way worse than half-ass) repair job on a beautiful bike. That kind of crappy work work is simply turning a bike into a rolling POS.

Street-fighters are supposed to be beautifully built and executed bikes, usually naked conversion from full sportbikes. Polished frames, stunning paint jobs, billet accessories. Not duct tape and matte-black paint.

Perhaps Triumph should just kick the sh!t out of a new Daytona, leave it out in the rain to rust for a couple of months, yank off the fairings and brush-paint it with some left over paint and sell it as the newest latest Speed Triple.  

Or maybe the British street-fighter scene is different from the US scene..,??

[CosmicCowboy]

If he thinks THAT looks good, his other bikes must be v-stroms.  

 

[ToadRide]

You want ugly? you want to pay the big buck for engineering gone in the wrong direction? Well, for a paltry $120000 you can have this.
http://www.bikeexif.com/van-veen-ocr-1000

[Croak]

Street-fighters are supposed to be beautifully built and executed bikes, usually naked conversion from full sportbikes. Polished frames, stunning paint jobs, billet accessories. Not duct tape and matte-black paint.

Um, no.   That's not the way the streetfighter was born.  Originally it was a way to stand up a wrecked/rashed fully faired bike, but on the cheap BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT PROPERLY.  

Custom paint and billet and carbon fiber?  All that shit comes from show bikes inspired by proper streetfighters. Needless to say, the current factory built streetfighters got a lot of that show bike DNA, and only a little of the real streetfighter DNA.

[davenay67]

 Originally it was a way to stand up a wrecked/rashed fully faired bike, but on the cheap BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR IT PROPERLY

Completely agree, but there is still a pride of ownership aspect. You can still make a beautiful / tasteful streetfighter on a small budget, or you can choose to not give a crap and make it a 'ratted' street fighter instead. The aftermarket frames and billet parts are definitely the pinnacle of evolution in terms of looks and cost.

I see you ride a faux street fighter yourself.    

Just kidding, it's a beautiful bike, would love to own one myself someday....