For you "round" guys

[Glenn Wegman]

[Randy Wilson]

These are Rotec radial engines being made in Australia, I think. Here is a link: http://www.rotecradialengines.com/ - it is a bit slow to open.

Randy

[jaybird]

That's so if you get a cylinder shot off down in the ghetto, you can still make it home.

I'll be impressed when they mount a Gnome engine inside the rear tire. You wouldn't need a driveline, but stopping might be a problem!

[Glenn Wegman]

Hi Jason,

Great idea!!

The only minor problem I see with that would be the "blip switch". It might be a real eye opener in traffic.!

Glenn

[Tim Landers]

I wonder if the fuel guage reads gallons per hour.

Tim

[slinky]

Actually the radial inside the wheel has been done...."Megola Sport, 640 cc, 14 hp, Germany, 1922. The Megola was first and only motorcycle to locate the engine in the wheel. There was no clutch or gearbox: While the engine and wheel rotated forward, the crankshaft, which operated via the gear train, functioned six times as quickly in the opposite direction, which meant the driving forces were equally distributed. The Megola ceased production in 1926, a casualty of post-war Germany's economic chaos. Scrool down on this page to see the bike".... http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcmuseum/gug.html and http://www.virginiawind.com/byways/history_04.asp

[sdennison]

If the owner of the bike in the top picture had any balls at all, there'd be a prop on that ride!

[Ollie]

He used to have balls and installed the prop. He started the engine and the balls were not seen ever since.

[airnutz]

I wonder if the fuel guage reads gallons per hour.

Tim

Fuel consumption on the R2800 is 22 litres per hour @ 80% power..lessee
with a 3 or 4 gallon tank...Well, let's just say he'll be driving from gas station to gas station,
but will look REALLY COOL doing it.

[jaybird]

ok Glenn, I'm loading up my tools and heading back to Indiantown.....oh wait, somebody beat us to it- Thank goodness! I didn't want to have to test ride that thing anyway.......

Thanks for the link Slinky. So I am impressed after all. I wonder what made them put it in the front wheel? Weight maybe? Unbelievable.

[Glenn Wegman]

Hello Jason,

They're not mine, someone emailed the pics to me.

I should have posted them under the "Conventional gear take-off techniques..." thread so that we could debate over which one would go the straightest!!

Glenn