Another Wankel-powered bike, the Van Veen OCR 1000. Only 38 built. Engine made by Comotor, an Audi-NSU/Citroën cooperation.

 

By the way, Van Veen - based in The Netherlands - was also behind the extremely successful Kreidler 50cc racers that dominated their class for many years.

On 7/28/2019 at 5:10 PM, ballpoint said:

A couple more rotaries:

The very rare 1975 Hercules Wankel MX

Had a read up on these .. The Herc' 2000 runs with the crank horizontal in line ala BMW flat twin .. The MX as far as I can see has the crank still in line but raised almost to the vertical hence that end cap on top of what looks like the cyl head which must be the crank end bearing .. This raises the possibility that the lower end of the crank has a bevel gear to take the drive to the gearbox .. Also would be interesting to see if there was any torque effect with the rotor spinning in a near horizontal plane quite high up in the frame .. 

 

Top Beeza was their dabble in the rotary ( as a lot of manufacturers did in both the 4 and 2 wheeled world ) thank God that didn't make the showrooms .. The one beneath badged as a BSA has more than a Norton look about it .. 

Kawasaki's X99 prototype from early 70's dropped around about the same time as Yamaha booted their RZ201 into the long grass .. 

Both the Kawa and Yam used twin rotor with crank across the frame set ups where as the Suzook RE5 that did go into production was a single rotor .. and a hideously overcomplicated one at that .. 

 

And, for any crusty old chauvinists who are still conscious, wait till you see who rides it:

 

Thought it looked a little sissified...

2 hours ago, ballpoint said:

Another BMW, guaranteed to cause apoplexy in the Brexiteer brigade.  A German Spitfire.  Based on an R 1200 R.

Even worse for the Olde Stiff Upper Lipperers, piloted by a very attractive French female...

 

 

Ah, bit late to the party, i see that cad BP beat me to it....

51 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

Even worse for the Olde Stiff Upper Lipperers, piloted by a very attractive French female...

 

 

Ah, bit late to the party, i see that cad BP beat me to it....

An attractive French female biker in lace up boots and overalls no less.  I must admit to some caddish thoughts, though I blame my two posts being separated by a change in page for your party tardiness.  But, as long as you brought a bottle along we'll say no more about it.

A thrice of CBX's .. Check out the front pipes on the top bike .. 

 

Streamliner and Cyclops look Be-eM's ..

 

Old Skool ...

 

41 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

Old Skool ...

I always found the big twins pretty easy to start, much easier than the XLCH (higher CR) Sportsters, which could be a Biatch.

Well set up, carb and ignition timing correct, they should be a 1 or 2 kick bike.

That one obviously is'nt.

 

The one below, the mighty XR, thankfully is thumb start.

For non HD afficianados, spot the unusual and unique motor set up on these wonderful bikes.

Yep, the rear head is reversed, so both exhaust pipes face fwd a la early Ducati and Vincent.

 

8 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

I always found the big twins pretty easy to start, much easier than the XLCH (higher CR) Sportsters, which could be a Biatch.

Well set up, carb and ignition timing correct, they should be a 1 or 2 kick bike.

That one obviously is'nt.

 

The one below, the mighty XR, thankfully is thumb start.

For non HD afficianados, spot the unusual and unique motor set up on these wonderful bikes.

Yep, the rear head is reversed, so both exhaust pipes face fwd a la early Ducati and Vincent.

 

Not strictly my cup of tea as I'm still physiologically scarred by the H D I had in the 80's ( thankfully not for too long ) but that is quite a good looking machine .. Yea see what you mean about the head reversal and carb' mountings .. 

Supercharged Motus V4 with unusual centrifugal 'charger .. Said to push out 330 hp on big boost this thing which puts it in with Kawa's H2R as one of the most powerful out there .. 

 

After a couple of weeks of heavy, deep contemplation about bringing 800k baht into Thailand for my next extension.  I've decided the money is better spent toward a new toy and a break from here.

I'll head back to USA and pick up one of the new 2019 KTM 690 R and get back doing some enduro rides. 
My CRF250M has been fun here, BUT I really miss riding the big thumper in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.  Nothing here even comes close in comparison to riding in the desert and mountains of the west.   

  

10 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

I always found the big twins pretty easy to start, much easier than the XLCH (higher CR) Sportsters, which could be a Biatch.

Video not a good example ...

My Iron Head was a disaster to start - especially when warm

An old Grey Beard showed me how to set the carb and mag, and after that it was a 2 kick cold one kick warm machine. Especially after I installed a Mikuni.

Guy shown forgot - or never knew - the first rule of kicking. Get the cylinder at the top of compression stroke and KICK it - no pansy running shoe on neither.

Get a set of steel shank boots and have at it

1 hour ago, canthai55 said:

Video not a good example ...

My Iron Head was a disaster to start - especially when warm

An old Grey Beard showed me how to set the carb and mag, and after that it was a 2 kick cold one kick warm machine. Especially after I installed a Mikuni.

Guy shown forgot - or never knew - the first rule of kicking. Get the cylinder at the top of compression stroke and KICK it - no pansy running shoe on neither.

Get a set of steel shank boots and have at it

Yeah, KICK it from the right piston position - or it may kick back! I know a guy who got a broken ankle when his 350 single Matchless kicked back when he tried to get it going on his sandals.......

1 hour ago, damascase said:

Yeah, KICK it from the right piston position - or it may kick back! I know a guy who got a broken ankle when his 350 single Matchless kicked back when he tried to get it going on his sandals.......

Was asked by a guy who inherited a 500 from his Dad. Not a clue how to get it going.

Magneto advance/retard on handlebar, carb tickler.

Changed the soaking wet plug for a new one, full retard and a touch advanced, booted it twice and away she went.

 

Try kickstarting one of these babies.  Following the successful launch of the Rocket 3 TFC, which sold out, Triumph have announced the mainstream versions, Rocket 3 GT (left) and R (right):

 

 

 

Both have the new 2458cc 165 hp motor, with 163 ft/lbs of torque, but the GT is set up for more laid back touring, while the R has a sportier setup, notably the handle bar shape and foot peg position.  Available in Jan next year.

 

 

The launch video:

 

If you look carefully, there's a bike in this picture.

 

That cad BP beat me to it AGAIN!

 

Watched the launch vids yesterday on YT.

Motor is 40 kgs lighter, 11% more torque, bike is 80 kgs lighter.

Shorter stroke, bigger bore which is a shame, but why it revs up quicker.

Front tyre is a 150!

Impressive bit of kit.

 

And here's a proper Rocket 3.

750cc and 67 bhp...

 

a H D with airbags .. 

Just check out that back end .. 

Why do I think the chick on the Guzzi is Italian .. 

 

Suzy GS750 .. Nice paint job though ain't sure about those rims .. 

A mate of mine had one of the first of these '77'ish in black .. A class looking bike and smooth as a turbine when I blagged a canter on it compared to buzzing ring-dinging 2 strokes that were my fayre at the time .. But his bird was no where near as hippy chick good looking as the one draped 'ere .. More chip shop assistant from what I recall .. 

 

 

11 hours ago, ballpoint said:

Try kickstarting one of these babies

Hahahaha .. Looks like someone has " slashed " on it in that 2nd pic' .. 

Yeah, back in the day those GS 750's were supremely popular with the chop crowd.

Two of my mates had them, both matt black, one stock-ish, the other - back end cut off and a short hardtail welded onto the existing swing arm.

This was the days of everyone who could'nt afford a Harley (99%) riding Brit bikes.

Apart from the NCC who understood Jap 4's in a custom frame actually took them greater distances at a faster speed with lesser hassles...

 

 

Always loved a nice A10...

^ she must have parked there previously going by the old oil stains on the road? Spent hours trying to make bikes of this era oil-tight, rarely succeeded ???? 

Imagine seeing that coming up behind you in the rear view mirror...

 

It wouldn't come much closer, if that answers your question.......

2 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Yeah, back in the day those GS 750's were supremely popular with the chop crowd.

Now you mention it these of all the 70's Jap 4's was the one the brotherhoods would seem to chop more .. I've seen a few down the yrs at meet's , festivals etc .. Yea I remember the days when H D's were thin on the ground and would command big dough .. I dug the one in the film " Electra Glide in Blue " but they were never really my bag and the one I ended up with in the 80's was bought by me offa bloke who I worked with after breaking his leg on it after he ran some one over when they ran out in front of him .. Imagine that getting skittled by a H D .. The damage wasn't terminal , fixed it up and rode it for a mth or two which simply confirmed my non suitability to the marque then sold it to a dude who worked on the same industrial estate .. It then disappeared off the radar , didn't see the dude or hear the bike again so don't know if he sold it or simply moved on ..

Always thought it was a smooth operator the GS and a pretty good attempt at their first big 4 stroke and taking over from the GT had some big shoes to fill .. 

Moto Guzzi with engine 90° out .. 

Bizarre or not .. 

 

. 

Superb 1920's Wanderer 8 valve Veetwin .. 

 

2 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Moto Guzzi with engine 90° out .. 

Bizarre or not .. 

I'm sorry, whichever idiot thought of this and built it, deserves to be shot.

I've seen one or two in mags before, mainly chops, and i've just thought why?

 

Nostalgia Cycles back in the 80"s came out with a 90 degree air cooled, wet sump, v twin that used Harley g/box and primary parts and Chevy internals.

I remember the ads at the time and i thought it a wonderful idea, but in hindsight apparently not;

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/the-little-engine-that-couldnt-a-short-saga-of-the-super-vee

 

 

 

3 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

I'm sorry, whichever idiot thought of this and built it, deserves to be shot.

I've seen one or two in mags before, mainly chops, and i've just thought why?

 

Nostalgia Cycles back in the 80"s came out with a 90 degree air cooled, wet sump, v twin that used Harley g/box and primary parts and Chevy internals.

I remember the ads at the time and i thought it a wonderful idea, but in hindsight apparently not;

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/the-little-engine-that-couldnt-a-short-saga-of-the-super-vee

 

 

 

Yea I was a bit bemused by it .. Leave aside part of the characters of M G's is the across the frame layout to turn it thru' 90° doesn't make a lot of sense when you have to fashion another gearbox setup as it doesn't use the original 'box .. It was done by some styling shop I forget which one but there a far better inline veetwins out there as a start point .. Yea thanx I'll have a read up on the revzilla later .. Looking at the pic's the vee angle doesn't really suit the H D style whereas that goppy 45° job does suit the breed ( sorry sorry H D'ers but I really find little to love with them ) .. 

Some proper in liners .. 

Couple of fave Yamaha XV's and an unusual old Horex .. 

 

 

There are Veetwins and there are Veetwins .. 

Bike at bottom I've put up before but never had a nearside shot of it ..