Want to put RCE in a motorcycle...
 

Alright all,

I know this may sound a little off, but I really want to try and put a rotary engine in a motorcycle !! I own an 8, but am a serious sport bike nut.

Here's the deal, my buddy and I have an idea on how to connect two single rotor RCE's (Rotary Combustion Engine) rotating in opposite directions (to counter act the giroscopic effect) together in order to power a motorcycle. However, I don't know of any other manufacturers of rotary engines than Mazda.

Does anyone know anybody who can make or does make small rotary engines that I can talk to. I don't even have access to a CNC machine to fabricate parts :(

Just checkin, as you were,

David

The engineering challenge of designing a counter-rotating twin rotor RCE would be cost prohibited.

But if you are looking for a rotary power engine company you could contact freedom motors to custom design an engine for your needs:
http://www.freedom-motors.com/

Sweet. Thank you. That gives me somewhere to start.

We're actually going to be "linking" two seperate RCE's together in order to get the counter rotational properties we want. Not to mention, we need control over two seperate engines, and clutch (for the tranny) systems in order to acomplish some of the design ideas we have. This is really more of a "what if" experiment that we believe with some good electronic control could create one of the best handling motorcycles ever :) But that's what all dreamers say - lol.

Don't know about practical uses, but for GP racing this would kick ass.

David

you stole my idea!!

there's a chopper frame a guy down my street is selling without a motor...it screams for an opposed twin rotor

There is a hsop here in Houston called Boss Hoss motorcycles that builds bikes with 305, 355, 502, etc. car engines on them. A rotary shouldn't be much of an issue. If you can dream it and can pay for it, someone somewhere can build it! Here is alink to their showroom page. Some of the bikes are pretty ugly IMO but you can see how a V-8 fits on these things. They aren't mounted sideways either.

http://bosshosscycles.com/showroomnew.htm

Suzuki and Norton already have produced Rotary powered motorcycles. The Norton was a limited production sport bike that was raced with some success in Europe, late 80's or early 90's I think. Artic Cat did a rotary powered snowmobile too, late 60's? Find one of these motors and put it in a newer chassis.

Al Copeland has a bunch of those on display in his showroom in Louisiana.. wouldn't it be nice to need a showroom just to store your toys!?

You guys Rule
 

You guys rule !!! Thanks for all the suggestions. As it turns out, I live in Houston so I may give Boss Hog a call.

I had completely forgotten about Norton and Suzuki as well as Arctic Cats endeavors in this area. Those engines would be a bit antiquated, but a good idea none the less.

I've talked to some guys in Cali that said they don't make them right now, but might be interested. So, we will see. I've just reall got a bug to go give this a try. I really want to get into the mechanical part of it.

Anyhoo, thanks to all again.

David

Atkins rotary might be worth looking into.

http://atkinsrotary.com/

Re: You guys Rule
 

You mean "Boss Hoss" not "Boss Hog". They are located on 610 south just west of I-45 south (gulf fwy) by maybe a mile. They are on the south side of the freeway.

Man, I already posted up pretty pics of that Norton F1 rotary racebike..

Don't even compare it to the shedlike RE-5 Suzuki and Yamaha's aborted rotary bike. The Norton was an honest sportbike!

Keep us posted on the project! Although you really don't need a 2 rotor.. you can get a single rotor with over 100hp. In a properly sized motorcycle you don't need any more than that.. put it in a TZ250 frame and I'll buy one! :)

Just wondering ... How are they able to get 100hp out of a single rotor without the tuned intake manifold and all that junk?

The Suzuki RE50 was a rotary powered bike. Reviews were that it was smooth, though heavy and fuel hungry.

2nd that
they have put rotary engines in about everything

Being a snowmobiler i know which Artic Cats you are talking about. The possibility of finding one of those old cats with the rotary is next to impossible. I looked for several years for one and could not find one. I looked from PA to Quebec :D

Rotary engines are used in some self-launch sailplanes (my RX-8 is compensation for not getting a sailplane of my own:) ). Here is a cut-n-paste from the data for a SCHLEICHER ASH-26E. Norton is mentioned.

ENGINE

The 38 kW (50 bhp) rotary engine was developped by the renowned manufacturer NORTON MOTORS, Great Britain, and it is outstanding for its high power-to-weight ratio and its remarkable smooth running. The manufacturer has succeeded in solving typical 'Wankel-type" problems. The seals are the latest state of the art technology and through the internal air cooling it was possible to solve the problem of the rotor overheat. This power-plant is built in Great Britain by MidWest Engines LTD under the designation MidWest AE50R and they also took care of the type-certification in Great Britain and in Germany. As of December 1992 this engine has been type certified by the CAA under JAR 22 for installation in powered sailplanes. The German Type Certification was granted in March 1995.

ENGINE DATA

Wankel-rotary engine, single rotor with 294 cc displacement. It has a liquid cooled housing with a forced air cooled rotor. Carburefted with dual electronic ignition, firing 2 plugs with electrical starting and 18 amp generator.