Radial Engine Motorcycles
Haul N Ride would like to introduce you to a very attractive alternative to the standard accepted view of what makes up a motorcycle engine.
Motorcycles are usually recognised as having a Single Cylinder, Parallel Twin, V-Twin, Boxer Twin, Triples, Inline-4, V-4, Inline-6, Flat-4, Flat-6 and Oval-Piston V-4.
What you may not realise is that Radial Engines are not a new invention, and have a history of being used in both aeroplanes and motorcycles.
We are about to take a journey into radial engine motorcycle history from the early 1900s to bikes currently being built today.
What is a Radial Engine Motorcycle?
A Radial Engine Motorcycle is a motorcycle specially designed to be powered by an aviation aircraft engine.
Robert Santiago
3d Artist
Lewisville, TX, United States of America
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Radial Engines – How Do They Work
Radial Engines consist of multiple engines working together in an intricate dance of perfect timing, uniting their horsepower, to drive a propeller or drive train. Here is a demonstration provided by simple solenoids to help you understand visually.
If you would like to make your own: Click Here
Here is the best explanation of – How a Radial Engine Works – presented in a way that is easy to understand
Read the Full Story: Click Here
Watch the Inner Workings of a Radial Engine Working
It is great to be able to look inside a Radial Engine operating.
Here is a time-lapse video showing the complete assembly of a Radial Engine
The most powerful radial engine was the Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone, produced in the United States, having a twin-row, supercharged, air-cooled, radial engine with 18 cylinders. Power ranged from 2,200 to over 3,700 hp (1,640 to 2,760 kW), depending on the model. In terms a motorcyclist can understand: 3,347in³ (54,847.50cm³).
“Hi honey, I just purchased a 54,847cc motorbike, grab your riding gear”.
Now that we have a pretty good understanding of Radial Engines and how they work, I think we are ready to look at the history of Radial Engines in Motorcycles.
Radial Engine Motorcycle History
We begin our trip back in time with Peugeot. Although Velocycles predate them, Peugeot Motorcycles are generally considered the oldest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, who built their first motorcycle in 1898. In 1930 Peugeot built the P50T oval board track racer that would typically have a single cylinder 100cc engine.
It appears some websites on the Internet, perhaps unknowingly, are giving the impression that Peugeot produced a P50t motorcycle with a Radial Engine.
However, after looking into it further it seems the Radial Engine was added later. Modified by Bo Hare, he used a modern scale version of WW1 Gnome & Rhone Overhead Valve 9 Cylinder Radial Aircraft Engine. Source: Here and Here and Here.
Peugeot Radial Engine Motorcycle
Considering Peugeot did not produce a Radial Engine Motorcycle, let’s take a trip back to 1921, where we will find the Megola. This motorcycle was actually manufactured with a Radial Engine.
Megola 1921 Radial Engine German Motorcycle
“Look at that children, a motorcycle without a fuel tank or engine”.
Well the Megola does have an engine, you just have to take a closer look at the front wheel. Designed by Fritz Cockerell in 1920, the Megola has a 5-cylinder 640 cc Radial Engine and exhaust completely housed inside the front wheel. This motorbike produces 14 hp and can reach speeds of 140 km/h (88 mph).
What looks like a great idea did have some disadvantages when compared to your modern ride. Firstly, to start the engine required elevating the front wheel off the ground and physically spinning the wheel.
The second disadvantage would be moving slowly through traffic. Without a clutch or gearbox, you would be unable to ride the friction zone to perform slow speed maneuvers. The Radial Engine had to be turned off to stop the bike.
Verdel 1912 Radial Engine Motorcycle
Although it is believed that none of the original Verdel Radial Engine motorcycles exist today, there are a few working replicas.
The 1912 Verdel was powered by a 750cc Overhead Valve 5 Cylinder Radial Engine manufactured by Verdel, while the motorcycle was built by Packard, both companies located in the United Kingdom.
As this is a modern replica, and unlike the Megola, it does have a clutch and gearbox. Personally I would be concerned about the ground clearance below the lower engines. I guess that was not an issue as they were mainly used to race.
Source: Click Here
Source: Click Here
It is great that we have found two Radial Engine Motorcycles in history that were manufactured from 1912 to 1920. The story does not end there. Fifteen years later we find another creation in Munich Germany.
The Peace Dove or Final Victory 1935 Radial Engine Motorcycle
The 1935 Peace Dove (Flying Victory) Radial Engine Motorcycle was built by five German engineers, who were formerly working for Megola. The motorcycle weighs 135 kg and was powered by a 600cc, 3 Cylinder, 2 Stoke Radial Engine.
It was an improvement on the Megola as it had a two-speed gearbox and clutch. The engine intake is controlled by a rotary valve, which is a turning disk, with intake holes for exact timing of the fuel-air mixture intake.
Full story (German) and photos: Click Here
Radial Engine Motorcycles seem to have disappeared from history until after the Second Millennium.
2005 – The Return of Radial Engine Motorcycles
Today they are being built in three basic designs, Crossway, Inline and Horizontal.
A Crossway Radial Motorcycle Engine
An Inline Radial Motorcycle Engine
A Horizontal Radial Motorcycle Engine
The Engines
R180: 5 Cylinder
R2800: The R2800 is a 7 Cylinder Air Cooled Single Row 2800cc (172 in³) Radial Aeroplane Engine
R3600: The R2800 is a 9 Cylinder Air Cooled Single Row 3600cc (220 in³) Radial Aeroplane Engine
2005-2006 Kosmic Krome R2800 – 7 Cylinder Inline
Owner: John Levey
Motorcycle: JRL Chopper
Country: USA
Source:
Motorcycle-USA
2005-2007 Radial Hell R2800 – 7 Cylinder Crossway
Owner: Jesse James
Motorcycle: West Coast Chopper
Country: USA
Source:
The Kneeslider
Cycleworld
Leatherup
2011-2013 Red Baron R3600 – 9 Cylinder Crossway
Owner: Frank Ohle
Motorcycle: Chopper
Country: Germany
Source:
Rotecengines
Frank Ohle
2007-2010 Black Jack R2800 – 7 Cylinder Inline
Owner: Scott Hamann
Motorcycle: Chopper
Country: USA
Visit Scott Hamann Metal Magic Website: Click Here
Source:
Redoubt Reporter
2007 Lucky Seven R2800 – 7 Cylinder Inline
Owner: Ollie Staffeld
Motorcycle: Chopper
Country: USA
Kosmic Krome and Lucky 7 Dual Ride
2007 Iron Gatsby R2800 – 7 Cylinder Inline
Owner: Paul Yang
Motorcycle: Harley Davidson
Country: USA
Bomberbike – Crossway
Owner: C. Mitchell Boulton
Company: Radial Engine Innovations
Engine: Alvis Leonides Mark 127 from a west German Percival Pembroke C.54
Unknown Bike – 7 Cylinder Inline
2016 Naga Lima (Dragon Five) – 5 Cylinder Horizontal
Owner: M Yusuf Adib Mustofa
Motorcycle: Honda CB 2002 Tiger
Country: Indonesia
More Stories and Photos:
Rotec Aerosport
Dwrenched
Purchase Radial Engines – Build Your Own
For your Moped or Scooter
Evolution 7 cylinder 77cc 4 stroke glow engine
Current Price: Click Here
Moki 400cc Radial
Current Price: Click Here
Current Price: Click Here
For your Beast
R2800 7 Cylinder Radial Engine
Current Price & Many More Motorcycle Videos: Click Here
R3600 9 Cylinder Radial Engine
Current Price: Click Here
Or Click Here
Innovation in Radial Engines: Canton’s Radial Engine
Time to See a Radial Engine in Action
After that journey, I can’t help wondering what happened to Radial Engine Motorcycles between 1935 to 2005. Did it really take 70 years for the return? Or perhaps there are some other motorcycles hiding in the shadows, quietly unnoticed by the public.
I wonder how long it will take for a major Japanese or American company to begin mass-producing these beautiful motorcycles. Or maybe it will return to where it began in Germany and the UK.
Haul N Ride would like to congratulate the incredible engineers and inventors that have put so much work into resurrecting a vision and passion of the past, bringing it back into reality.
Can you Help Roland Identify a Radial Engine Motorcycle?
If your interest in reading this article is to create a Radial Engine Motorcycle, then I not only wish you success in your project, I also invite you to share your story with Haul N Ride. We would love to hear from you.
You may email any photos and details that I can share your project.
To see another radical redesign of motorcycles, visit The Dark Side – The Love of Car Tires on Motorcycles
Haul N Ride website was created to explore Innovation and Human Creativity with a focus on Interesting, Rare and Unusual Motorcycles and Accessories. Haul N Ride welcomes the sharing of projects and ideas, creating an enjoyable and educational online resource. We like to hear from readers so please leave a comment below and let us know if this post helped you or if you have any questions.
Thank you for visiting Haul N Ride. Dave
The engine in the Bomberbike is an Alvis Leonides Mark 127 from a west German Percival Pembroke C.54.
Thank you for providing the engine information.
The post has been updated.
I appreciate your help 🙂
Ride Safe
Dave
Hi Rick, thank your positive comments on the article. I am glad you enjoyed the information and videos. If you click around, you will find many other interesting motorcycles on Haul N Ride. Have a great day. Dave
Incredible! I love the history here and you have so much great information and the videos really help a lot.
Hi Fleur, thank you for spending the time to view the Radial Engine motorcycles. I am sure your son will get a lot out of it. He may even surprise you and build one. Have a great day. Dave
Thanks Dave this is a very thorough walk down history lane about radial engines in motorcycles. My son is interested in all types of engines whether for cars, boats, trucks or motorcycles. I’ll be showing him this article for sure!