Just looking at that Suzuki tells me why there never was a rotary dirt bike.
That pig makes my CB750 Nighthawk look feather light.
Rotary Engines?
Started by
Jwar1r1t3
, Nov 30 2005 03:35 PM
23 replies to this topic
Posted 30 November 2005 - 10:35 PM
StevePSD said:
Suzuki made the most sucessful Rotary motorcycle ever....the RE-5, made from 1974-1976. Here is a link if interested:
http://www.suzukicyc...E5-Rotary.shtml
What was interesting, if you look closely at one of the pictures you will see air scoops in the exhaust downpipes, under the radiator. Due to the extremely high exhaust gas temperatures (1500F) in a rotary engine, the exhaust was double walled, with the air scoops forcing air down between the two ....so the rider would not burn his legs off if you got to close to the exhaust.
A very unique bike to say the least.
http://www.suzukicyc...E5-Rotary.shtml
What was interesting, if you look closely at one of the pictures you will see air scoops in the exhaust downpipes, under the radiator. Due to the extremely high exhaust gas temperatures (1500F) in a rotary engine, the exhaust was double walled, with the air scoops forcing air down between the two ....so the rider would not burn his legs off if you got to close to the exhaust.
A very unique bike to say the least.
most sucesfull rotary maybe, but as a bike in general i heard they were a pretty big flop. Has anyone ever seen one on the road? i would think its a heckuva collectors item though....
Posted 01 December 2005 - 09:03 AM
grayracer513 said:
The early seventies Kawasaki's were Rotary Valve engines, not Rotary engines...
There was a roraty valve, this was basically a valve that replaced reeds on a 2 stroke, the carb was on the side of the engine. Usually made of a fiberous material, we'd cut them wider for more power. BUT there was an actual Rotary engined motorcylce, it was made by Suzuki.
Posted 01 December 2005 - 10:45 AM
The RE5 actually had oil injection just like a 2 stroke. This was used to try and make the apex seals last. they were a pig. Basically rotaries have no TQ. If you could see a dyno on them you'd see that they are just HP. Now lowend whatsoever. Not the engine for a dirt bike. We had an RX7 and you had to be brutal on the clutch to try and get a quick launch out of that car. But it was so smooth, like having an electric motor under the hood.
