JRL Cycles Radial Engine Motorcycle Video

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 11/19/2007

Radial engine motorcycle by JRL Cycles

We've seen the photos of the radial engine motorcycles with those gorgeous 7 cylinder Rotec radials, but how many of you have heard the engine run? Here's a short video of the engine at high idle with a few throttle blips thrown in. It sounds good and really smooth. I like it!

Video below:

Link: JRL Cycles
Related: Radial Engine Motorcycle by JRL Cycles

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{ 12 comments }

John November 19, 2007 at 12:07 pm: That is ridiculous. Totally un-neccesary. But completely desirable!
coho November 19, 2007 at 2:09 pm: Wow. I can only imagine the arm-lengthening capabilities of such a machine.

Given the height of the tank relative to the pilot and feet first controls it looks an awful lot like a huge Gurney Alligator. Maybe Corbin will make a Smuggler for it and finish the illusion.
Keith November 19, 2007 at 7:32 pm: John you sound like a tree huggin’ yuppie . Just take of your skirt , grow some balls and drop your purse . This is a awsome custom . It is neccesary , it’s not ridiculous and I want one .
Sean November 19, 2007 at 7:58 pm: That’s just silly. Purely, mindbogglingly silly. Where do I sign?
JC November 19, 2007 at 9:14 pm: Radial engine, blah, make mine a rotary engine (and I don’t mean a Mazda!)
Gus gus November 20, 2007 at 1:40 am: AWSOME !!!!!!!!!
Tim November 20, 2007 at 3:26 am: sounds good, looks cool if you like that style of bike…………..but……

how do the two bottom rear cylinders get cooling air? theres one just about where the lady’s knee would be if shew were sitting on the seat, and one below that behind what I presume is the belt drive (or chain, whatever) to the gearbox. HD rear cylinders run hotter than the fronts, and on air cooled Buells the rear cylinder gets fanned A LOT. Maybe this thing isnt designed to be run at slow speeds or for a long time? Ideas anyone?

Say what you like about the Jesse James one, at least when the thing is moving, ALL the cylinders were out in the breeze. (Jesse’s one might have had somewhat compromised ground clearance though)
Jeff November 20, 2007 at 3:48 pm: Pretty radial Err… radical I’ve spent some lonely nights sitting between a pair of Pratt 985s drumming away . Check the gas and fill the oil
willie schmitz November 20, 2007 at 3:59 pm: Great engineering exercise. The bike looks good too.
There’s a bunch of radials out there. From a huge Lycoming X7750 monster (couldn’t find a link to it) to some nicely crafted scaled model power plants. The Rotec appears a tad big for M/C use.
Be nice if one of the custom builders would come up with something a little smaller and mount it laterally.
Tim November 21, 2007 at 3:30 am: Willie, Jesse James did just that earlier this year:

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/05/10/radial-engine-powered-motorcycle/
willie schmitz November 21, 2007 at 2:03 pm: Here’s the link to the Lycoming XR7755.

http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/xr-7755.html
guitargeek November 21, 2007 at 2:49 pm: Further proof that just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD…