The Kneeslider — Motorcycle News for Positive People

Desmohog Finishes the DesmoHarley Engine Project

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 1/30/2012

Desmohog by Chris Barber powered by the DesmoHarley engine

The very impressive DesmoHarley engine built by Chris Barber we covered years ago has a home in a complete bike. I never followed up on that project and a comment in the previous post reminded me that it's about time I did. Several years ago the build was already under way and here is the complete bike, the Desmohog.

Desmohog by Chris Barber powered by the DesmoHarley engine

Putting Ducati 900ss desmo heads on a pair of Axtell cylinders, Carillo Rods with flat top Keith Black pistons attached to a stock stroke crankshaft is such a great idea, you have to love it. I especially like what Chris says about it:

The Desmohog was not designed to make the Harley engine something it will never be, I did it because I could.

That pretty well sums it up.

Chris also built the Alfabeast with an Alfa Romeo V6 which we first wrote up before knowing who the builder was and the Hill Climb Special. I like the way he thinks.

Link: Crossbreed Cycles
Photo credits: Duncan Moore

Video below: [read the full article…]

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LaHaDuc – a Laverda Harley Ducati Bitsa Bike

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 1/30/2012

in Motorcycle Builders

Lahaduc - a Laverda Harley Ducati bitsa bike project by Pieter van den Breevaart

You may remember the Vincati, a Ducati 750 GT frame with a Vincent V-Twin installed in place of the original engine. Pieter van den Breevaart of the Netherlands liked it a lot, but spare Vincent engines aren't easy to come by at an affordable price, nor are Ducati 750s, for that matter, so he decided to pursue his goal in his own way and the LaHaDuc, a Laverda Harley Ducati bitsa bike project was under way.

Lahaduc - a Laverda Harley Ducati bitsa bike project by Pieter van den Breevaart

The build began with a 1976 Ducati 860 GT frame, minus the engine, which the owner had used in a sidecar racer. Pieter found his Sportster engine when the owner removed it after ordering one from an XR1200. He found a set of wheels from a Laverda 750 SF, a tank from a Ducati SD500, a seat from a Triumph, and on and on through the endless process of finding and fitting the necessary pieces to make the project complete. He's been a pretty careful shopper, because the price tag, as of this month, is only 4650 euros or $6144.

Ducati purists can rest easy because no pristine vintage Ducatis were harmed in the making of this project and otherwise unused parts have come together to make a very cool bike Pieter is unlikely to see anywhere else. I like it.

Link: LaHaDuc

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Cleveland CycleWerks Updates

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 1/30/2012

in Motorcycle Business

Cleveland CycleWerks Misfit

The Cleveland stop on the IMS tour was this past weekend and I had the chance to talk at some length to Scott Colisimo about his company, Cleveland CycleWerks. It was also the first time I had the opportunity to see the bikes up close, and my impression is they look pretty good. The Heist and Misfit are the models available in the USA right now, while the Ace, already available in many other countries around the world, will be coming to our shores later this year.

The Heist and Misfit are on opposite ends of the spectrum, though both run the same 250cc engine, the low riding cruiser style of the Heist is in complete contrast to the upright, semi cafe style of the Misfit. With prices in the low three thousand dollar range, you're looking at a fun, entry level bike.

Cleveland CycleWerks Heist

We told you the story before about Scott's attempt to build the bikes in the US and all of the troubles he encountered along the way and his eventual move to manufacturing and final assembly in China, a move we've seen far too often made by too many companies, but Scott told me something I was very happy to hear. Just days before the show, they closed on the purchase of a building in Ohio and final assembly of the motorcycles will be set up right here the USA. That's great news for a lot of reasons, but seeing them moving more of the process back here to the US, employing more of the same people they hope will be able to buy the bikes, is a step we would like to see made more often by more companies that have taken their manufacturing elsewhere. A big thumbs up on the move!

While the Cleveland Cyclewerks offerings might not fit everyone's needs, if you're looking for for a fun, inexpensive, entry level machine, you should check them out.

Link: Cleveland Cyclewerks

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16 Cylinder H16 Engine to Power New Motorcycle Under Construction by Andreas Georgeades

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 1/27/2012

in Engines, Motorcycle Builders

H16 engine by Andreas Georgeades placed to check position and measurements with frame

Andreas Georgeades, our favorite example of old school garage wizardry, the man behind the V12 CBX, as well as several Ferrari engined motorcycles, is at it again. Working in the same small garage workshop, he's building a new engine, an H16, a 16 cylinder engine consisting of two flat 8 cylinder ~~boxers~~ engines stacked on top of one another and joined by a common drive gear linking the two crankshafts. Its design is much like the old Formula One engines built by BRM in the 1960s.

H16 engine by Andreas Georgeades from 4 YZF600 engine top ends

The new engine is using cylinders and heads from four Yamaha YZF600 engines attached to custom machined crankcases. It will run four Dellorto carburetors. He's using pieces from a CBX clutch and a slipper clutch from a Honda VF1000R. The frame will be a much modified GSX-R with a 58 inch wheelbase, only a few inches more than stock.

Old school mark and measure before machining

He is strictly old school, measuring, marking and machining, no computer controlled anything. He thinks it through, sketches it out and goes to work. I can't begin to get my head around this. If he was any other guy who said he was going to build an H16 in his garage, everyone would roll their eyes and walk away, but Andreas, whose V12 CBX was constructed exactly the same way is already well along in the process. Absolutely astounding.

Crankcase after initial machining

There are no predictions about when the bike will be finished, but judging from what we can see here, we can expect steady progress in the coming months and one day another amazing engine will come to life and then a spectacular bike will hit the road. I am in awe of this man's skill.

Thank you Rémi for the tip.

Be sure to watch the videos below to see Andreas explaining what he's doing:
[read the full article…]

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