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The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

1909 Torpedo V4 Replica by Pavel Malaník

By Paul Crowe

1909 Torpedo V4 replica by Pavel Malaník

Building replicas of antique motorcycles can be a challenge, but when the prototype was built as a one off promotional model and the whereabouts of the original, if it still exists, is unknown, it’s going to be infinitely more difficult. Pavel Malaník, who evidently has some experience building this sort of machinery, put together this absolutely wonderful 1909 Torpedo V4.

1909 Torpedo V4 replica by Pavel Malaník

Pavel created this bike from scratch. The finished bike is a beauty, especially the engine, which, though called a V4, is more like a partial radial. The 1600cc mill is actually two conjoined V-Twins from Trojan & Nagl, the company that built the original. The only thing the builder had to reference was a very low quality photo.

More photos and video below:

1909 Torpedo V4 parts

I’ve never heard of the Torpedo V4, nor seen any photos or drawings that look like it, but it’s something that has an awful lot of appeal to all of us who appreciate unusual engine designs. As you can see and hear in the video, it looks and sounds great, and this was from 1909! Very impressive build.

1909 Torpedo V4 engine partially assembled

1909 Torpedo V4 engine installed

A very big thanks to Doug, for the tip.

Link: Motocykl Torpedo V4

Posted on March 5, 2012 Filed Under: Engines, Motorcycle Builders, Vintage Motorcycles


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Comments

  1. Josh says

    March 5, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    That’s amazing! Awesome build!

  2. Phoebe says

    March 5, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    Wow, that is nuts…and I mean that in the most positive way possible =)

    • Carolynne says

      March 5, 2012 at 5:30 pm

      Pheobe – I love your site! Very cool

  3. Sick Cylinder says

    March 5, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    Wonderful – it is fabulous projects like this that make this such a good site and worth coming back regularly.

    I would love to see and hear more about this great project.

    • Pavel Malanik says

      March 6, 2012 at 12:47 pm

      Hi, for more information on my web site:http://www.facebook.com/historicvehicles
      regards,Pavel

      • Carolynne says

        March 6, 2012 at 1:01 pm

        Wow, you have quite a treasure trove on there,

  4. aniket says

    March 5, 2012 at 3:18 pm

    Holy Mother of God!

  5. John Tangerås says

    March 5, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    Absolutely fantastic! Great talent and wonderful bike. Amazing!

  6. Paulinator says

    March 5, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    Absolutely beautiful!!! I wonder if he used CAD in the reconstruction, or was that “free-hand”?

    • Pavel Malanik says

      March 6, 2012 at 12:54 pm

      Hi,for more information on my website:http://www.facebook.com/historicvehicles
      regards,Pavel

    • AlwaysOnTwo says

      March 7, 2012 at 8:39 am

      While you’re on his sight, notice the partial shot of his milling machine. Looks like it is right out of 1940. In the back of my head there is a sneaky suspicion that he probably bought the thing second hand and rebuilt it himself. When he was like 18 or so, no less. Even so, this guy’s talent makes me suspect he’s right at home on a CNC machine as well. He’s thought process is probably something like, if you’re gonna build an old school ride, it needs to start with old school tools and setups to be true.

      • Pavel Malanik says

        March 7, 2012 at 12:45 pm

        Motor for TORPEDO I made ​​on the old machine tools, because I have another.90% of the parts for the bike I made ​​at home in his workshop.Only the rims and fenders I have not produced.Motorcycle design was created by the only surviving photo.I created the drawing in 1:1 scale.According to the dimensions of this drawing I made ​​motorcycle parts.Without the use of CAD computer programs.Everything just handwork….Sorry my bad English Regards, Pavel Malaník

  7. Joe Nichols says

    March 5, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    Thats way beyond a labor of love…………

  8. B*A*M*F says

    March 5, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    Well done. Pretty impressive work.

  9. Josie says

    March 5, 2012 at 10:38 pm

    Wow….. Just wow….
    Beautiful. Amazing build. I don’t see a CNC in the video anywhere. This guy is a true “Do’er”.
    Also second “Sick Cylinder’s” comment

  10. Wave says

    March 6, 2012 at 12:19 am

    Four cylinders and it still had pedals! That’s fantastic. Imagine the slip on your leather belt drive when you unleashed that beast! And the terror of riding it at full speed on a bumpy road in 1909!

  11. anders says

    March 6, 2012 at 9:44 am

    Just wish I had that level of skill …

    ACE

    • AlwaysOnTwo says

      March 7, 2012 at 8:30 am

      Aw, ain’t no thang. Just spend 30 or 40 years honing your skills and build any old thing you want. Envious? Who, me? Betcha!

  12. B50 Jim says

    March 6, 2012 at 10:12 am

    And I thought I was doing well to get my B50 into good shape! This is way beyond a project… it’s art, pure and simple. Love the sound — it’s what the motorcycle world was like 100 years ago.

    Wave: Don’t worry about slip on that leather belt — it’s plenty wide enough to handle the horsepower from that fabulous engine. You’d be surprised to see what kind of machinery was operated via leather belting ‘back in the day’ — my grandfather operated a large steam engine that ran an entire paper mill; the engine turned long shafts to which the machines were attached with leather belts. It was dangerous to be sure, but those belts handled lots of horsepower.

    • Paulinator says

      March 6, 2012 at 6:13 pm

      I helped a guy move an old (as in late 1800’s) lathe once. I was amazed at how current it looked. The only dead give-away to its vintage was the top-drive flat belt pulley assembly that was built into the head stock.

  13. Steve Timble says

    March 6, 2012 at 10:16 am

    YOWZA! I would love to see the original photo…

    Steve Timble

    • Doug says

      March 6, 2012 at 10:42 am

      The original drawing might be the one at the start of the video.

  14. Doug says

    March 6, 2012 at 10:53 am

    The benefits of an under-slung exhaust weren’t needed 100 years ago due to the small size of headers anyway, but it is still interesting to see it in this design. Very tidy and handsome bike

  15. DWolvin says

    March 6, 2012 at 11:38 am

    Good gawd that is beautiful!

    Labor of insanity? Who cares! Sounds lovely…

  16. Pavel Malanik says

    March 6, 2012 at 2:32 pm

    Another building four-cylinder motorcycle-Laurin Klement CCCC:
    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.273157012744561.65472.267022650024664&type=3
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVQSTM-WTZk&context=C3fabd37ADOEgsToPDskJBQBIYiTpImlkSJdqXqgKv

  17. Mark in Sydney says

    March 6, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    Now there is a man who knows his way around a metal-working shop. Brilliant and beautiful work. And what a joy to recreate that which has been lost. Very well done, Pavel! Thank you.

  18. SteveH. says

    March 6, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    This thing is amazing and I think the engine could be considered a “Tandem-V Four”. Congratulations, Pavel!

    • chuck says

      March 7, 2012 at 9:50 am

      It might be better to describe the engine as a “W” 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_engine

  19. Nicky Simpson says

    March 7, 2012 at 9:59 am

    Absolutely stunning! Just shows what a little imagination can do. I found this old image for any one interested http://theoldmotor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/torpedoV4OI.jpg

  20. Paulinator says

    March 7, 2012 at 12:49 pm

    I had a production lathe that dated back to WWII. It sported a 5 ft bed, but only an 18 inch wrack. It didn’t need any more since it was set up to cut tank track-pins all day. When I got it there was still a lot of brass and copper plumbing from the pneumatic bar feeder and automation controls. It looked more Jules Verne than Allied war production.

    • Paulinator says

      March 7, 2012 at 12:51 pm

      That was to Always…

  21. Artie says

    March 7, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    I am so astonished that I can only repeat what was already said….Building a working motorcycle from a 100 year old pictiure?!!! Way, way beyond my skills and long term project dedication. WOW!!!

  22. Domenique Hawkins says

    March 9, 2012 at 8:58 pm

    Calling you a artist is an understatement, you sir are a visionary!

  23. Rip says

    March 13, 2012 at 5:35 am

    Absolutely AWESOME, I’d love to have the time and patience to build something like this!

  24. Rotor says

    June 15, 2012 at 8:19 am

    Awesome , I wish I could afford to employ this man!

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