The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

DesmoHarley – A Real Ducati Harley Davidson Merger

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Chris Barber, builder of the Alfabike, left a comment on our story about a potential Ducati - Harley merger with a link to his latest project and I think you'll like this. I guess he couldn't wait for the corporations to merge and, being one of those "can do" guys, decided to take matters into his own hands. Chris has created an engine, based on a Harley Davidson crankcase and … [Read more...]

Crower Six Stroke Engine Earns Invention Award

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Popular Science magazine awarded Bruce Crower with an invention award for his six stroke engine, covered in The Kneeslider back in February of '06. Crower, founder of Crower Cams, retired from the company some years back but like many inventive types, he never really retired in the normal sense, he just kept tinkering and inventing because that's what he does. The six … [Read more...]

Mazda Rotary Engine Motorcycle

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Got an interesting photo yesterday of this rotary motorcycle sent in by a reader looking for more information. I don't have all of the details yet but I thought I would put this out for everyone to check out and see what you thought of it. The rotary engine is from a Mazda and is the 2 rotor variety, which may be all they make for all I know, I'm not up on my rotary engines. … [Read more...]

Up-N-Smoke Engine Project Book Needs Writers

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Are you a vintage motorcycle engine expert? Do you know the ins and outs of engines from Vincent and Norton and some of the other famous marques? Last year I pointed out Daniel Pierce's Up-N-Smoke Project, a series of excellent photos depicting powerplants from many of the best known vintage motorcycles. Dan has decided to put them all together in a book and he's looking for a … [Read more...]

Leonhardt 410 Cubic Inch V-Twin Motorcycle

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Over a year ago I pointed out a project over in Germany being built by Clemens F. Leonhardt. Clemens had some very big ideas but at the time all you could see were design drawings, and when you consider what this project is supposed to be, it's easy to dismiss it as a design that will never happen. Well, checking back I see that progress is being made and as these photos … [Read more...]

Harley Davidson V4 Nova

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Here's a bike most motorcycle folks have never heard of, the Harley Davidson V4 Nova. Bob Horn brought this up in a comment yesterday and pointed to a pretty interesting page that tells the story of a motorcycle that might have been and I thought it deserved a story of its own. At the time the Shovelhead's replacement was being designed (the engine that eventually became the … [Read more...]