Here is another example of superb engineering from the land of the Kiwi, it’s the Engrich ART (Appel Richardson Twin) motorcycle, powered by a fully balanced, 360 degree, 1200cc parallel twin. There’s so much to look at here, it’s difficult to know where to start.
You might think this is a beautifully designed upright standard motorcycle, and it is that, but upon closer examination you notice the CNC machined components, over 200 of them, which include the hollow, two piece, 6061 aluminum, bolt together backbone frame and even the tank, which consists of 11 parts TIG welded together.
The engine is a story in itself. This is a 360 degree parallel twin, which means both pistons move up and down in sync, one or the other cylinder firing on each complete revolution of the crankshaft. This can result in considerable vibration, especially at idle, but this twin utilizes a half stroke, tungsten balance piston located between the two outboard pistons, an idea from Bert Hopwood, but finally realized by the Engrich team.
‘You notice the smoothness most at idle,’ says Leigh Richardson, one of the Engrich’s four creators. ‘When a normal 360 twin would be shaking about, it just sits there with no vibration at all. It’s still got the traditional British exhaust note because the firing order is the same, but without the vibes.’
Oh, there’s this: The team had no engine building experience before beginning the project and had to learn everything along the way.
Engine Specifications:
– ART (Appel Richardson Twin) 360° 1200cc parallel twin. Sand cast and machined crankcases, sump, barrels & cylinder head
– Bespoke CNC machined crank shaft, cam shafts and engine covers
– Air and oil cooling
– Unique tungsten balance system. Near perfect primary and secondary balance
– Double over head cam – 8 valve head, 6 speed gearbox
– Fuel injection – Link G4+
Besides the CNC parts and the extraordinary engine, there’s a long list of the best components from Ohlins, Brembo, etc. and it all comes together in a beautiful motorcycle that reflects the care, attention and skill of everyone involved. Their aim is to begin low volume production and this is one motorcycle that certainly deserves commercial success.
They have a series of videos explaining several parts of the design and build process and their website has a lot more than I can go into here.
Check it out: Engrich Motorcycle
Thanks for the tip, Mathieu.
stephen bogert says
this bike sounds heavy, I would like to see the specs
Rotor says
I wish them success buy I’ve got a feeling it will price it self out of the market,
Bob says
Check out all of their videos – all worth watching – really enjoyed their 2nd video on the engine castings.
Bob says
Best of all: A real running motorcycle – not just another New Atlas clickbait/vaporware project.
todd says
Amazing amount of work to end up with a Triumph Speed Twin. There’s still a considerable distance between the throws, adding quite the rocking couple. Sure, that is balanced out un both sides but that poor crankshaft will need to resist enormous bending stresses. To me, it looks like crank failure from fatigue in short order. I wish them luck.
RicknRedmond says
Looks like it has 4 mains to me. That should take care of the bending load. There is no rocking couple from dynamic loads, only from combustion loads.
Mark says
Agreed, if you’re going to put a third piston in there then why not make it a triple?
Bob says
Couldn’t remember where I’d seen the piston balancer before:
https://bike-lineage.org/yamaha/tmax/img/tmax_3piston.jpg
From:
https://bike-lineage.org/yamaha/tmax/2017tmax.html
Earlier TMax engines also had them….
Mark says
That’s cool!
If Yamaha did it, then they must be onto something.
The T-Max is an impressive scooter.
Doug says
BMW also did an inline2 with a balancer:
https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/power-parallel-twin-engine-motorcycles-engine-tech-motorcyclist-drawing-line/
Why cnc a frame backbone?
I asked the same question of the Arch gas tank. Their answer was along the lines of the intricacies required it. Ok, but then shouldn’t you backup some steps and question a design that requires a manufacturing process that drives the cost so high, it gets in your go-to-market viability or requires a sky high price tag?
Aside from that, I really like the attention inline2’s are getting from aprilia, this project, and yamaha and bmw. If an inline2 engine design can achieve considerable hp & torque (relative to the hyper bikes), then a great bike can be achieved due to this engine’s packing advantages. The stage is set, aside from the current style trends.
The industry needs a revolution stylistically. The only aesthetic pulse alive is WSM with his WSB design.
Doug says
besides the above, this is incredible work! That is a great looking engine and high-caliber fit and finish, from 3 guys in their spare time!?! Nuts.
Congratulations & I look forward to reading more about this achievement.
Willem says
Nice bike!
The shape of the cam chain cover reminds me a bit of the Triumph Bandit
Roberto says
Cool find! I love novel solutions to reduce engine vibration: 270 degree cranks in parallel twins, Ducati Supermono’s second “piston”/link, the BMR supermono’s twin crank/twin conrod single, etc.
The vibration isn’t only the pistons mass bouncing up and down. The conrods (to the live and the dummy pistons) at the crank are flinging around. I assume they balanced those too.
It’s an impressive bike. It’s nice to see castings. The CNC of the tank and chassis seem like overkill. They get covered by paint or buried under other parts. The BOTT XR1 and the original Confederate Wraith used similar shaped spine chassis made from steel tubes. The curves were fabricated from welded sections or mandrel bent.tubes. Since Engrich made their own motor, they could’ve made it a stressed member and gone very minimal with the chassis.
Kiwis building motorcycles from scratch (like Britten before them)… there must be something in the water.