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Gatsby Radial Engine Motorcycle by Paul Yang

By Paul Crowe

Gastby radial engine powered motorcycle by Paul Yang

Jesse James and JRL Cycles built customs based around the Rotec 7 cylinder radial engine, now Paul Yang of IronGatsby Motorcycle has produced the Gatsby. I ran across this bike in the latest issue of Barnett’s Magazine and according to the article, Yang has been working on this for 2 years so it sounds like these radial engine ideas popped up on the radar of some builders in a relatively short period of time.

The bike has 23 inch wheels on both ends and a CVT (continuously variable transmission). Looking through the photos in the magazine, it’s difficult to figure out exactly how the exhaust is routed and the CVT setup is hidden pretty well, too.

Given the size and shape of the radial engine, it’s a challenge to build a motorcycle around it, making it look halfway decent in the process is definitely a lot harder. Is this in any way a practical ride? Obviously not, but in the same way as the Jesse James creation and the JRL Cycles customs have shown, you can power a motorcycle with almost anything given a decent amount of time and fabrication skills. Interesting.

Link: IronGatsby Motorcycles

Posted on January 6, 2008 Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders

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Comments

  1. Keith says

    January 6, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    Wow , nice job . That is one sharp looking custom .

  2. Sean says

    January 6, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    And the rear tyre’s profile is…

  3. kneeslider says

    January 6, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    120/70X23 on both ends

  4. Chris says

    January 6, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    I’ve always wondered, especially for this layout, how much gyroscopic stabilization the engine provides, and how much that inhibits turning. At least this one has a fairly narrow (comparatively) rear tire.

    cl

  5. Ride says

    January 6, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    I looked at his site, although unique styling which I give him credit for I find his customs kinda ugly.

    As for gyro affect I’m sure it is substantial but at least it will not toss you on the ground when you pin it like this one :>)

    http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/05/10/radial-engine-powered-motorcycle/

  6. ROHORN says

    January 6, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    WHAT rotating mass/gyroscopic effect?

    http://www.rotecradialengines.com/photos/parts1.htm

    Considering that peak power comes at 3700 rpm, how hard is it going to rev, anyway?

  7. Ry says

    January 7, 2008 at 11:22 am

    Is there really more rotating mass than your typical 4 cylinder?

  8. Sean says

    January 7, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    The same rotating mass/gyroscopic effect that keeps your motorcycle shiny side up.

  9. MG driver says

    January 7, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    WWI rotary engines had significant gyroscopic effect because the crankshaft was stationary and the whole engine mass rotated around the crank. These modern radial engines don’t rotate and require low mass crank and flywheel assemblies due to the uniform distribution of reciprocating elements around the crank’s 360 degrees of rotation. Hence, negligible gyroscopic effect.

  10. MotoWebbi says

    January 7, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    It’ interesting to note that these Radial-engined customs are only photographed from the power-output side of the engine. The other side has oil pump, distributors, carbies, starter motors and all the other ugly bits…

  11. JC says

    January 7, 2008 at 8:00 pm

    “WWI rotary engines had significant gyroscopic effect because the crankshaft was stationary and the whole engine mass rotated around the crank.”

    I’ve half joking suggested that somebody should make a bike based on a rotary engine. I think somebody makes a replica for kitplanes, so might be doable.

    I’ve seen Mazda rotary powered bikes before, but this would take the cake!

  12. Greg says

    January 8, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    Jesse James version I think will promote even coolin of each cylinder. However this longitudinally positioned engine may have a problem with heat, no.

  13. Eskild says

    January 12, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    I believe radial engines are very pleasing to look at but are very hard to be made to look good in a motorcycle. Hovewer the best looking radial engined bike I`ve seen so far is the french Verdel from 1912. Link: http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/classics_p/Verdel_1912_Radial.htm
    Another idea could be a kind of cyclemaster version with the radial in the center of the wheel?

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