There's a certain mystique associated with radial engines which may be why several builders have recently built motorcycles wrapped around the circular powerplants. Of course, they look pretty cool, too. As we've also pointed out here before, several motorcycle engines have been adapted for use in airplanes, usually in their standard configuration but using an adapter of some sort for the prop. This XR600 radial engine project blurs the line by building a 9 cylinder aircraft radial engine out of the cylinders from a Honda XR600 single.
Details of this project are limited but it seems Russell Sutton, a New Zealander living in Australia, is building this 8 liter engine which will have a redline around 4000 rpm and a planetary gearbox, made from gears out of a Caterpillar transmission, which will reduce the prop speed to 2500 rpm. The engine will eventually find its way into an airboat.
These photos originate from Ian Drysdale, who's been known to mix engine parts in some interesting combinations of his own.
Some of you Aussies and Kiwis build the coolest stuff!
More photos below:
Links: Eurospares (bottom of the page) via Honda Trail Bike Forum
Related: Jesse James JRL Cycles Gatsby