The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Mark Walker’s Big Ned – the Rotary Valve 3 Liter V-Twin Street Fighter from Australia

By

Big Ned, the 3000cc v-twin from Mark Walker of Australia
Big Ned, the 3000cc v-twin from Mark Walker of Australia

Mark Walker of Sydney, Australia has been building and racing motorcycles for many years, but after racing for over 30 years, he decided it was time to move on and instead of building to a set of rules, as racing required, he began building for himself and Big Ned, the fuel injected, 3000cc, rotary valve, 200 horsepower V-Twin was one of the first of several amazing engines and concept motorcycles he constructed just because.

Big Ned, the 3000cc v-twin from Mark Walker of Australia with the armored helmet front fairing
Big Ned, the 3000cc v-twin from Mark Walker of Australia with the armored helmet front fairing

Everything about this engine and bike are big and bold and it grabs your attention immediately. The inspiration comes from the notorious bushranger Ned Kelly, who famously took on the police force of colonial Victoria, Australia, wearing home-made armour fashioned from pig-iron, that’s the reason for the armored helmet looking fairing in the front.

Big Ned 3000cc aluminum V-Twin
Big Ned 3000cc aluminum V-Twin

Mark machined, formed and welded almost every part of this bike. He calls it a street fighter, but I’m not sure it fits into any category except its own. When I first saw the photos of the bike, I just stared at it, trying to comprehend what he’d done. It’s not the least bit practical, but it is a statement of the ideas floating around in Mark’s head, because, as a dyslexic, he struggles with reading and writing so he pretty much builds what he sees in his mind’s eye.

Big Ned 3000cc aluminum V-Twin showing the clutch side
Big Ned 3000cc aluminum V-Twin showing the clutch side

The 2 inch exhaust pipes lead to mufflers machined from fire extinguishers. There are big brass fittings to give it a steam punk look, but, mostly, it appears to be a motorcycle carved out of a big block of aluminum.

This motorcycle was completed a few years ago, but until I stumbled on to it while looking around for some V-Twin info, I had never seen or heard of it before. How does something this big and outrageous hide from view? I absolutely love it.

Link: onedaytech a friend of Mark’s who has some great photos of Big Ned

Big Ned and builder Mark Walker
Big Ned and builder Mark Walker

Posted on Filed Under: Engines, Motorcycle Builders

-- Subscribe to The Kneeslider --

Be the first to know when something’s new!


Be sure to check out The Kneeslider’s motorcycle manuals and literature listings.

Your purchases through ebay links on The Kneeslider may earn a commission for this site.



Comments

  1. Ha! It’s the black knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. NONE SHALL PASS!

    • Thanks, Andreas. I had looked a bit but didn’t find the video. It’s too bad he didn’t actually fire it up, but it’s a neat bit of insight into his thought process.

  3. Nothing succeeds like overkill! Do I see TWO drive chains? Wow! This bike might need them! Love the steampunk touches; the front brake doesn’t look adequate, but there might be a few plates behind those brass screens. There must be something in the water Down Under, or maybe these descendants of hardy “criminals” (find a copy of “The Fatal Shore”) are genetically driven to do seriously audacious, large things. Whatever, I want to hear it run! More than that, I want to ride it!

  5. Hollywood should employ this guy to build bikes for movies. This would be great as the Bat bike doncha think?

  8. Yep, I highlighted this bike because it’s the one I saw first, but his others are definitely worth a long look as well. He’s a builder!

    • It doesn’t seem to have any sort of suspension, either. This seems to be more of a proof of concept than an attempt at a complete, ride-able bike. Mark still took the project much further than I’d be able to!

  10. I will probably never own a steam locomotive, but THIS could fill the bill, and then some.
    Park it next to a BossHoss, the BH would not be noticed!

  12. That V16 Victa build is absolutely amazing, The last update is dated 13th of March, which I assume is today! Excellent work, good to see someone with so much passion to keep on building project after project, and still challenge himself to go further each time.

  13. I have to wonder if a V-16 two stroke will even run. Two strokes depend on timed crankcase pressure to run. All multi cylinder two strokes are, essentially, single cylinder engines coupled together, their crankcases being sealed off from each other. In a V configuration, sealing the opposing cylinders is difficult, if not impossible. Mr. Walker seems a whole lot smarter than am, so, maybe I’m wrong

  14. Reply to my own comment.
    I see he is using a supercharger to pressurize the crankcase.
    As Emili Litella would say, “Never Mind.”

  15. Man those Australians love Ned Kelly. Anybody ever seen Reckless Kelly with Yahoo serious? He had a pieced together bike that ran on jet fuel. Those crazy guys down there

  16. Just finished reading/watching his site… wow!

    Where does he find the time/money/skills to accomplish this??