The Kneeslider

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TSS RS500 2 Cylinder 2 Stroke

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TSS RS500 2 cylinder 2 stroke

TSS RS500 2 cylinder 2 stroke engineWhile most everyone else has moved on to the land of 4 strokes, there’s a group of intrepid engineers and builders in Australia devoted to the idea of building a 500cc 2 cylinder 2 stroke motorcycle, starting with the Aprilia RS250 chassis and installing their own highly engineered 2 stroke powerplant.

Grand Prix Engineer Wayne “Wobbly” Wright who has a 30 year career building GP engines and pipes went to work on the engine and the finished piece puts out 112 horsepower and 60 foot pounds of torque. Mounted in a bike weighing 286 pounds total and having the power delivery you would expect from a 2 stroke gives you a bike that one might call entertaining.

The idea here is to bring 2 stroke technology up to the best that can be built right now and place it in a modern frame and suspension package, a combination you can’t buy in your neighborhood showroom.

The company the group formed is called the Two Stroke Shop, and besides many other parts for the 2 stroke fanatic, they offer not only complete RS 500 motorcycles but also the engines alone or kits to adapt your own RS250 to accept their engine.

There are no prices on the site, expensive I’m sure, but what they offer seems somewhat unique. It’s an extremely interesting setup and just the thing to surprise the heck out of your average GSX-R pilot. I like it.

Link: The Two Stroke Shop

TSS RS500 2 cylinder 2 stroke

Comments

  3. Is there any chance at all this might pass an emissions test? If so, it’d be interesting to see someone revive the concept of two-strokes for production bikes.

    cl

  4. Pretty darn cool!
    Reading the engine info leads me to believe that the TSS500 motor is utilizing either RZ350 or Banshee cases. If that’s true, there’s probably a larger ATV market than road race market available to them.

    As for passing emissions tests- not a chance given what’s shown on their website.

  5. I just had a flashback! All the sudden I was in a field of blue smoke with the smell of burnt pre-mix in the air listening to a tinny rapping sound.

    Maybe that is what Heaven is like?

  6. I need to change my shirt, it’s covered in drool! I doubt it’d pass emissions anywhere except Oz, unfortunately 🙁 I like the idea of a road going 2-smoke though, hopefully BRP pursues such avenues with their ETEC direct injection 2-strokes. They’re already putting them in snowmobiles apparently, and a buddy of mine who works on ETEC outboards said they’re so clean that they can test run them indoors! I’m keeping my fingers crossed…

  7. It looks very professional, I’d love to have one! I had as small dream of putting a 1000cc two stroke EML Jumbo in a streetbike, that would have been interesting.

  8. Ever since I bought my 3rd bike, a brand new black Kawasaki H1, way back when, I’ve had a soft spot for 500cc 2-strokes. Not too big, not too heavy.

  9. Ah! Sweet memories of my old Suzuki TR500. Pulled like a tractor, handled like a dream.
    Those cylinders seem awfully close together to fit any size of transfer ports. The TR500 skewed the 2 cylinders so there was more space without spreading the bore spacing. Maybe RS500 is bred from smaller stock.

    I’ll have 2 please, The first to put on the road with Dealer Plates! WHAT FUN!!

  10. Emissions?

    Dont know about where you guys are, but I dont get emissions testing done on my bikes.

  11. keep the motor optimal for power output, then hinder it with an exhaust can and an ECM which makes it pass emissions. so when people get um all the have to do is switch exhaust and ECM, wait thats what we all do already. Wheres the problem?

  14. Anyone know anyone who has ever run this motor?

    I would like to see a track test.

    RZ cases?

    If its sorted out, dependable and really doesn’t cost more than a “supersport” (this, according to their website), then sign me up!

    There seems to be huge interest in 2 strokes these days, not only among us old dudes, but among young guys who have heard the legends and want a taste.

    The incredible rise and popularity of track days will hopefully bring more of these type of bikes into the marketplace.

  15. heard the legends

    Speaking of “hearing the legends”, literally, I was in the pits the last year they ran AMA roadraces without silencers and when they also first had all those privateer 750 Yamahas. There were 90 bikes taking off in waves of 30 each and maybe 8 of them were 4-strokes. The bikes revving to around 10,000rpm and starting off was so loud we’d jam our fingers into our ears as hard as you could and still were deaf for the next few minutes.

  17. “keep the motor optimal for power output, then hinder it with an exhaust can and an ECM which makes it pass emissions. so when people get um all the have to do is switch exhaust and ECM, wait thats what we all do already. Wheres the problem?”

    ECM on a two stroke?
    So the computer controls the reeds?

    It would have to be direct injected to do this, and suspect this isn’t

  19. So from what I gather reading, these are RZ350 based motors running Cheetah (modded I believe) cylinders. Very cool!

    There are a few guys out there running hybrid banshee/rz engines in their track bikes.

    Eric

  20. What if you buy a used Aprilia RS250 and convert it into a 500cc. Then you should be able to drive it legally on the street. I think…

  21. I have seen an injection/ignition system for 2-strokes; the guys were able to adjust ignition so it runs like a 2-stroke, 4-stroke, 6-stroke, etc.
    Emissions were very favourable and they say when you run it with gas it is very clean. Maybe we will see it in the future somewhere…

  22. Wow what a track day bike very small light and powerfull and you could actually tell it apart from the other bikes. This bike reminds me of Norton’s NRV588 which is about the same size frame and weight with 165hp and a much broader torque curve. I don’t know if it will go into production. I love the sound of a two stroke.

    http://nortonracing.com/race/

  23. Having been involved in a small way with this project I can answer a few questions, the TSS500 will be completely road legal in Australia(probably North America) as the engine is RZ350 based which has to only comply to 1985 or so emissions here in Australia.Ditto the Aprilia RS 250 chassis is completly road legal.Calvin Pollet from CPI has been behind the project from the start.The first wave of home bult Cheetah based road bikes are taking to the streets now, however the TSS 500 will take this to a new level.
    As the original LC and RZ 350’s would harrass any big bore f….fff….f…four stroke back in the day, so to will the TSS500 to any of the current crop of litre sportbikes.
    Yours in two strokes

  24. No two stroke ever built can pass emissions. In fact, they are worse than most 4 stroke cars. They are shockingly inefficient, and always burn oil as a matter of course. If these bikes are expensive, what is the benefit of two stroke? The entire point of a two stroke engine is that it costs less.

  25. Dwindle “The entire point of a two stroke engine is that it costs less.”

    Really I don’t think most people would even remotely agree with you on that one. Two strokes biggest advantage is an incredible power to weight ratio, they sound awsome, and have a rush in the power band thats just a blast. These are essentially track day (racing bikes) and would be somewhat expensive, but nothing like a track day car. I also think two strokes could be made far more efficient than they currently are but notice these bikes aren’t meant to come in green if thats your real point ;o].

  26. Well the guys I spoke to (who developed the injection/ignition system for 2-strokes) said the system is clean (especially with gas as a fuel) and burnt oil was not a real issue. In the future we will see this system somewhere (altough not in bikes at the moment)

  27. hi nice bike well i have 2stroke bike of Yamaha its 135cc 5speed so is there any way i can increase its power…is there any liquid cool engine or LC conversion kit available..u should use electric super charger to increase power in this bike or Yamaha ypvs technology..

  28. direct injected two strokes are cleaner burning than 4 strokes ask the people at Evinrude about their boat engine sometime. aprillia has a 500cc scooter in the works called the Leonardo its a direct injected 2 sroke [computer mapped] that is as fast as a r1 yamaha. the technology is in place now its just expensive i think they will release it in 2010…………only in europe?

  29. I WOULD LOVE A CHANCE TO THROW MY LEG OVER THE ROEHR OR THE TSSRS 500,SLIDE UP TO ONE OF THESE WANNABEE’S HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI , AND SUCK THE HEADLIGHTS RIGHT OUT OF THE FRONT OF HIS LTTLE 10000RRHONDA.HA,ALL HE’LL SEE IS THE BACK OF MY HELMET ,THAT IS UNTIL HE FINALLY GET’S TO THE NEXT LIGHT ,WHERE I’LL BE ADJUSTING MY JOE ROCKET GLOVES !!!!!!HAHAHAHHAHAAH

  30. 2 STROKES and 500 CC….THATS AWESOM…
    hi im from italy ,and i hope this is getting into market cuz the lost of the aprilia 250 was already too much…man this bike would beat even the ducati 900 4 stroke and yamaha 600 the 750s ect…. 2 stroke is agressive!!!!….. NICE NICE

  31. Glad to see that someone else mentioned Evinrude. Their E-TEC direct injected 2-strokes “meet the most demanding emissions standards worldwide,” of course, according to them… I keep waiting for someone to put their (twins) into some bikes and (V4s) cars and show what’s possible.

  32. It is hard to think what to write when you are excited about the idea of a sleeper RZ350 flying past a current sportbike (on the straight 🙂 etc. I have two 87 RZ350s and would like to put the TSS upgraded engine into my Mostly stock RZ350. It looks as it could be done for the bottom end is the same? With some more questions answered and possibly some info from someone who has done this I would be greatly appreciative. I can only imagine the sound and feel of that engine and can hardly wait to try it on for size.

    Calgary, Alberta, Canada

  33. This really is a great project, and I wish the chaps at TSS all the best of luck with it.

    I often wonder what would have happened if Bimota’s V-Due hadn’t been a flop due to its unreliability/inconsistency. Perhaps it would have set a new bench mark and encouraged the Japanese to make 2t 500’s, in the same way they all made v-twins 4t’s in the late 90’s.

    What I don’t get is why there can’t be some kind of exemption from emissions laws for enthusiast machines like this. Perhaps bikes made in limited production runs, say under 1000 units could be exempt. I get that it’s not good to have 10 million 2T scooters pouring out castrol-R but in the grand scheme of things the limited amount of performance 2t bikes on the road really is a needle in the proverbial hay stack.

  34. If they used stepped piston / top hat piston pioneered by bernard hooper (BSA) it wld pass all emission tests as it would then use a wet sump like a 4 stroke motor and need no lubricant in the fuel …. John , Spain

  35. Plug ‘John Floyd Yamaha’ into youtube to see what you can do with a set of RD (RZ) cases, a long stroke crank and a set of CP Industries barrels. We also have a road legal RD 350 running a similar setup (430 ish cc 90+hp). It’s insane! Roll on power wheelies in 5th and it’s geared for about 135mph! I keep trying to talk him into putting that motor into his RS250…

  36. I Don’t know about Any1 else, but this sounds very weak for a 500cc 2 stroke (112bhp). A 500cc 2 Stroke Moto GP Engine was delivering 180-190bhp in 2002. Surely this engine should be delivering 150bhp to make it a worthwhile option. When a decent tuned 600cc 4 stroke such as my Yamaha R6 is putting out 125-130bhp at the crank. Plus Superb Power Band.

    So apart from the extremely peaky power delivery (A negative IMO), what is the point of this. I DO Like the thought of 112bhp in an RS250 chassis.

  37. Just another quick comment, if people need to make 2 stroke engines pass emissions regs, just ask Orbital.

    They’re an Australian company who enabled Piaggio and all their other companies engines able to pass Euro 3 emissions standards.

    They were talking about super high powered, clean and reliable 2 strokes 20 years ago. They now just seem to do work for other companies. When the news of their inventions became public, I hoped we’d be seeing 2 stroke performance cars such as Ferrari etc.

  38. @ Paul Yak:

    Sure more power could be massaged out of the engine, but that amount of HP is hardly weak on such a light bike. Each HP is only pushing 2.55lbs on that bike vs over 3lbs for your R6. You would have to shave 75lbs or add 30HP to the R6 to get the same kind of power to weight ratio, and then it would still be just another R6. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but an RS500 would be infinitely cooler. The wail of the exhaust and the explosive power delivery (and my permanent grin) would make it all worth it. And you’ll never run across another 3 just like it in the same day.

    I used to hope to see some 2 stroke cars also. A 2 stroke 2.4L V10 Ferrari with 1000+HP that weighs a few hundred pounds less would surely break lots of records. Most supercars already have gas guzzler taxes because they’re not even close to being efficient for street driving, surely somebody could design a direct injected 2 stroke car that could squeeze through emissions as well as a 10mpg Lamborghini.

  39. Evenrude etec is so clean its the official engine used in California on lake Tahoe for the state patrole boats. It is the cleanest outboard engine period. all I need now is $$$$ it would be perfectly leagal to modify a curently regestered Rz in california to 500cc the have no laws over bikes that old yet.

  41. I have built an 800cc 2 stroke Rotax powered Kawasaki I call the KR800. With 100hp at the rear wheel and approx 480lb wet weight, this bike easily keeps up with most 600-750cc sport bikes and provides a rideable toque curve (1500r/min – 6000r/min. With aIf you want to get a quick look, go to You Tube and search “KR800”. This bike was built over a three year period working nights and weekends to prove the concept of a large bore 2-stroke sportbike/streetfighter that could be licensed and ridden on the road(in Pennsylvania).If your interested in owning this unique prototype, drop me a note at wgshank@verizon.net
    Bill

  42. hi,love what you guys are doing for the 2 stroke market,i totally agree with your feelings on the shear rush of a proper stroker,the 1100 triple is amazing,keep up the good work

  43. I was raised on two strokes and miss the smell of them running on bean oil….If i could get one of these for say under $15k I would put in an order today Hoss

  45. I accually contacted this company a few months ago. I was so excited after researching them that I wrote letters to all the motercycle magazines (unfortunately none of them were published)
    Anyways, I got a very detailed response from the folks at TSS. They informed me that they accually had an affiliate in California who would prepare complete bikes for the United States. I don’t rember the price, but I’m sure it was under $15,000 and YES they are street legal in the United States.

  46. I used to hope to see some 2 stroke cars also. A 2 stroke 2.4L V10 Ferrari with 1000+HP that weighs a few hundred pounds less would surely break lots of records. Most supercars already have gas guzzler taxes because they’re not even close to being efficient for street driving, surely somebody could design a direct injected 2 stroke car that could squeeze through emissions as well as a 10mpg Lamborghini.

  47. I just want a drawing of how to put a two stroke multicylinder engine together. From that, I will use the common parts from a popular chain saw, its cylinder, jugs, carburators etc. together. A crank is only a bit of minor lathework, the engine could be built out of 3/4 aluminum (block that is) the rest is just a bit of blood sweat and tears. Heck I will built it myself. Ten cylinders all firing at rapid rate, roller bearing rods, a lot of power for a bike that weighs less than 300 lbs. Give me a picture just hooking up two cylinders, I do the rest.

  48. Hell Yeah!! send them over to South Africa!! we have a lot of crazy 2stroke loving maniacs here, and our governemnt doesnt give a crap about emissions or laws! just as long as you dont talk on your cell phone while you drive, thats all they care about.
    Bring them!! i love it!
    stinkwheels for life!!

  49. they probably wouldn`t EVEN pass emisions in Oz…and anyway us Aussies don`t really care about emissions…we still get brand new banshees on the show room floor.

    the TSS site is actually encouring anyone who can..to put the motor in a bike and ride the hell out of it, street, track, whatever.

  50. I got the chicken skin goin on… readin the info… ring ding ding ding ring ding ding. kneeslider where have you been all my life? hopefully bpm will put some direct injection units in some bikes for sale in Canada. Evinrude and BRP are on the rite track….keepin my fingers crossed

  51. Hi mates. 2 stroke is the wonder of bikes,makes you smile from ear to ear,just imagining a light,powerfull bike… the kick of the pipes (grab your self with hands and theet) a mist of scare and adition makes you feel that little cold in the stomach,My God “NSR 500,130kg,200bhp 200mhp,thats my icon and also I´m sad with every major companies that turned their back to us (2 stroke lovers). Maybe some day they realise that 2 strokes still have a big and briliant future ahead with lots of inovations,and bring them back to us 🙂