Something Very Different

[PAULBACH]

Has anyone ever rode one of these? Front wheel drive! Found the picture of this bike for the Big GIG thread.

Thanks Greg. I resized and renamed. That did it

[GregFeeler]

Has anyone ever rode one of these? Front wheel drive! Found the picture of this bike for the Big GIG thread. CAnnot upload same file twice so I have provided a link. Maybe the mod can work some magic.

Click here (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7704&stc=1&d=1168000163).


Just save the picture under a different name and you'll be able to upload it.

[OldAndBusted]

that's awesome. radial? who needs transmissions anyway.

[PAULBACH]

1920's technology! The engine appears to be inside the spokes.

[Mika]

Megola Motorcycles of Germany

European Motorcycle Universe site (http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/megola.htm)

Megola – Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megola)

Here is one with a bladder for a gas tank.

http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/OthersItoM/images/Megola-1922-25-1.jpg

http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/OthersItoM/images/Megola-1922-25-2.jpg

[RandallIsland]

The first thing that comes to mind is how that might be such the trick for a hill climb.

[CTHalk]

I know a guy with a fully faired machine, a megola or similar. It is wild looking, Buck Rogers comes to mind. He says only a few were built streamlined. H.

[PAULBACH]

M1KA provides a Wikepedia link. An interesting read. One very interesting sentence from Wikepedia:

The crankshaft was the front axle, which remained stationary while the cylinders rotated with the wheel.

Am I missing something? How does the axle remain stationary? Would not the axle have to rotate for the bike to go forward?

Another link (http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/megola.htm) for this interesting design concept.

[DarrylRi]

M1KA provides a Wikepedia link. An interesting read. One very interesting sentence from Wikepedia:

The crankshaft was the front axle, which remained stationary while the cylinders rotated with the wheel.

Am I missing something? How does the axle remain stationary? Would not the axle have to rotate for the bike to go forward?

Another link (http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/megola.htm) for this interesting design concept.
Not at all. It was a common design for WWI aircraft. Planes like the Sopwith Camel and such had a radial engine with its crank bolted to the airframe and the crankcase bolted to the prop. The idea was that the spinning crankcase would get more air cooling. Also, most of the engine could be covered for better aerodynamics, and yet all of the cylinders would see some cooling.

When the motor runs, something has to spin. It doesn't have to be the crankshaft...

[PAULBACH]

Thank you! Some very interesting engineering going on. I wonder if any other motorcycles featured front wheel drive?

[DarrylRi]

I don't know of another front wheel drive like the Megola. But here's a Sachs rear wheel drive bike from the 1960s...

http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2002/spain/P5311108med.jpg

[Mika]

Here is a link to keveney.com (http://www.keveney.com/gnome.html) and the explination of the Gnome engine, one version of a rotary engine. This may help you understand the concept a little better.

Instead of the crankshaft spinning inside the cranckcase, the crankcase and everything else attached to it spins around the "crankshaft", or in the case of the Megola, around the stationary axel.

[KBasa]

I saw that bike at the Art of the Motorcycle.

It's pretty strange, that's for sure, but not the strangest bike I saw there. I think that award goes to the Bohmerlander (or however you spell it).

[crazydrummerdude]

My head just exploded.

:thumb

[BubbaZanetti]

to answer paul's question;

the Rokon Trail Blazer was actually a two wheel drive motorcycle, you could store fuel or water in the tires and when they were empty it would float:

http://jandowning0.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tbyellowbig.jpg


one thing i never understood about the megola or other machines with free spinning cylinders, how do the carbs or injectors get a steady supply of fuel, the only thing i could envision was a supply hose, that led directly to the crank that would fill a void in the spinning crank and allow the fuel to be fed up the cylinders and to the carbs using centrifugal force. any radial mechanics in the house??? i'm pretty sure the spinning engine was a rarity in the aviation world and wasn't commonly used after WWI

edit: upon blowing up the picture above it would seem the carb is actually located in the hub. man those little straight pipes must have been LOUD

[Buckwheat]

I would not want to have to do too much work on an engine that is inside the spokes of a wheel!
Gregg
87779

[PAULBACH]

There are special tools for this that look like they came straight out of Abu Ghraib. :brow

[rbfrey]

As found on J. Wood Auctions.

[mandypants]

I would not want to have to do too much work on an engine that is inside the spokes of a wheel!
Gregg
87779

...and I complain about cleaning all those spokes on my bike! Sheesh! This would make things far worse from a detailing perspective! (not that I've cleaned my bike since the Iowa Rally last year...)

[tourunigo]

...go big or stay home -Bob

[Bob_M]

At the German transportation museum they had a bunch of great wierd stuff. Remember the Hercules Wankel?
http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r6/zeus_m/motorcycles/?action=view&current=DSCN0332.jpg

These are bicycle tires, but can you imagine the ride in the sprung tire? How about collecting material for cork tires?

http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r6/zeus_m/motorcycles/?action=view&current=DSCN0333.jpg

[PAULBACH]

Whiskey :drink

Tango :dance

Foxtrot? :bolt

[wezul]

...go big or stay home -Bob

Not that I really care but wouldn't a radial engine in that configuration have some heat dispersement issues?

[Friedle]

Not that I really care but wouldn't a radial engine in that configuration have some heat dispersement issues?



Not to worry about it! The total loss castor oil lubrication system would soon take your mind completely off the heat problem. :brow

Friedle

[tourunigo]

Not that I really care but wouldn't a radial engine in that configuration have some heat dispersement issues?

...I think that there is a video of this thing in operation somewhere. Very short run. Heat....least of my worries. I used to think that having one cylinder aimed at my crotch was a concern but this thing?......... if the first one don't getcha.... -Bob

[mrich12000]

...go big or stay home -Bob

Holy Sh@$t:banghead :banghead :thumb

[barryg]

It's neat to know that even back in the Roarin 20's their were people who thought outside the box. :thumb

[PAULBACH]

Not to worry about it! The total loss castor oil lubrication system would soon take your mind completely off the heat problem. :brow

Friedle

Friedle is right.

During WWI it was also discovered that the vapors of Castor Oil had an extreme laxative effect. Not quite sure what action those early pilots were able to take.