Free Republic 3rd Qtr 2025 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $12,693
15%  
Woo hoo!! And now less than $300 to reach 16%!! Thank you all very much!! God bless.

Keyword: pagingcliffclavin

Brevity: Headers | « Text »
  • Who'da thunk it? Rotary-powered motorcycles have already been tried (uber-vanity)

    09/14/2003 9:07:48 PM PDT · by martin_fierro · 20 replies · 469+ views
    9/14/03 | marty_fierro
    Saw a commercial for the new Mazda RX-8 tonight, which highlighted that brand's use of the Wankel Rotary engine. Hadn't thought about that engine in a long time and started wondering if any motorcycle company had ever tried using it as a power plant. You'd think the Rotary engine would be a natural -- no valves to adjust, fewer moving parts, less vibration (with counterbalancers), possibly better gas mileage, etc. Did a search and found out that it HAS been tried briefly by at least one (and probably more) company, Suzuki, during the mid 70s. Turn out the design didn't...