Meet The Totally Bonkers Crighton CR700W Rotary Race Bike
(Video link on webpage ) "There is a whole lot of information packed into this short video. It explains the basics of the motorcycle’s design. Keep an eye on the exploded view, and pay attention to that exhaust design. It is stunning in its simplicity."
"Those of us of a Certain Age (or aviation fanatics) are familiar with the Wankel engine. Mazda once stuffed a rotary into one of their sporty cars, and Suzuki’s RE5 is near legendary. You may also remember that Norton ran a rotary engine in their race bike. And that, dear friends, is where the Crighton was born.
You say you want big power and low weight? That rotary engine is going to deliver, and this is what has been driving Brian Crighton for the last dozen years."
"The internal-combustion, normally-aspirated, twin-rotor, liquid-cooled, 690cc rotary engine in the bike weighs only 53 pounds. If the website is to be believed (and there’s no reason not to), this thing puts out 220hp and 105ft/lb. It achieves peak horsepower at only 10,500RPM. Did I mention it’s a 690cc engine?
The entire, assembled motorcycle weighs only 285 1/2 lbs."
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November 11, 2021, 08:00 PM
hrcjon
quote:
$116k means you'll likely never see one on the road
Uh, doesn't it say race bike? And I'm willing to bet that the racing sanctioning bodies are not going to let it run in the 750cc twins classes... But with no idea of the power characteristics (race bikes that have a big bang are truly tough to ride) it would be fun to try one on the track.
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
November 11, 2021, 08:03 PM
Il Cattivo
Back when, I think the Norton had to be a 650cc to race with 750cc in-line fours and 1000cc V-twins. Apparently the rotary part of the engine (someone once argued that it since it was triangle-shaped, the Norton was a triple rather than a twin) made measuring displacement an ongoing debate.
^ Sounds like car racing regulations. Rotaries were classed at 2x displacement for their class.
The Enemy's gate is down.
November 11, 2021, 08:25 PM
sigspecops
Well, if you wanted to know what's it like to be strapped to a rocket, here you go.
No one's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.- Mark Twain
November 11, 2021, 08:33 PM
hrcjon
Not really. Even average superbikes make more horsepower and in those classes have a minimum weight that would apply here if you wanted to race it. or you could make them equivalently light if a specific racing class wasn't your goal. So other than the type of power-plant and its unique one off status, you can have this thrill any time you want at racetracks all over the US and world.
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”