Have any companies ever experimented with a rotary engine in a quad or motorcycle? Would this even work?

I'm a big fan of rotary engines so that is why I'm posting this.

If anyone has ever heard of a company or individual experimenting with rotary engines in quads or motorcycles let me know.

 

I am also a rotary fan and have speculated on this theory before. Suzuki (I think) made a rotary bike back in the early 80's or so, and it did fail to sell. But today I bet they could develop one that works, and there are very many benefits.

 

...this isn't a rotary reply, but...marine tech did put a pratt & whittney tb32(i think, correct me if i'm wrong) turbine engine in a motorcycle, rated at 320 hp. and i'm pretty sure you can also can crank it up to 3220hp, but i highly doubt the bike would be able to hold that, let alone you hold on. anyone else know more about this bike? I know one thing though, you'd be the coolest kid on the block with a rotary or turbine powered quad

 

Jay Leno has a turbine powered motorcycle: http://popularmechanics.com/automoti...ed_jet_setter/

I'm not talking about turbines though, they are totally dif from a rotary engine.

ShadyRascal, let me know if you can dig up anymore info on that rotary powered Suzuki [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I'm very interested in it.

 

i actually had a convo with a friend about this topic, let me know if ya find anytihng!

 

I had an old RX2 that suprised me how quick it was. I found out I could run it on just two spark plugs. Had a guy in our neighborhood that had a Challenger he thought was the baddest thing (it was too). Told him I'd race him on two plugs if he would run on four. Never did get him to go for that.

 

Suzuki made a rotary back in the 70s(I think). It was called the RE5. I belong to a group on yahoo called gt750@yahoogroups. The also have alot on info on the re5.

 

never seen a quad with a rotory engine but i had an RX-7 a few years ago which had a rotory. they make pretty good power but they need a rebuild about every 60k miles and the apex seals were $$$$. they have a very smooth power span too.

 

RE5, that's the one. Very rare bike nowadays.

it was too heavy, as the Rotory did not scale down very well. Thus the power to weight was worse than a twin, and hellishly more expensive to build.

 

I used to have a kawaskai ke175 that was not a real rotary motor but it did have what they call a 'rotary valve"