Over a year ago I pointed out a project over in Germany being built by Clemens F. Leonhardt. Clemens had some very big ideas but at the time all you could see were design drawings, and when you consider what this project is supposed to be, it’s easy to dismiss it as a design that will never happen.
Well, checking back I see that progress is being made and as these photos show, it’s big. In fact, until Clemens gets in the picture or another bike is next to it, you can’t imagine how incredibly big this really is. Yow!
Especially in light of the Jesse James and JRL Cycles radial engine bikes, using the relatively small Rotec engine, the Leonhardt bike instead uses two cylinders from an old 9 cylinder radial aero engine, the very large variety, which gives you a 350 horsepower, fuel injected, 6728 cc / 410 cubic inch monster V-Twin. It has a 3 speed transmission with reverse. The motorcycle’s overall length is 134 inches and weight is 870 pounds. Seat height is only 31.5 inches, pretty reasonable and lower than some production bikes out there. Speed will be electronically limited to 155 mph.
Original plans were for tires from a Boeing 767 but he’s now found a supplier by the name of Rigdon willing to make custom tires in the appropriate size which are, you know, BIG!
The rolling chassis is shown here and this is not a one off custom. He plans to make a small number of these for customers and a sidecar version is planned, as well.
I really want to see this one when it finally gets on the road. He’s working on another project, too, building a motorcycle around a Hatz single cylinder diesel engine which looks pretty cool. I like this guy’s work.
Well, checking back I see that progress is being made and as these photos show, it’s big. In fact, until Clemens gets in the picture or another bike is next to it, you can’t imagine how incredibly big this really is. Yow!
Especially in light of the Jesse James and JRL Cycles radial engine bikes, using the relatively small Rotec engine, the Leonhardt bike instead uses two cylinders from an old 9 cylinder radial aero engine, the very large variety, which gives you a 350 horsepower, fuel injected, 6728 cc / 410 cubic inch monster V-Twin. It has a 3 speed transmission with reverse. The motorcycle’s overall length is 134 inches and weight is 870 pounds. Seat height is only 31.5 inches, pretty reasonable and lower than some production bikes out there. Speed will be electronically limited to 155 mph.
Original plans were for tires from a Boeing 767 but he’s now found a supplier by the name of Rigdon willing to make custom tires in the appropriate size which are, you know, BIG!
The rolling chassis is shown here and this is not a one off custom. He plans to make a small number of these for customers and a sidecar version is planned, as well.
I really want to see this one when it finally gets on the road. He’s working on another project, too, building a motorcycle around a Hatz single cylinder diesel engine which looks pretty cool. I like this guy’s work.
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