It may be possible to authenticate the Verdel - check its steel for Cobalt 60 decay. Trace amounts (not harmful yet detectable) of this isotope are present in all steel made after the 50s. Megola - it would be great to build a "gream-punk" hybrid inspired with it, with the rotary engine left in place, but with an addition of a small electric motor/generator in the rear wheel. It would solve all the problems with start and stop. Modern disc brakes on both wheels seem possible, so it might be somewhat usable in today's traffic.
That Megola is a mechanical monstrosity ! The gyroscopic effect of the spinning motor must have affected the steering considerably. Lack of clutch and variable gears would make riding a severe challenge and a front puncture would be impossible to fix at the roadside.
Jay Leno own one of 3 remaining sport megolas. He says the Megola instruction manual recommends to “keep spinning” if you come to an intersection to avoid stalling the engine. He also says he gets calls every few years about German bike enthusiasts wanting to buy his Megola
"largest single cylinder engine in history" you forgot to say "on a motorcycle". ochelhauser from 1890 or so was... 30, 40 L displacement? more? depends which one, exactly... they made MASSIVE engines back then.
It may be possible to authenticate the Verdel - check its steel for Cobalt 60 decay. Trace amounts (not harmful yet detectable) of this isotope are present in all steel made after the 50s.
Megola - it would be great to build a "gream-punk" hybrid inspired with it, with the rotary engine left in place, but with an addition of a small electric motor/generator in the rear wheel. It would solve all the problems with start and stop. Modern disc brakes on both wheels seem possible, so it might be somewhat usable in today's traffic.
It would be nice to have a rotory engine. Because it's the makings of a fine project. Although rotory engine's can be exspensive.
That Megola is a mechanical monstrosity ! The gyroscopic effect of the spinning motor must have affected the steering considerably. Lack of clutch and variable gears would make riding a severe challenge and a front puncture would be impossible to fix at the roadside.
Jay Leno own one of 3 remaining sport megolas. He says the Megola instruction manual recommends to “keep spinning” if you come to an intersection to avoid stalling the engine.
He also says he gets calls every few years about German bike enthusiasts wanting to buy his Megola
Most early motorcycle didn't have clutch and variable gears.
He talks about World War I and shows a plane that was powered by a different kind of engine, other than radial
Radial engine were used extensively in WWII and beyond.
A starter motor for a Megola, would be an electric hub motor in the rear, along with an upgraded disk brake.
"largest single cylinder engine in history"
you forgot to say "on a motorcycle".
ochelhauser from 1890 or so was... 30, 40 L displacement? more? depends which one, exactly...
they made MASSIVE engines back then.
It can't stop with the engine running ?
I don't see how it could have been in production.
Make a solar version! Ooops, thats been done too.
Hmmm.. make one that is a self balancing gas unicycle!
Megola engine is rotary not radial
Too bad that Mazda hijacked the previously well-defined term "rotary" to misuse for "Wankel".
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