The way the sound transitions from 4-stroke to 2-stroke completely smoothly through the RPM range is mind-blowing. It'd be very interesting to see what a top WSBK/MotoGP rider could do with this.
Or a BSB rider since this bike has no electronics either. It would be interesting to compare times around Cadwell with the BSB times in the hands of a BSB rider. And at different circuits so the Crighton can stretch it legs.
As an ex RX7 owner and current liter bike owner, I knew about the Norton's and Suzuki's. But this is now officially my dream bike. Well done lads as you guys across the pond say!
Brian Crighton is the sort of man we used to breed here in the UK, and the type of character working in his shed in Birmingham who Jeremy Clarkson used to mock. Smart people just salute him.
The sound of this bad boy is so cool… there’s something about the rotary/2stroke sound and that beautiful carbon that just helps make this such an amazing package.
You wouldn’t necessarily get as much as half the horsepower out of half an engine unfortunately but I agree a smaller displacement one would be amazing!
Owning a F1 and have owned a P42/41 race bike, I can only agree. That rotary engine is the smoothest pulling engine ever. The power is so smooth. The first one mr. Crighton talks about is the famous Walzing Walter, my old P42/41 was build on that concept, never did get that speed tho. Brian is an absolutely legend!
Watched the Rotary Norton's back in the day in the JPS colours. Great days. This is a special bike complete with flames. Reminds me of the big turbo era F1 cars spitting fire everywhere. Hope they have great success with the project. Expect the safety police will have something to say about the flame outs though.
Watched them for years here on the Isle of Man right from their first year through to when Hizzy won the senior race on the Abus sponsored bike. Truly awesome machines.
@@bennettsbikesocial Set the bar a little higher for this machine, WSB is out due to homologation so logic dictates.....................Moto GP........What's Cal Crutchlow doing these days ? lol 😃
Fascinating! Really hoping they manage to make a road bike in the "affordable" price range. Tbh, an engine with this configuration, weight and size would be perfect for small capacity bikes.
I think the problem may be, that the 'Eco' fanatics may have an adverse effect on the road bike, as far as emissions and fuel consumption are concerned. I so hope that BC has managed to overcome the heavy fuel consumption experience we had with our RAC bikes back in the late 80s/early 90s. I am aware these motors are very different from the ones I used to ride, but the principle is similar.
The tt is where this bike needs to be raced along with a GoPro to listen to that glorious noise. Definitely a potential senior winner in the hands of a top rider.
A perfect example of how to make your dream a reality, Brian Crighton really has a few genius ideas with this rotary motor, nothing better than power to weight ratio and you certainly get the best of all in this package, love the concept a moto gp bike for a fraction of the cost with awesome lightweight handling. It certainly is an exciting machine and i for one would definitely order one if the tooth fairy would help me out😄
Fantastic review! It is an incredible bit of engineering performance, nice to see some very down to people behind the project. Really loving the content 👌
I used to ride the early air cooled rotaries, and these had a very, very smooth engine, but the brakes and suspension was not good compared to other bikes. The water cooled engined Commanders were much better to ride, as they used Yamaha XJ900 brakes and suspension. Unfortunately, the gearbox was not really up to the job. Whilst on the IOM, with a Commander, for the 1992 TT (with Steve Hislop winning the senior on the 588 and a very merry evening was had by all), I was doing open road laps and even a few closed road sections and whilst accelerating hard in 1st gear, the gearbox gave out and punched a hole in the bottom of the gearbox case. As I worked at the RAC, in those days, I used to visit the Shenstone factory quite often and remember Brian and the lads pretty well. I really wish you well with this project Brian.
Interesting to see your comment here and your connection to Brian Crighton. Had the pleasure last weekend of having a long chat with Brian at the National Motorcycle Museum open day. Really interesting hearing about his early days with Norton and his struggles to persuade the management to let him develop the engine and build a race bike. Filmed some of that conversation and hopefully it will be out this weekend in a similar format to the Stafford Classic vid.
No electronics definitely gets my vote! A bike that the rider controls; what a novelty. 130kg is a real achievement. Sounds like the fuelling needs some work, but definitely a true track bike. One of my rides is a 1997 Yamaha Thunderace with no electronics. It's certainly a less refined, and rawer riding experience than the modern superbikes. That also needs a clutch slip round tight 1st gear bends. I really hope the Crighton makes it through to production and doesn't fall by the wayside like some of the previous British limited edition bikes have.
What a great story by this guy, revolutionary really, so cool he bothered them to tinker with a wrecked bike forever and easily made it almost double the horsepower and fastforward he's engineered something of this caliber. Nuts!
Having had an rx7 I can appreciate a lot of what you experienced in terms of the engine especially if they've got torque out of it as the Mazda didn't really. Tho it was a twin it was designed as a triple which may of influenced its character. Presumably they will have to pay some sort of licence fee to use the rotary tech? As for a road bike hmm ... RE5?
There has never been any shortage of torque with these Norton based rotaries even from back in the late 80s there was very strong torque delivery. As for the RE5 there is no comparison with this engine so no worries there.
I was looking at the Nortons the other day and thought that somebody should build another rotary bike, as the engineering has got a lot better with rostaries now and here it is, fantastic machine, well done, I would like to see this at the TT
I was at Darley Moor for it's first run. It was just a normal club race it entered with Malcolm Heath riding it. It was popping and banging all the way around the circuit on it's test outing.
I know everything about the Rotaries and the legend when you talk in the hype I’ve written 2 Notions and yes I do love Nortons I have stood by the side the track race meeting and cherd them on It was lovely to see this country actually doing something on one of those people that work on the Brm v16 And People want to share the bike and the country on same as with the car good on you lads and what are you are you beautiful Bike thank you Michael
Let me ask you a question since you're well read on the rotary engine. I own a Streetfighter and two dirt bikes for mx. The two stroke has no engine braking compared to my 450, so what kind of engine braking does a rotary have and does it change your riding style like my 125 2 stroke does compared to my YZ 450 and the SF? Thanks.
@@Peanutdenver They never did have much engine braking compared to a four stroke. That lack of engine braking was often mentioned by Norton/Roton riders back in the early nineties. The rider had to adopt a different style on corner entry to make allowance for thr lower engine braking.
Stunning, I am sure Brian did a turning series with another journalist where they tuned an x7 and an rd250e back in the 1980's, I am still tinkering in sheds since that series sent me down a path of modifying bikes and cars. People of my generation will remember the purple book"fourstroke tunning" and I think "two stroke tuning" was red, is Brian going to write one for the rotary engine
It's a legit comment. Use the engine rotational mass to create a downforce on the front wheel instead of helping it lift. Otherwise this thing would spend all day pointing at aeroplanes
If these went in production as a road bike they'd sell hundreds of thousands easy. Anyone how's a bike lover and rotary lover would absolutely have to have one
I heard one of these bikes on a different RU-vid with Guy Martin riding it and WOW, the sound when on full song, just fantastic. As they said, in that video, it couldn't go Super Bikes as they need to produce so many road bikes. How about supplying engines to the Moto 2? Yes, I know, the engine size might have to be changed. But just imagine it, especially if they took away all the gadgetry too. A great engine and only the ability of a rider. I'd watch that any day.
Well done to giro Brian's partner for his enthusiasm and backing. They need to keep making the fastest bhp per kg bike the world has ever seen. True genius.
The crashed Norton referred to in his commentary was the one i was riding in November 1984 when a Mini van pulled across the front of me whilst I was out on patrol. It was a fantastic machine with very little engine braking, and was on loan to West Yorkshire Police.
What a BEAST sounds like a F1 on 2 wheels, I'm all 2stroke and def in love. Engines forsale that could be shoehorned into a trackday 600 would be gold.
I love it!!! I am a big fan of rotaries and sport bikes, so naturally I am a fan of this bike. I wish I could afford one. Looks like the chasis or suspension needs a little tuning but that engine seems super fast
This bike seems to burn more fuel in the exhaust pipe (and beyond) than in the engine. Fuel consumption is described as “Don’t ask” in the linked review. Better fuel control would help that a little, but Wankel-style rotaries are notoriously inefficient at turning fuel into power. Quite a spectacle, however, and an interesting engineering exercise. I look forward to hearing more about this project.
A Wankle is essentially a two stroke in that it has oil injected into the engine and burnt with the fuel. I doubt that will get past emissions for a road bike.
This bike was at a cadwell trackday I was at a few months ago … the bike was pretty Smokey even when warm / think they would struggle getting it through emission tests for road use …. Did sound epic though
I thought the flames out the exhaust were for click bait . But wtf that sound makes the purchase that much more sensible lol . Best bike I owned was a 84 rz500. 3rd bike imported to Canada. My brother bought it to race at daytona in 84 but couldn't run it because it wasn't sold in the states . Did 154mph through the speed trap . Had to race his backup bike a stock gs750 lol he was slow . Only part you see of him in the tape was Eddie Lawson passing him in a corner like he was parked . Wish I'd kept that bike .
That rotary is so low in the frame the bike must have a crazy low CoG. Exhaust seems to take priority over shock placement too. Frame/swingarm "straight line" design reminds me of early Bimota. Is the tank a nod to Norton, or a middle finger? ; )
