Air-cooled rotary project: Matterhorn

[Alexander]

A while back I started shopping around for an air-cooled 2-stroke snowmobile engine that I could possibly put on a custom made motorcycle. Instead, I discovered that Fichel-Sachs had made a 303cc air-cooled rotary(wankel) engine back in the late 60' into the 70's with 25hp and a sweet sweet pull-starter. This was an optional engine on old Arctic Cat sleds. It would pull the sled to around 35mph but from what I understand it could pull almost anything. After months of shopping/searching, I was able to get my grubby hands on one and the project had it's first component.
I finally settled on the fact that I'd have to make a frame from scratch to satisfy my needs. I knew I wanted a skinny lane-splitter and long and low.
It's a German made engine, so this is my first European bike forum thread.
Enough of the story telling, here are my first pics of this build, aptly named "Matterhorn: Ice, Wind & Freedom"

[Alexander]

More Photos

The whole rig is 8 feet long and only 34" at the top of the steering stem.
My plan was to use the snowmobile's original CVT belt drive and run a jackshaft to the rear with a chain. This has proven to be not as aesthetically pleasing because it sticks too far out on the left side. I haven't come up with a solution as of yet. I'm considering an aftermarket CVT or perhaps a stand-alone transmission from some other small motorcycle. The donor bike was a 99 CR125 for the forks and wheels however I'm going to order some 21" rims for the front and back.
The gas tank will fit under the top tube and I'm going to start into that this week.
Thanks for looking and hopefully I will have more progress photos soon.

~Alex

[djmfnk]

Looks great man. Keep up the posts.

[Frankenstein]

Very cool project, good luck with everything. Look forward to seeing it completed.

DJMFNK does great work!

[Sighless]

SwwwwwweeeeeeeeT! I am impressed, this is gonna be all sorts of cool!!

[MrFuckingBrandon]

Man! That thing has come a long way in a short time. I can't wait to see it finished...so I can take it on a joy ride! Nice job!

[jazzmans]

Alex, that frame is super titties! who welded it up for you?

We missed you on the slabs this year, next year hopefully you'll be riding your wankel!

jaz

[Frankenstein]

alex, that frame is super titties! Who welded it up for you?

Jaz

DJ (djmfnk)

[shiftace]

i can't even wrap my mind around the idea and i'm pretty stoked on that.

[Alexander]

Thanks

I appreciate the interest friends.
I think I'm going to start working on the tank this weekend. I'm having a hell of a time deciding/finding a transmission setup for this thing to get power to the rear wheel. I see a lot of people who've built diesel bikes use CVTs. I have to get it all squared away before I put the exhaust together and the foot peg location as well.
-cheers

[ibuiltmine]

Sweet!!!! This is a cool motor! I have been collecting these for a long time (and have only got a hold of 2 of them!)
I had an RE5 but a dude offered me a crazy amount for it and I had to sell it.

I saw somewhere not too long ago where a dude hacked the 6 speed tranny off of like a CB360. Then just welded the holes back up with scrap aluminum, filled it with some gear oil and it was good to go. he had to machine the input shaft to accept a standard style clutch. The whole unit worked perfect.

[SOHCSPAZ]

21 front and rear that will look neat I think. Your crusing along on this thing now.

[Zooligan]

Dude, you're makin engineering a from-scratch build with a non-standard motor look WAY too easy! Can't you throw in a couple pics of how something didn't work out quite right and you had to re-do it to make us hacks not feel so bad?

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

Z

[djmfnk]

i still have some crushed tube at my shop. you dont need pictures, we all screw up all the time

[ibuiltmine]

I think you should put two side by side! LOL

these motors had a pretty low torque rating, especially in the bottom end. maybe thats why they were all on a cvt tranny?
Have you seen the shifter kart modern Wankel motors?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBHuH5bT-Yw&feature=related

But your 303 is going to sound WICKED!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZrx2VrRcK0&feature=related