The AWO 425 has the distinction of being the only four stroke motorcycle manufactured in the former East Germany. In production from 1950 to 1961, the AWO was a popular base for choppers and custom bikes during the 1970s and 1980s, retains a cult following both as custom bike and classic restoration right through to the present day.
Following WW2, the gun factory in Suhl was converted into the Soviet controlled Avtovelo bike company, in order to raise funds for war reparation payments. Later, Avtovelo turned into the German-owned Simson company (more famous for making 50cc mopeds) and to distinguish from the mopeds, enthusiasts always referred to the large bikes as AWO.
Despite the 425 in the model number, the Simson has a 250 cc engine, foot-operated 4-speed gearbox with auxiliary hand shift, and shaft drive to the rear wheel. Popular legend has it that the machine was originally planned with chain drive, however in the post-war economy there was a lack of good quality chain so shaft drive was used instead.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Honda NTV, Revere and Deauville
The Honda NTV was introduced in 1988 as a follow-up model for the VT 500, to recapture some of the success of the legendary CX 500 series. In a way this makes the NTV the last shaftdrive UJM.
The original NTV650 (sold in some markets as "Honda Revere") was a naked bike with a 57 horsepower 650cc water cooled V-Twin engine, mounted in the traditional position with one cylinder in front of the other, and a technologically advanced single-sided swingarm suspension known as "Pro Arm".
The engine shares many similarities with those in other Honda V-Twin models like Africa Twin, Shadow or Bros/Hawk. In fact, the Bros/Hawk series sold in North America and Japan is in many ways simply a chain-drive version of the NTV.
The bikes have a reputation for extreme reliability, with many examples covering in excess of 250,000 miles without any major repairs. Once things go wrong however, the revere is not an easy bike to work on! How about removing the water cooling system just to change a spark plug?
The original NTV650 (sold in some markets as "Honda Revere") was a naked bike with a 57 horsepower 650cc water cooled V-Twin engine, mounted in the traditional position with one cylinder in front of the other, and a technologically advanced single-sided swingarm suspension known as "Pro Arm".
The engine shares many similarities with those in other Honda V-Twin models like Africa Twin, Shadow or Bros/Hawk. In fact, the Bros/Hawk series sold in North America and Japan is in many ways simply a chain-drive version of the NTV.
The bikes have a reputation for extreme reliability, with many examples covering in excess of 250,000 miles without any major repairs. Once things go wrong however, the revere is not an easy bike to work on! How about removing the water cooling system just to change a spark plug?
Friday, March 30, 2012
MZ BK 350 Two Stroke Flat Twin
The MZ BK 350 (short for "boxer kardan 350 cc") was produced from 1952 to 1959, by Motorrad Werk Zschopau in East Germany. The BK 350 was the first new design to come out of the former DKW factory after World War 2, and was initially offered under the IFA (Industrieverbad Fahrzeugbau) brand.
Contrary to the popular claims, the two cylinder oppossed piston two stroke engine isn't a Nazi-era aircraft donkey engine (jet starter), even though DKW had designed a 250 cc boxer donkey engine that never reached production.
Contrary to the popular claims, the two cylinder oppossed piston two stroke engine isn't a Nazi-era aircraft donkey engine (jet starter), even though DKW had designed a 250 cc boxer donkey engine that never reached production.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Yamaha XS750 and XS850 Triples
The three-cylinder, shaft drive Yamaha XS750/850 was produced between 1976 and 1981, and while it was one of the most technologically advanced motorcycles of its day, the XS Triple never enjoyed the success of comparable bikes from other Japanese manufacturers.
Driven from the superbike market after the Yamaha TX750 twin proved unreliable, Yamaha faced the challenge of producing a new bike that was unique but not too radical for the mainstream market. Their solution was a 750cc DOHC inline three cylinder engine, producing 65 hp in standard form, in a fairly run-of-the mill "big bike" chassis.
Driven from the superbike market after the Yamaha TX750 twin proved unreliable, Yamaha faced the challenge of producing a new bike that was unique but not too radical for the mainstream market. Their solution was a 750cc DOHC inline three cylinder engine, producing 65 hp in standard form, in a fairly run-of-the mill "big bike" chassis.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Triumph Tiger 1200 - a Step in the Right Direction
The brand new Explorer 1200 is the flagship model of Triumph's Tiger range of adventure bikes. With a 1.2 liter 140 horsepower engine and 1 kW electric generator the bike is perfectly suited to long distance rides in excess of 1000 kilometres per day - and after 14 hours in the saddle, who wants to adjust a dirty greasy drive chain?
That's why Triumph sensibly fitted the Explorer with a shaft drive transmission - a first in the Triumph range of sporty across-the-frame triple cylinder machines. Maybe we can hope that this set-up will eventually trickle down to Triumph's road-oriented touring machines such as the Sprint ST. Hell, even the Speed Triple/Street Triple range would benefit from Shaft Drive - while they are fast motorcycles they hardly are race bred sports machines where chain drive would offer a real benefit.
That's why Triumph sensibly fitted the Explorer with a shaft drive transmission - a first in the Triumph range of sporty across-the-frame triple cylinder machines. Maybe we can hope that this set-up will eventually trickle down to Triumph's road-oriented touring machines such as the Sprint ST. Hell, even the Speed Triple/Street Triple range would benefit from Shaft Drive - while they are fast motorcycles they hardly are race bred sports machines where chain drive would offer a real benefit.
official photo by Triumph Motorcycles Ltd
Friday, March 9, 2012
The Moto-Guzzi CARC System
CARC: Cardano Reattivo Compatto (Compact Reactive Diveshaft)
On powerful motorcycles, the forces created by the spinning driveshaft and differential can severely affect the suspension and handling, an effect known as "shaft jacking". Moto-Guzzi first offered an anti-jacking system in the 1990's on the Daytona, and this system was developed over the years into what is now known as CARC. Broadly similar to the BMW Paralever or Kawasaki TetraLever setups, CARC is available on all larger engined bikes throughout the current Moto-Guzzi lineup. The smaller 750cc machines are not powerful enough to be badly affected by shaft jacking and are offered with a traditional driveshaft and swingarm.
On powerful motorcycles, the forces created by the spinning driveshaft and differential can severely affect the suspension and handling, an effect known as "shaft jacking". Moto-Guzzi first offered an anti-jacking system in the 1990's on the Daytona, and this system was developed over the years into what is now known as CARC. Broadly similar to the BMW Paralever or Kawasaki TetraLever setups, CARC is available on all larger engined bikes throughout the current Moto-Guzzi lineup. The smaller 750cc machines are not powerful enough to be badly affected by shaft jacking and are offered with a traditional driveshaft and swingarm.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Yamaha V-Max
The Yamaha V-max inhabits a category of its own. Is it a sportsbike, a cruiser, a musclebike? Who knows. All we know is that since it's launch in 1985 the V-Max has polarized the biking community like no other.
With an insanely powerful V-4 engine, shaft drive and monster looks the 1200cc machine never was for the faint hearted. While some criticise the cornering ability and general handling, that's completely beside the point - motorcycles like the VMAX are not about being safe or in control!
With an insanely powerful V-4 engine, shaft drive and monster looks the 1200cc machine never was for the faint hearted. While some criticise the cornering ability and general handling, that's completely beside the point - motorcycles like the VMAX are not about being safe or in control!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Honda CX 500 - The Plastic Maggot
Unlike today, with 1,800cc 150 horsepower machines ruling the road, the 1970s were the era of the medium displacement, middle weight motorcycle. While there were a number of litre bikes even then, the most hotly contested category was the 400 - 600cc range with each of the Big Four Japanese manufacturers officering several distinct models.
Honda's leading middleweight bike at the time was the CB550, a bike based on the venerable CB750 SOHC, and by 1977 the CB550 had become decidedly old fashioned. Keen to preserve their status as a leading bike manufacturer, Honda put pen to paper and working from a clean sheet came up with one of the most unusual designs of the decade: a water-cooled, shaft drive, transverse mounted, pushrod V-twin with twisted heads and an integrated transmission located below the engine.
Honda's leading middleweight bike at the time was the CB550, a bike based on the venerable CB750 SOHC, and by 1977 the CB550 had become decidedly old fashioned. Keen to preserve their status as a leading bike manufacturer, Honda put pen to paper and working from a clean sheet came up with one of the most unusual designs of the decade: a water-cooled, shaft drive, transverse mounted, pushrod V-twin with twisted heads and an integrated transmission located below the engine.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Wartime Oddballs: Indian 841 and Harley-Davidson XA
Not many people are familiar with the Indian 841, or Harley-Davidson XA. See one in the flesh and you'd most likely mistake it for an older Moto-Guzzi or a BMW.
Both are unique in the profile of their respective manufacturers in that they use a shaft drive coupled with a transverse twin cylinder engine layout, and both were inspired by the well-known BMW and Zündapp military sidecar bikes used in great numbers by Nazi Germany and its allies.
While both the XA and the 841 were promising at prototype stage, neither bike saw large production numbers due to the introduction of the Willis Jeep which turned out to be a much better battlefield vehicle than any sidecar motorcycle.
Both are unique in the profile of their respective manufacturers in that they use a shaft drive coupled with a transverse twin cylinder engine layout, and both were inspired by the well-known BMW and Zündapp military sidecar bikes used in great numbers by Nazi Germany and its allies.
While both the XA and the 841 were promising at prototype stage, neither bike saw large production numbers due to the introduction of the Willis Jeep which turned out to be a much better battlefield vehicle than any sidecar motorcycle.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
BMW invents the Shaft Drive Dual-Sport
When BMW launched the R80 G/S (the G/S stood for "Gelände/Straße", that is "Dirt/Street") in 1980, it elicited a lot of head-shaking in the motorcycle community.
After all, it was by far the largest capacity and heaviest offroader available; and it came with such street touring bike features like boxer twin engine, and Monolever single swingarm with integrated kardan driveshaft. However, the original G/S managed to single-handedly pave the way for an entirely new market segment of "Reiseenduros" (big touring dirtbikes).
After all, it was by far the largest capacity and heaviest offroader available; and it came with such street touring bike features like boxer twin engine, and Monolever single swingarm with integrated kardan driveshaft. However, the original G/S managed to single-handedly pave the way for an entirely new market segment of "Reiseenduros" (big touring dirtbikes).
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Introduction to Shaft Driven Motorcycles
Drive shafts have been used on motorcycles almost as long as there have been motorcycles. As an alternative to chain and beltdrives, drive shafts offer relatively maintenance-free operation and long life. A disadvantage of shaft drive on a motorcycle is thatgearing or a Hobson's joint or similar is needed to turn the power 90° from the shaft to the rear wheel, losing some power in the process. On the other hand, it is easier to protect the shaft linkages and drive gears from dust, sand and mud.
The best known motorcycle manufacturer to use shaft drive for a long time is BMW. Among contemporary manufacturers, Moto Guzzi is also well-known for its shaft drive motorcycles. The British company, Triumph and all four Japanese brands, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha, have produced shaft drive motorcycles. All geared models of the Vespa scooter produced to date have been shaft-driven. The automatic models, however, use a belt.
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