This is ABSOLUTELY a rotary engine. I build WW1 aircraft, and am a U.S federally licensed aircraft maintenance technician. Same type of engine used from 1914 through 1918.

No, it's a rotary engine. A radial engine is where the cylinders are fixed and the crankshaft turns the propeller. Where as a rotary, the propeller is bolted to the rotating crank case while the crankshaft is bolted to the airframe (or in this case the motorcycle frame.)

Back in the nineties when I was a little boy I sat on the back of my dad's small NSU when we participated in the Ibbenbüren motorcycle rally. Every year the organisation managed to arrange a more exotic bike to do some testing laps on the start track prior to the touring. That year a Megola was fired up with a lot of owhs and awhs from the audience. Amidst the rally I recall we where overtaken by something very load with a flashing speed. It was non the less then Karl Reese giving the beast its spurs and probably finishing well before anyone. I keep this memory as a sort of relic in the back of my mind.

I learned something today and I stand corrected from my earlier comment that I have since removed. Like others, I posted a comment saying this is not a rotary engine but a radial engine. Being curious, I looked it up. It turns out that this is a rotary engine. It has a radial cylinder layout but it really is a radial engine. I think the confusion comes because of the Wankel engine. But it turns out that Wankel engines are not true rotary engines. This is a quote from Wikipedia on the Wankel engine: "The engine (Wankel) is commonly referred to as a rotary engine, although this name also applies to other completely different designs, primarily aircraft engines with their cylinders arranged in a circular fashion around the crankshaft." And from the Wikipedia entry for rotary engines is this: "The rotary engine was an early type of internal combustion engine, usually designed with an odd number of cylinders per row in a radial configuration, in which the crankshaft remained stationary in operation, with the entire crankcase and its attached cylinders rotating around it as a unit. Its main application was in aviation, although it also saw use before its primary aviation role, in a few early motorcycles and automobiles." Confusion also comes from the fact that a rotary engine (like the one on this motorcycle) have a radial cylinder layout and the Wankel engine, although not a true rotary engine, has an internal eccentric rotary design. To those who don't believe this (as I didn't before I looked things up), just look it up for yourself. If there's a common error, it's calling a Wankel engine a rotary engine. And I think that's where the confusion comes in.

This is an extract from a six part series called "Classic Bikes" which aired on Channel 4 here in the UK, in the early 90's. It covered Veteran, American, British, German, Italian, and Scooters. I have the series on VHS, which I recorded at the time. I've never seen it for sale.

Your definition of a radial engine is correct, however, a rotary engine is one where the cylinders, in a radial configuration, rotate about a fixed crankshaft.

The engine on that motorcycle is most definitely a rotary, which is what they called the popular WWI engines which rotated with the crankshaft bolted to the plane. Radials are stationary and the crank rotates the propeller. Don't believe me? Well, the type Rotary engine as a Wikipedia search and see what you get.

That bike is so badass! You made my day posting this! I WANT ONE.

@calineophyte As Rapp was a manufacturer of aircraft engines, I don't think that the propellor theory can be dismissed out of hand simply because the logo is blue and white. When you watch the video and explanation from BMW, it's apparent that they don't really know either. It's not possible to know what was going through the logo designer's head way back then. He might have come before the board with a green and yellow logo that was liked but changed to blue and white after consideration.

... that is awesome in so many ways

I have this on tape somewhere. great to see it again

@TheWingflyer It is a radial engine because of the cylinder arrangement., It is ALSO ROTARY because the cylinders REVOLVE about the fixed crankshaft. It CAN be both, and engines were known as "rotary" a long time before Felix Wankel had his bright idea. In the day people just said "rotary" and knew what it looked like.

That is some good fun.

Coool !!! The motor in the wheel. Megola Motorcycle, German motorcycle, rotary engine.

That's the coolest thing I've ever seen!

Espetacular !

The original owner's manual said to "orbit" at a stop sign, I kid you not.

My old neighbour has one of these (he's a classic bike collector). He says it's lethal in the corners lol

@Sigbarth It's a rotary radial engine. Nowhere does it say it's a wankel. :)

absolutely agree with you james...

Eu já assisti alguns vídeos sobre essa fantástica Motocicleta alemã admirei muito, mas tenho uma curiosidade como se move começa a andar e como pode parar em um semáforo?, Obrigado amigo pelo vídeo Mineiro Janhre, Amazônia Brasil

They should add pedal starting system, and a heavy duty kill switch easy to reach from the hands on the grips. Then it would work ok at stop signs and lights. I think it was made for rural road travel mostly.

@c0nv1ct1337 I was talking about this "Megola Motorcycle" video that directly states "The radial engine in this 1933 (brand name) aircraft were made by BMW, in fact, the BMW company logo is a clever abstract of a view through a propeller. I was not talking about the "logo of BMW origin" video.

Neat video but the makers are confused about the origin of the BMW logo. A search on KZfaq for "origin BMW logo" has the truth from BMW itself that the logo is an amalgamation of a logo for RAPP Motorenwerke and the blue and white of the Bavarian flag and appeared as early as 1918. The myth of the airscrew inspiration for the logo is due to an image on the cover of a BMW aircraft magazine printed in 1929. The origin video is interesting and BMW fans would surely enjoy it. Ride well friends.

yes, of course. Thre is no problem to brake and stop it. The problem is how to start this engine immediately. but i think to start engine by pushing the handle bar forward is possible if the engine in hot condition. isn't it?

Muy bonito el paisaje un saludo de colombia

If anyone else thinks like DJSuperSou1, go to Wikipedia and type in "Rotary Engine". This is the type you will see and the Megola is mentioned. Felix Wankel gets 3 lines at the bottom of the page and a separate article

lol like a old farm truck with bad starter just park it on hill so you can pop start it.

Front wheel driven motorcycle... Now I've seen everything...

Technically it IS a radial. Its called a rotary radial while the ones most are familiar with are static radial (used on the likes of the B17s and the Lockheed Connie). The biggest downfall of the rotary radial was the fact its flight characteristics banking right was drastically different than banking left.

Fokker dr.i Triplane had a Oberursel rotary engine of 110 horsepower not BMW- the Crankshaft was bolted to the frame of the Aircraft and the Cylinders rotated with the prop bolted solidly to them much like this motorcycle

Hi Atlantic 1952 This was taken from a TV series something like: history of the motorcycle, it ran for a few months BUT can I find it! Ive been everywhere on the web??? can anyone remember that TV series and what the name of this documentary was called. it covered most of the bike manufacturer from the humble bicycle to the Brough, triumph, BSA and Indian, HD, Ducati and Honda. all the best

SF Moped Thread, more about bikes and small motorcycles. This Megola bike is awesome. Why doesn't he push start it? This looks like someone is going to run over their nuts with the bike if the stand fails.

well that clearly is not safe. but an awesome idea.

Como é que entra a mistura no cilindRO se o motor tá girando ?

1:04 Is this true? I always used to think so, but recently I've been told it's a myth...the blue and white sectors in the logo are only there to refer to the Bavarian flag and they are not an abstract propeller. However, someone else told me the propeller story is true and BMW nowadays are trying to distance themselves from their military history. Anyone know for sure?

I don't believe that BMW built rotary aircraft engines in WW1. Inline, only.

Wie schnell soll es laufen

What program is this video from, I would be interested in finding/watching the whole thing.

No clutch, engine directly connected to the front wheel. So yes, you killed the engine at a stop, and bump started it to get it going again.

full version?

restart the engine this bike has no clutch, its not very optimal for intercity travel but more for the country lanes

@KenMacMillan Seriously, no clutch? They should make a moped of it then, so you can start it easily. Also, if a piston throws a rod or ring, wouldn't you endo hard! Scary.

Karl Reese, a very nice guy :P How old is this Video?

what place is that in the background in the beginning?

what must u do to stop this bike at traffic light?

@DjSuperSou1 Oh that was really called for I don't think. Go and read some books on the history of engines, especially aircraft engines, and you will find I do know what I am talking about. There's no need to be so bloody rude about it.

ExhausthenPuffenHaffen (means exhaust in German) hhahahhahaha

You "just" have to brake and to stop. Then, restart the engine...

anyone knows what place is that in beginning?

Rotary engine... this is definitely not a radial engine

cool shit

what documentary is this ?

You are supposed to keep going around in a tight circle.

Cool motorcycel Husqvarna 1925 1000cc

What is this from?

And then you hold up traffic trying to restart a troublesome rotary engine when the light turns green? A better solution would be a centripetal clutch to disengage the engine + brakes to stop the bike. The engine keeps spinning but the bike can then stop. Centripetal clutches aren't very efficient, but that really doesn't matter with a rotary engine that is already a gas swilling monster.

Wich programme is this clip from?

You're completely wrong. Nothing to do with a Wankel (who existed first in Germany, not in Japan).

It is, as far as I can figure, a rotary AND a radial. I know what a Wankel is; always wanted one too.

Wrong. You're confusing rotary with Wankel engines. Look it up - a engine which spins like this is a rotary engine.

What film is this from?

Rotary engine?... A rotary engine is something in an RX-8, RX-7 or a Miata... I could be wrong but that's just from what I know after long nights of looking at cars...

Motorul poate fi folosit ca frana regenerativa la franare , coborare pante , eventual comprimanduse aer intro butelie , folosit mai apoi pt supraalimentare cu aer , demarare fara biodiesel etc .. .. Fara lant decat daca se pune pedalier ca sa se poata porni prin pedalare . Pornirea sar

Geiles Konzept von antrieb! aber der Ramen ist sowas von hässlich und unpassend dazu.

That's radial, not rotary. I remember seeing this on tv. Do you know what the name of the program was? I'd love to watch the whole thing.

does it have any form of transmission? if so how does it work? innerresting desighn

Front-wheel drive motorcycle 0.0

@Sigbarth google first then comment

Mr. Grubb, you gave me a nice belly-laugh (following my wonderment at the earnest comment of the other guy ("stop..."). And I've figured out the problem with nomenclature. It's a RADIAL engine, not a ROTARY. Like in an aeroplane at the aerodrome.

@DjSuperSou1 en(.)wikipedia(.)org/wiki/Rotary_engine

its a bit late lol

@DjSuperSou1 Ha!! This made me laugh so hard! Maybe your right, we shouldnt say things we don't know. And I can tell you know as much about Wenkel engines as you do rotary radials... Wankels DON'T have pistons.

Not a rotary engine! A Radial engine ! Everyone knows that a rotary engine goes "hmmmmmmmm" ! 😆

NOT A ROTARY ENGINE. A RADIAL ENGINE

É um das coisas mais idiotas que já vi kkkkkkk

It is NOT a Wankelmotor.

This is a radial engine Not a rotary

Has any other manufacturer been brave or stupid enough to manufacture a motorcycle with a radial engine in the front wheel?

You are so wrong.

not rotary radial