RADIAL CHOPPER TO MAKE NOISE AT THE CHIP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JRL CYCLES LLC.  the first factory authorized custom motorcycle 
manufactuer to use radial engines exclusively, will be at the Buffalo 
Chip showing off their amazing machine Thursday, Aug. 9 and Friday, 
Aug. 10 during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle.

Through an agreement between Rotec Engineering the manufacturer of 
the rotary engines used by JRL to convert their rotary aircraft 
engines for use in one audacious-looking chopper.

John Levey, the inventor and owner of JRL Cycles says the rotary 
engine provides a dependable smooth-running alternative to stroked v-
twins. With it’s seven cylinders and seven straight pipes, it also is 
one very loud and very powerful machine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Levey says “It’s a natural match that predates the v-twin in 
motorcycles. You get twice the torque, half the vibration and a 
starter that fits in the palm of your hand.” The unique nature of the 
bike makes it a natural for display at the Buffalo Chip during the 
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Levey’s outrageous invention has been seen on the Speed Channel and 
featured in American Iron, Barnett’s Magazine and Motorcycle News, 
England’s largest weekly motorcycle magazine. The bike made its 
Sturgis debut last year and has also been featured on the film and 
photo cards of thousands of Sturgis Rally bike enthusiasts.

And, yes, you can buy one of them. They take around six months to 
construct one.

Sturgis Rally tech-heads will be happy to know that with its seven 
cylinders and its 6-speed custom Baker overdrive transmission the 
“calculated” top speed is around 227 miles per hour. The bike has 
been over 50 mph in first gear. And, it’s a torquey rascal. According 
to Levey you can pick any gear and let the clutch go and it will 
deliver 160 ft. lbs. of torque, getting to 100 mph in second gear.

Somebody on Levey’s website asked about mileage, to which he replied, 
“Are you serious? It’s better than a small car and worse than a moped.”

The engine really is an aircraft engine which Levey says are built to 
much more refined specifications than a normal motorcycle motor.

And, yes some celebrities “who drive fast on Sundays” have expressed 
interest in this amazing machine.

Finally, when the Buffalo Chip campers start asking the inevitable 
questions of Levey, he wants to make it clear that this is not a 
rotary engine. Rotary engines were built by Wankel and put in Mazdas. 
The Wright Brothers built great radial engines.

Radials, by the way power the fastest piston engine vehicles 
anywhere, some producing more than 4,000 horsepower.

You’re not going to want to miss these guys. And when they fire this 
bike up, there will be little chance you will.