Although it would eventually prove a technological blind alley, the rotary engine seemed full of promise for automotive applications in the early 1970s. Three major motorcycle manufacturers released models using rotary engines: Suzuki, Norton and DKW. Introduced to the UK market in 1973, the latter’s offering was the W2000 (marketed as the Hercules W2000 elsewhere) which was powered by a single rotor Fichtel & Sachs snowmobile engine displacing 294cc. This fan-cooled unit drove via a six-speed transmission and was suspended from a tubular spine frame, while the rest of the cycle parts were entirely conventional for the time. It goes without saying that its rotary engine was vibrationless, but the little ‘Deek’ possessed other virtues: excellent build quality, superb handling and BMW-like rider comfort. Top speed was around 95mph. ‘But even ignoring the novelty value of the unconventional power unit, it’s an outstanding machine in its own right,’ declared Bike. This Hercules rotary was purchased for the Museum in Germany in 1991 and has not been restored. There are no documents with the machine and it should be noted that the drive-side engine cover and final drive chain are missing.
Although it would eventually prove a technological blind alley, the rotary engine seemed full of promise for automotive applications in the early 1970s. Three major motorcycle manufacturers released models using rotary engines: Suzuki, Norton and DKW. Introduced to the UK market in 1973, the latter’s offering was the W2000 (marketed as the Hercules W2000 elsewhere) which was powered by a single rotor Fichtel & Sachs snowmobile engine displacing 294cc. This fan-cooled unit drove via a six-speed transmission and was suspended from a tubular spine frame, while the rest of the cycle parts were entirely conventional for the time. It goes without saying that its rotary engine was vibrationless, but the little ‘Deek’ possessed other virtues: excellent build quality, superb handling and BMW-like rider comfort. Top speed was around 95mph. ‘But even ignoring the novelty value of the unconventional power unit, it’s an outstanding machine in its own right,’ declared Bike. This Hercules rotary was purchased for the Museum in Germany in 1991 and has not been restored. There are no documents with the machine and it should be noted that the drive-side engine cover and final drive chain are missing.
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