Boffin Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 The 115-year-old bike is one of only 800 produced and is described as "exceedingly rare" by experts. The rusty contraption has a 1488cc engine and could hit a top speed of 30mph and was last ridden in the 1930s. "Their design was powered by a twin-cylinder, water-cooled, four-stroke engine displacing 1,488cc, which until relatively recent times was the largest power unit ever fitted to a motorcycle. "Despite a maximum power output of only 2.5bhp at 240rpm, the H&W was capable of speeds approaching 30mph, an exciting prospect at a time when powered road transport of any sort was still a novelty. Full article here Andy Link to comment
UberXY Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Here is a pristine example of an H&W: Link to comment
upflying Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 You don't have to look far to find styling inspiration 115 years later. Motorcycle visionaries in 1895, wow! Link to comment
elkroeger Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I can't imagine travelling at the outrageous speed of 30mph on EITHER of those contraptions. Link to comment
Selden Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 From the photo, I was having a difficult time imagining where a 1.5 liter 2-cylinder engine could possibly be hiding -- that should be a fairly substantial piece of metal. Then I found a diagram: no transmission or drive train in the conventional sense of the term, con-rods connected directly to the rear wheel like a steam locomotive, with what appears to be an extraordinarily long stroke. No wonder the redline was 240 RPM! Link to comment
JayW Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Fascinating! Thanks for looking that up. Jay Link to comment
prince Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 very nice and useful discussion........... Link to comment
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