Monday, May 8, 2023

BSA Wankel prototype, 1973


The Wankel engine prototype was built in partnership with Fichtel and Sachs, as BSA did not have license for the technology. It was an aircooled single rotor design and suffered from overheating as well as wear and was soon abandoned. 

Probably a good thing, in my opinion, as it was not going to save the company.

 
Bert Hopwood, Whatever happened to the British Motorcycle Industry? G.T. Foulis Publishing, 1981

2 comments:

rats said...

Thanks, Mr G. Never seen one of those.

It's a pity they didn't put that nice tank on all their OIFs. (It's a pity they didn't do a lot of things.)

Mister G said...

Yes, I had no idea BSA was playing with Wankels. And I don't think it's same motor that Norton later used.