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World’s Oldest Production Motorcycle Sells For $212,000

By General Posts

This example may be the earliest one still in existence in 2023.
World’s Oldest Production Motorcycle Sells For $212,000 At Auction

by Janaki Jitchotvisut from https://www.rideapart.com

The early days of motorcycling were a wild time. From strapping engines to the frames of unsuspecting bicycles, to steam-powered velocipedes, people were eager to find new and improved ways to get around. New technological frontiers are typically a time of great experimentation, and this era in motorcycling was certainly no different.

In February, 2023, an extremely interesting piece of that early history went up for auction at Bonhams Paris The machine in question is an extremely rare 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller, which bears the reputation of “the first powered two-wheeler to enter series production,” as well as the first vehicle to be called by the name “motorcycle” (or “motorrad,” in German). It ultimately sold for €195,500, or roughly $212,000 Yankee dollars including the premium.

Brothers Heinrich and Wilhelm Hildebrand set to work crafting their first powered two-wheeler designs during the crucial transition between steam-powered and gasoline-powered vehicles. As the story goes, they started with steam, but eventually turned to a two-stroke design in cooperation with two other individuals: Alois Wolfmüller and his mechanic Hans Geisenhof.

Development is often an iterative process, and what the team eventually came up with to make this production vehicle was a water-cooled, four-stroke, parallel twin engine with what must have been a breathtaking displacement at the time: 1,489cc. This reportedly made about 2.5 brake horsepower at 240 RPM, and resulted in a machine that could top out around 30 miles per hour. That might seem terribly slow in 2023, but was likely more impressive in a time when motor vehicles (let alone faster ones) weren’t so commonplace.

If this machine seems like an alien contraption to your modern eyes, that’s because it’s quite different from any motorcycle we know today. Here’s how the Bonhams listing describes some key features of this bike:

“Steam locomotive practice was further recalled by the long connecting rods directly linking the pistons to the rear wheel, which opened and closed the mechanical exhaust valves via pushrods actuated by a cam on the hub. The latter contained an epicyclic reduction gear and there was no crankshaft flywheel, the solid disc rear wheel serving that purpose. Rubber bands assisted the pistons on the return stroke. Fuel was fed from the tank to a surface carburetor and thence via atmospheric inlet valves to the cylinders where it was ignited by platinum hot tube, as developed by Daimler. The box-like rear mudguard acted as a reservoir for the engine’s cooling water, while one of the frame tubes served as the oil tank. The tires, manufactured under license from Dunlop by Veith in Germany, were the first of the pneumatic variety ever fitted to a motorcycle,” it reads.

Also, this bike didn’t have a clutch. Instead, the starting procedure involved pushing it until the engine fired up, then jumping into the saddle and riding it wherever you needed to go. (Perhaps it wasn’t only the world’s first production motorcycle, but also the world’s first production exercise bike?)

The design for this bike was patented in 1894, and the machines were produced both in Munich, by parent company Motofahrrad-Fabrik Hildebrand & Wolfmüller , and also under license in France as La Petrolette. People of the time were reportedly optimistic about the new bikes, but their optimism was soon tinged with regret and demands for their money back due to starting difficulties and unsatisfactory running performance. By 1897, after French licensee Duncan, Superbie et Cie lost a court case with a customer about these issues, both the German and French concerns went bust. It’s unclear how many of these machines were ever made, but it’s believed to be somewhere between 800 and 2,000 in total.

This specific example is believed to be the earliest numbered example still existing today, with frame number 619 and engine number 69. It was last sold in 1990, and documentation that accompanies this sale includes papers from that time, as well as period marque literature (mostly, if not all, in German). The tires and bands have been replaced (and one of the bands needs replacing yet again), but this bike is otherwise in mostly untouched condition—which makes it even more remarkable, given the fact that it’s almost 130 years old.

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Enzo Temmerman Secures Second Overall at MX Sports Scouting Moto Combine

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Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green Rider Enzo Temmerman Secures Second Overall at MX Sports Scouting Moto Combine

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (September 5, 2022) – Monster Energy® Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo Temmerman earned second overall (2-2) at the final round of the invitation-only MX Sports Scouting Moto Combine at Fox Raceway. Teammate Preston Boespflug participated in both morning qualifying sessions but pulled out of competition due to a lingering injury.

The MX Sports Scouting Moto Combine hosted the top A and B Class amateur riders from across the country at Fox Raceway the Friday before the final round of the Pro Motocross Championship. Granting competitors the opportunity to receive mentorship from world-class athletes in media relations, fitness, and nutrition before taking to the track for two 15-minute plus two lap motos. The Scouting Moto Combine is the perfect opportunity for motocross’ next generation of top riders to obtain the tools necessary for their transition to the professional level.

With hot temperatures shortening motos, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo Temmerman brought high intensity to both qualifying sessions to earn an early gate pick as the start was sure to be a deciding factor. When the qualifying sessions concluded, Temmerman sat in fifth with a 2:33.287 lap time.

As the gate dropped for the first 15-minute plus two-lap race, Temmerman launched off the gate with his rear wheel spinning off the line resulting in a subpar start. Emerging from the first turn in 13th, Temmerman was forced to make quick work of the riders ahead to salvage a podium result. With precision execution and excellent flow around the track, Temmerman made his way into fifth by the halfway mark. The No.30 showcased his fitness and speed by clocking lap times consistent with the leader throughout the entire race and moved into third with only four laps remaining. Temmerman secured second place the following lap and attempted a run at the lead but ultimately ran out of time and finished second.

In the second moto, Temmerman launched his KX™250 race machine to a second-place start and raced close behind the leader during the opening lap. A patient Temmerman studied his opponent’s line choice in the early laps before attempting to make a pass as the race reached the halfway point. The No.30 nearly secured the pass for the lead once again in the latter stages, but the energy expelled in Moto 1 charging through the pack began to set in and Temmerman crossed the line in second place to take second overall (2-2).

“In the first moto, my tire spun on the gate which hurt my start and forced me to push forward from way back in the pack. The second moto started much better, I think I was second coming out of the first turn and stayed there the entire race. I tried to make a push for the lead a few times but couldn’t get close enough and finished second overall. As a racer, I’m always wanting that win but I am proud of my performance today and am happy with the knowledge I gained from this experience.” – Enzo Temmerman

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Royal Enfield to lead motorcycle expedition to the South pole

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by Shakti Nath Jha from https://www.financialexpress.com

Royal Enfield to lead motorcycle expedition to the South pole as a tribute to its 120 years journey

Royal Enfield has announced that the company will lead a first-of-its-kind motorcycle expedition that will attempt to reach the South pole. The expedition is being undertaken as a tribute to the 120 years journey of Royal Enfield.

Royal Enfield is the world’s oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production since 1901. For 120 years, Royal Enfield has remained the preserver of the legacy of building simple, authentic classic motorcycles that are engaging and fun to ride. Riding through time and tough terrain, the company has emerged victorious in rides that have tested the endurance of man and machine, while remaining relevant and desirable through the ages.

Now, to commemorate 120 years of building the pure motorcycling culture, Royal Enfield will mark 2021 with an ambitious attempt to push the boundaries of motorcycling possibilities.

The company will undertake a motorcycling expedition on the Royal Enfield Himalayan, to attempt to reach the geographic South Pole, from the Ross Ice Shelf via the Leverett Glacier. 90-degree South – Quest for the Pole is conceptualized as a tribute to the brand’s commitment to pure motorcycling, and to the courage and resilience of innumerable riders and explorers who have made history with their motorcycling journeys.

The 90-degree South will be an ambitious attempt of Royal Enfield to go where no motorcycle has ever gone before.

This unique expedition will begin from Cape Town, South Africa, on 26 November 2021, and will attempt to reach the geographic South Pole, from the Ross Ice Shelf, via the Leverett Glacier, to the Amundsen-Scott Pole station. Two Royal Enfield riders, namely Santhosh Vijay Kumar, Lead – Rides & Community, Royal Enfield, and Dean Coxson, Senior Engineer- Product Development, Royal Enfield, will take part in this 39-day expedition traversing Antarctica on a 770 km ride from Ross Ice Shelf to the South Pole. It will be conducted in close partnership with Arctic Trucks and on two purpose-built Royal Enfield Himalayans.

For this expedition, two Royal Enfield Himalayans have been modified in-house, with functional upgrades to be able to navigate snow and ice to ably function under extreme conditions in Antarctica. For greater torque at the rear wheel, the main drive sprocket of the Himalayan has been changed from a 15-teeth unit to a 13-teeth unit. Also, the motorcycle gets a tubeless wheel setup with studded tyres that allows the tyres to run at very low pressures, and to increase floatation on soft snow, while also providing adequate traction on hard ice.

The Himalayan was tested for this arduous and treacherous journey at the Langjokull glacier in Iceland, with an intention to mirror the conditions in Antarctica.

Speaking about the milestone year for Royal Enfield and the expedition attempt, Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director of Eicher Motors Ltd, said, “120 years is a long legacy for the brand, and we are very happy to have made it count. Over these years, we have created and nurtured a thriving culture of riding and exploration around the world. This pursuit of exploration has been a quintessential part of our DNA, and 90° South is another chapter in our series of extraordinary, epic motorcycling rides. In the past, rides like Himalayan Odyssey have paved the way for motorcycling adventure in the Himalayas and an epic expedition like this to the South Pole will further inspire people to become adventurers again. A test of endurance and perseverance for man and machine, this expedition is the first of its kind attempt to traverse the 770km long route to the South Pole on a motorcycle.”

Hennessey’s Venom F5 engine bench tested at a furious 1,817 horsepower

By General Posts

by Loz Blain from https://newatlas.com

It’s only been live for a week, but we’ve already had to update our list of the world’s most powerful cars, after Hennessey Performance surprised itself with an extreme dyno reading.

The Venom F5 is the car Hennessey hopes will demolish not only the fastest production car record now held by Bugatti, but also the 0-400-0 record recently reclaimed by Koenigsegg. With a long enough piece of road, there’s every chance this wild machine could be the first to break 500 km/h (310.7 mph), which is the next nice round number to aim at since the Chiron hit 300 mph (483 km/h) last month. That’s if Koenigsegg’s Jesko doesn’t get there first.

To claim the record, the Venom will need power. Lots and lots of power, to fight through the massive force of wind resistance you get at speeds more than four times faster than highway limits. Up until this morning, Hennessey was saying the Venom F5 would make some 1,600 horsepower, a truly staggering total and enough to place it equal fifth on our list of the most powerful production cars available, alongside the Jesko and the Chiron Super Sport 300+.

But the engine hadn’t been dyno tested until now. And while 1,600 horses was the target, even John Hennessey himself appeared surprised with the bench test readout of 1,817 hp and 1,193 lb-ft (1,617.5 Nm) of torque.

“We exceeded our target horsepower number. Actually, we blew our target number out of the water by delivering over 1,800 horsepower,” said Hennessey. “The F5 engine has a very broad power band with over 1,000 lb-ft of torque available from 2,000 to 8,000 rpm. Give it the full throttle and it’s the most furious engine that we have ever built. Thus, we gave our F5 engine a special name: ‘Fury.’”

Fury indeed. Check out the rage in action on the dyno below, and imagine that sound happening when you put your foot down in a lightweight, sub-3,000-lb (sub-1,361-kg) hypercar.

And how might you squeeze 1,800 hp out of a 6.6-liter, twin turbo V8, you might well ask? Well, Hennessey has seen fit to publish a detailed set of components and specifications, which we have reproduced in full below.

Hennessey Venom F5 V8 Engine Specifications:

  • Power: 1,817 bhp @ 8,000 rpm
  • Torque: 1,193 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm
  • Redline: 8,200 rpm
  • Displacement 6.6 liter (400 CID)
  • Bore: 4.125 in.
  • Stroke: 3.750 in.
  • Billet aluminum intake manifold with integrated air to water intercooler system
  • Forged aluminum pistons (10.0:1 compression ratio) with steel extreme duty wrist pins
  • Forged steel light weight H-bean connecting rods
  • Extreme duty forged steel connecting rod bolts
  • Light weight extreme duty billet steel crankshaft
  • Forged steel V8 engine block with billet main caps, increased cylinder wall & deck thickness & 6 bolts per cylinder
  • High-flow aluminum cylinder heads with canted titanium intake valves
  • Inconel exhaust valves with dual valve springs
  • Extreme duty billet steel hydraulic roller camshaft
  • Extreme duty hydraulic roller lifters
  • Extreme duty billet steel pushrods
  • Extreme duty stainless steel shaft mounted rocker arms
  • Dailey Engineering 4 Stage billet dry sump oiling system
  • Dailey Engineering Billet CNC aluminum oil pan
  • Precision ball bearing twin turbochargers (76 mm billet aluminum compressor wheels) rated at 1,350 bhp per turbo, making 23 psi boost pressure at 1,817 bhp
  • 3D printed titanium turbo compressor housings
  • High-flow twin turbo wastegates
  • High-flow twin turbo blow-off valves
  • High-flow billet aluminum 90 mm dual throttle bodies
  • High-flow fuel injectors, 2 per cylinder
  • High-flow stainless steel twin turbo headers with 1 7/8 in. primary tubes
  • High-flow stainless steel 3.0 in. twin turbo downpipes
  • High-flow catalytic converters
  • High-flow 3.5 titanium exhaust system