Post Sale Update: After 24 bids on eBay, this Hercules sold for $6,100.
In the early 70s, Suzuki, Norton, and DKW all brought rotary-powered bikes to the market, but DKW was the first. Outside of the UK, it was marketed as the Hercules Wankel 2000, or W2000. If you ignored the unique powertrain, the rest of the bike was fairly conventional. But you wouldn’t ignore the powertrain, and neither did the press. Bike magazine called it “an outstanding machine in its own right.”
Obviously, hindsight has shown that rotary power barely didn’t light the world on fire, but this was a real breakthrough in the industry at the time. The engine was actually a single-rotor air-cooled snowmobile engine built by Fichtel & Sachs. Displacing 294cc, the engine produced 23 horsepower (although that was later increased to 32.) Cooling was taken care of by a large fan that you can see in front of the engine. Build quality was supposedly excellent, and the rotary engine barely yielded any vibration. It was supposedly very comfortable to ride, even up to the top speed of about 95 miles per hour. Want to learn more? Check out this writeup from Frank Melling over at Motorcycle-USA.
This example (VIN: 480000806) has 2,257 miles and it was originally sold new in Vancouver. The seller is the third owner, and he knows the first two owners. The seller originally acquired it for a motorcycle exhibit that has since “changed themes.” The bike was recently serviced and new tires were installed. In the seller’s words, it “needs nothing more than a deep cleaning and detailing.” It has a Canadian title and the seller will transport the motorcycle to the US border at Blaine, Washington for free.
Find this rotary for sale in Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada with bidding up to $1,525
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Tim G!