At first glance, this looks like a very yellow BMW R1150RT with a sidecar. But those boxer valve covers are fake – they just help hide a 15 gallon fuel tank. Instead, you’ll have to peek underneath the rear of the sidecar to find a 325 horsepower twin turbo motor out of a Mazda Eunos Cosmo! Meet “Rotohak”, presumably named as it’s a rotary-powered sidehack.
Built by Bob Pelikan, Rotohak originally started as a naturally aspirated RX-7 rotary motor in a sidecar that resembled a K100. Bob sold it in 1998 and bought it back in 2001, but the second time around he decided to update the machine. That’s why it’s got the upgraded motor as well as the R1150RT bodywork (the underpinnings are still mostly K100). For more information, check out this story on The Kneeslider. You should also check out Bob’s website, where he has more photos of Rotohak as well as a series of fascinating projects where he created a pickup out of a VW Jetta, put a ’68 Jeepster body on a ’04 Corvette body, created a 1927 Ford Model T for the track with a Subaru WRX STI motor…you get the idea.
Version 1, when it was designed to look like a K100. Photo from Bob’s website, this was taken on a Rider Magazine photoshoot.
This bike (VIN: WB1051406F0052160) has about 24,000 miles on the odometer but it’s not clear how many are actually on the chassis or the drivetrain. Both rear wheels are driven through a Volkswagen transaxle, and shifting is done with the left twist grip (like a Vespa). The seat and sidecar upholstery were done by none other than Mike Corbin.
Find this incredible blend of Mazda, BMW, and turbo goodness for sale in Half Moon Bay, California for $14,900 here on Craigslist.
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Frank S!