Although a V-12 engine is always nice, cramming one into a motorcycle definitely qualifies as an engine hack! [Allen Millyard], wasn’t satisfied with the standard number of cylinders (6!) on his already gigantic Kawasaki KZ1300. Like any reasonable person, he decided to graft two of their powerplants together!
In true engine hacker form, inspiration struck at a classic bikes show when someone said “Suppose you’re going to make a V-12 next, then?” [Allen] replied that it would be impossible, but after this conversation, he reportedly had to build one. By the time the show ended he’d figured out how to do it. Lots of work and two six-cylinder engines later, [Allen] had proven this task to be possible.
Although this may seem like a very extreme motorcycle engine hack, [Allen] has done quite a few motorcycle engine mods, making v-twins out of a pair of single-cylinder engines and a V-eight from two four-cylinder engines. Check out the video of his latest beast after the break!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djJTQh_RMVQ&w=470&h=345%5D
I see 10 of them, not 12.
I am pretty sure the motorcycle in the video is a V10 not a V12.
um… video is of a V-10…
Damn! never though I would see a bike that can make those 350 Harleys look like a tricycle! I bet with the v10 parallel to the wheels the torque almost pulls the bike out from under you.
Classification: Ridonculous.
Engine is impressive, overall design a bit on the lame side.
Indeed the video is completely unrelated. That bike has a Dodge Viper V10 in it. Although also cool of course.
It would be nice to see how he actually combined the engines.
am I missing something here? I see a V10, not a V12.
He has created a V12 bike, the video is just one of the conversions that he has done with a different motor.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/v12_custom_kawasaki_2300cc/index.html
That link has the actual V12 bike in it. I guess he doesn’t have a video of that one yet.
Engines are so last century… ;)
At least next you bring on an Electric Vehicle hacks series.
Yep, this video is of a V-10. It says right on the bike “8.0 Litre V10”. And of course, it’s easy to count 5 exhaust pipes coming out of each side.
I checked the guy’s other videos. I didn’t see one of a V-12.
Sorry Rocky (and others), I posted the wrong video. Changed it to one that looks correct! The original V-10 that was up is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t43XDDzXY-8&feature=player_embedded and is very cool as well.
Not to sound to crabby but this was published in 2009 in Motorcyclist.
Just for some extreme fun there is a company that makes a V8 out of two Hayabusa motors 400HP at 2.8L http://www.h1v8.com/page/page/1562069.htm
Not cheap but wow.
I’d love to build a locost BEC with an H1V8… I guess it wouldn’t be “locost” at that point, but still. Pretty Friggin’ Awesome.
I think I just got a boner!
theres 6 spark plugs in each row, doesnt matter what it “says” its a v12, count the plugs.
top engine…
I used to live just round the corner from this guy. He also made a couple of 5 cylinder two strokes out of multiple Kawasaki KH250s which toured the shows ~15 years ago.
Allegedly he also prefers to set up the timing on the bikes by “feel”. i.e. he sticks his finger in the plug cap and feels when the points are opening. :-)