Hercules W-2000

The Hercules W-2000 was a motorcycle made by Hercules in Germany. It was the first production motorcycle with a Wankel engine.[3][4][1]:83[notes 1]

Hercules W-2000
ManufacturerHercules (DKW in some markets)
Production1974–1977
EngineAir-cooled 294 cc Wankel
Compression ratio8.5:1
Top speed140 km/h (90 mph)
Power27–32 hp (20–24 kW) @ 6,500 RPM (claimed)[1]:82[2]:276
Torque24.5 lb⋅ft (33.2 N⋅m) @ 4,500 RPM
TransmissionSix-speed, wet clutch, chain drive
SuspensionTelescopic fork
BrakesFront: 11.8 in (300 mm) disc
Rear: 7.0 in (180 mm) drum
Wheelbase54.5 in (1,380 mm)
Seat height30 in (760 mm)
Weight381 pounds (173 kg) (dry)
390 pounds (180 kg) (fuel half full) (wet)
Fuel capacity4.5 US gal (17 l; 3.7 imp gal)
Oil capacity4.0 US pt (1.9 l; 3.3 imp pt)
Fuel consumption40 mpg‑US (5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg‑imp)

It was designed in the late 1960s,[4] first shown at a German trade show (Internationale Fahrrad und Motorrad-Ausstellung IFMA [international bicycle and motorcycle show][6]) in 1970, and production started in 1974. Production halted in 1977 after 1,800 were built and the tooling was sold to Norton Motors.[1]:83[7]

Development

Fichtel & Sachs, which became Hercules' parent company, was the second licensee of the Wankel engine, on Dec 29, 1960, and Sachs was the first motorcycle manufacturer with a license.[8] Sachs had prior experience with Wankel applications in personal watercraft and power tools. The 1970 Hercules motorcycle prototype had shaft drive.[8] It may be on display at Zentrum Industriekultur in Nuremberg.[6]

Specifications

Information in the specifications box are from Cycle World unless noted.[9]:71 Fuel consumption as listed seems rather optimistic. The Hercules Wankel Interessengemeinschaft says a low 5.8 L/100km and 8.5/100 at the high end. Das Motorrad (13/1975) claims an average 7.2/100, so approximately 39mpg(imp) / 33mpg(US)

Engine
Closeup of W-2000 engine at Museum Autovision

The engine was an air-cooled single-rotor Wankel designed by Sachs as a snowmobile engine, that produced 27–32 hp (20–24 kW) at 6,500 RPM.[5][1]:82[2]:276 The rotor spun about the frame's longitudinal axis (see longitudinal engine for the piston-engine equivalent), with power taken to the transmission through a 90° bevel gear.[10][9]:71

Fuelling was originally supplied by a 32 mm Bing carburetor.[5] An electric starter with backup kick starter was standard.[9]

Gasoline had to be premixed with two-stroke oil until 1976, when 199 more units were produced with automatic oil injection.[7][10]

Reception and legacy

A contemporary Cycle World review summarized the machine this way: "Less performance for more money takes this rotary out of the realm of practicality."[9]:66 It received criticism for insufficient ground clearance and unimpressive acceleration.[4]

A Rider retrospective written in 2015 called it an "exercise in simplicity, with clean, spare design that projects industrial efficiency", especially in contrast to the overbuilt Suzuki RE5, while noting both rotary powered machines are "'orphan bikes'...innovative but not commercially successful."[10] Another 2008 retrospective noted the high insurance costs (due to erroneous swept volume calculation ranking it with high-risk literbikes) and said "Every buyer with an ounce of common-sense, or logic, avoided the Hercules like the plague and the bike sold only to real biking geeks who delighted in the absurdly quirky."[11]

In collections

Examples are at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany; Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum in Neckarsulm, Germany; Museum Autovision in Altlußheim, Germany; Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama; The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Canada; Motorcyclepedia Museum in New York; National Motorcycle Museum in Iowa; and a museum in Grassmere, Australia.[4][10][12][13][14]

Notes
  1. The Suzuki RE5 was sold in the United States first.[5]

References
  1. Hege 2002.
  2. Ayton 1983.
  3. Beeden 2014.
  4. Williams 2012.
  5. Hill 1975.
  6. "Hercules", Der Wankelmotor (website), 2000–2015, retrieved 2015-08-05
  7. Shea 2014.
  8. d'Orléans, Paul (November 3, 2011), "A short history of Wankel motorcycles", The Vintagent
  9. Cycle World 1976.
  10. Williams 2015.
  11. Melling, Frank (December 17, 2008), Memorable Motorcycles: Hercules W2000, Motorcycle USA
  12. "1975 Hercules rotary engine motorcycle", National Treasures (blog), Motorcycle Classics
  13. Felix Wankel – Erfinder aus Leidenschaft 25.5.2012 – 27.1.2013 (PDF) (flyer), Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum, 2012, archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04, retrieved 2015-08-05
  14. Collins 2014.
Print sources

See also
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