Recent content by Miker Vee

This was quite common in sidecar cross during the 1980s, combined with 87mm XT/SR500 pistons. Stock stroke results in 880cc, long stroke (84mm) crank very close to 1000cc. Depending on core shift of the cylinder casting, the 91mm bore would, or would not, break through into the center air...

Great story and heart warming confidence! But how can you verify its accuracy, if not by comparing it to a more accurate standard? Which would then have to be the world's ut-most accurate pressure gauge :rolleyes: Maybe even with a calibration sheet in traditional units like N/cm2 instead of %...

Fantastic scenery! Diolch yn fawr!

Rotary valve head? Looks interesting. Edit: appears to be a Rudge engine with a Cross rotary valve, much like https://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/cross/Cross-1934-Rudge-Engine.htm

Hey fishman, been chewing on your engine a bit more. Did you have a closer look in the mean time? There are some more costly options to get what you seem to have, using once 'commonly available' components. Not impossible, as the sky was the limit in the XS's competitive sidecar cross days...

If it's an 840cc, this would probably be a modified SP370 piston (85mm) on a 533 rod. It was quite common in sidecar cross. Another modification, often performed, would be an XT500 piston on a 533 rod, giving 880cc. Both with 74mm standard stroke. Neither of these need an extra baseplate...

Here ya go: And more: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bistella

Ahh, thanks for putting me on the right track. Hadn't thought of reverse image search. Buchet 1903 twin-cylinder 2976 cc https://cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/buchet/Buchet-1903-Fournier-IBra.htm

Thank you, might well be.

What a great looking engine! Any idea what brand / type bike this is?

Had this neighbor once, who asked me to have a look at his car. Parked it one day, wouldn't start the next. Made funny sounds, too. Lifted the valve cover; all push rods were bent like bananas. Turned out, one of his little sons wanted to show off to his friend that he knew how to start the car...

It looks to be this one: Heiden tuning compressor XS Think that's a Rotrex centrifugal compressor.

Thank you very much for sharing all the details. There are lots of subtleties to deal with in a build like this.

According to the accompanying article, this turbo version was built by Don Vesco in 1968, but never got mounted into the red 'cigar', as it broke the top gear while testing on the dyno. Hilborn fuel injection. Please forgive the poor picture quality.