Cool history

[weaselbeak]

Saw this at the national museum in Anamosa, Iowa Tuesday. Engines are beautiful.

https://thexscafedotcom.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/xs650-vescoe-twin-650-streamliner/

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Oh, yeah, that's another place I'd like to visit.

http://www.nationalmcmuseum.org/featured-bikes/1970-vesco-engineering-yamaha-twin-streamliner/

 

[Iowa Mark]

Just the sculptures, posters and other artwork are worth the admission! The place is motorcycle overload at it's very best.

 

[Okie]

Strange, it says it was campaigned only one year in 1970, but both engines have single outlet breathers on the heads. Maybe the engines were rebuilt for display?

 

[Brassneck]

That's pretty cool....I imagine both engines power one drive-train, etc. but do they shift independently then? Talk about carb-balancing nightmare. Ha ha.

 

[weaselbeak]

I paid no attention to how the mechanicals were done, just admired the beast.The problems were with the aerodynamics when they crashed it up around 175-180.

 

[gggGary]

Took some detail pics of the Vesco streamliner when we visited Anamosa this weekend.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Great pics, Gary.

137 hp per engine?

 

[59Tebo]

It looks like the museum is housed in what used to be a big (chain) grocery store...

 

[gggGary]

Yup! former Walmart.

 

[xschris]

Great pics, Gary.

137 hp per engine?
View attachment 123297

I thought these could only handel around 90hp before they blew apart. And that was with much larger pistons. These are said to be stock size motors. ???? This says DOHC motors.

 

[gggGary]

Rear engine looks to be early 256, front a 306 and both of those feed into ONE XS650 clutch and transmission, gulp.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Tillotson carb on the front engine will never see carb icing...

 

[gggGary]

 

[Mailman]

That’s a good video, shame there’s no sound, I would’ve loved to hear that thing running. It’s amazing he walked away from that crash unscathed!

 

[arcticXS]

I thought these could only handel around 90hp before they blew apart. And that was with much larger pistons. These are said to be stock size motors. ???? This says DOHC motors.

With normally aspirated engines, more hp comes mostly from more rpm. Which then increases dynamic forces from recipricating parts. With supercharging, the need for higher revs is no longer there. They may also have used special fuel. And running hours between overhauls could well be measured in minutes, almost like dragrace engines.