saw a turbo corvair powered bike back in the ealry 70's at "East Coast Choppers in Bethpage Long Island NY. Claim of 180mph. It was called the Bone Shaker
Okay and a Chevy fuelie v-6 from am s-10 bolts straight into a leyland mgb from the crap years, bolt holes all meet up. Anyway that's howb the swap is supposed to go. But this i'm seeing here is just about the hippest engineering job on the web - you actually have a supreme tune/valve lash/carb pai/crane700 r to get that engine note - show me a euro or subaru engine that sounds better - okay other than ferrari - again- fantastic
Back in the 70's his bike call "BONESHAKER" hit the covers.(Corvare powered)
Rad story about how as he was getting up to speed on the freeway the cops thru-up a road block...146mph in second-gear getting ready to shift to third.
Your's is still sweet and well done.............just wondering.
A flat six, in a Harley? Madness! I like this very much, almost looks like a factory option. Look out V-max owners, you're about to look silly. Please, please, add twin 85 mm turbos to this already insane machine!
Awesome. You need to bring this to Reno for Street Vibrations. Or even Hot August Nights. Anybody remember the BSA that former SAAB USA President Bob Sinclair (since passed away) had built with a SAAB 3 cylinder 2Stroke? Sure would like to know where it ended up.
I am a Harley rider and I own a 1965 Corvair. Never even thought of combining the two. You have a really cool bike. The Corvair engine has an aviation conversion too. Thanks for sharing.
@pmanson0624 It weighed in at 720 lbs. My intention was to keep it within the size weight and wheel base of stock bikes. I saw a full dress Harley listed with a weight of 760lbs. Thanks for the interest. I am still enjoying riding it.
very nice i remember a corvair engine in a royl enfield frame back in late 1960s i had a poster with a guy on it dressed as a roman centurian and i wanted that bike then, well done.
You turned a Harley into a Goldwing... very nice. I have a 78 Goldwing with no fairings - just a small windscreen ... it's a great highway bike and still nimble enough to ride in town. The low center of gravity of the flat 4 makes the heavy engine easy to maneuver. Congratulations on the build.
Now I hope to see the next guy take a Porshe boxer and do the same thing.
Don't get me wrong the scooter is beautiful and well done. The cooling issue will involve the center two cylinders, which will not cool properly because they are surrounded by another cylinder on each side that are also trying to cool. This failure may take some time to build up, but it will happen. To a lesser extent the 4 outer cylinders will also suffer from local "hot spots". Now, how soon this will all happen is subject to a number of factors - So at least enjoy it while you can!
It is not that the center cylinders run hot it is that the front cylinders run cooler probably. Over 16 years and counting with no problems. Just think of that rear cylinder on a harley but this engine has proven more reliable and smooth running than the old Harley engine. Maybe because the one piece aluminum head conducts heat very rapidly. Just for fun it would be interesting to measure the temperature difference with a pyrometer I have. Thanks for the interest.
If the comment "A warning on the cooling" was for concern of the engine overheating, it turned out to be a non issue. I did add an oversize oil cooler (see my video "Harley Corvair features for the Gearhead") but it may have not been necessary. I have thousands of miles on the bike with never an overheat problem. Even on a hot day in stop and go traffic the head temperature is always below redline. The stock fan is not needed at all and would pull additional power from the engine.
nice job Bruce, looks very powerfull. i´m living in brazil, i have a harley and i´m thinking to change the engine , but i´ll think to used a v8 chevy small block but still very hard and expensive to find here.
I had Harley's for years and yes this is the first smooth running one. I stripped off all the cooling shrouding and fan since in a motorcycle the engine is out in the open. I was a bit concerned with cooling and added a larger oil cooler. Turn out cooling was no problem at all. When the engine makes power and thus heat the bike is moving fast enough to supply good cooling. When sitting idling the open natural draft prevents any overheat. Thanks for the comment
The throttle and all the controls and switches are stock Harley or made up just like them. I made up a bellcrank and linkage to adapt the throttle cable to the engine.
If I'm not mistaken, I saw this bike and met the owner at a British car show in northern California in the mid-'90s. I can't remember for the life of me how you transfered power from the engine to the transmission. Do you have a webpage I can look at, or can you share some info on the combination?
I am sure that was me. I remember going to a British car show a long time ago. I lived in Chico. I live in Santa Cruz now. As you can see I still have that bike. I have a picture of the gear train. If you give me an email address I will send it. I used the stock harley trans and clutch then used off the shelf parts from a bearing shop for the belt drive, right angle gearbox and coupling to the flywheel.
Norm Grabowski, the guy that used to play in the 60's beach movies used to build hot rods. One of "creations" was building a motorcycle with a Corvair engine. The bike was featured in several magazines back then. The guy that really impressed me built a trike around an Allison v12. Although mostly for show, he did ride it some.
wanted to add you as a friend or something new to youtube wanted to see if there was some way we could e mail each other for tips so send me a messae or e mail me if you are more up date on you tube than i am but it amazes me and my stepfather who are building the trike with the kick start very nice work and it sounds and seems like it runs like a dream
hey nice bike but we are building a trike with a corvair engine it is a 140 hp hp crovair engine 4x1 140 HP corsa engne going on a trike i will have videos in like a week or so the build is complete working on all the tinks it has a stainless stinger front end and 60's kregger mags with L 60 tires so comment mine when u see it its an automatic with a powerglide transmission
Way cool! What did you use to turn the output 90 degrees for the transmission? How can I find out more?? I have access to both the major components and a burning desire to build one after watching your video :)
IT SOUNDS BETTER THAN ANY CAR..COOL BIKE.
streetboy281 1 month ago
It sounds a lot nicer than your average Harley.
frobnitz 1 month ago
Remarkable skill level. Looks like it has very nice balance.
RAVINFORONE 3 months ago
love it when a plan comes together....
mobstar1187 5 months ago
Nice! You should be able to take on a Triumph Rocket or a Honda Valkyrie with your bike.
pveg65 7 months ago
saw a turbo corvair powered bike back in the ealry 70's at "East Coast Choppers in Bethpage Long Island NY. Claim of 180mph. It was called the Bone Shaker
jd111358 7 months ago
saw a turbo corvair powered bike back in the ealry 70's at "East Coast Choppers in Bethpage Long Island NY. Claim of 180mph
jd111358 7 months ago
thats something mr corvair wild would love to get his hands on :P
rootbeerkid89 7 months ago
What you have created there is a "Charley-Davidson".
dbmrhi 8 months ago
Okay and a Chevy fuelie v-6 from am s-10 bolts straight into a leyland mgb from the crap years, bolt holes all meet up. Anyway that's howb the swap is supposed to go. But this i'm seeing here is just about the hippest engineering job on the web - you actually have a supreme tune/valve lash/carb pai/crane700 r to get that engine note - show me a euro or subaru engine that sounds better - okay other than ferrari - again- fantastic
newsmanbluesman 9 months ago
So did you get the idea from a guy named Joe???
Back in the 70's his bike call "BONESHAKER" hit the covers.(Corvare powered)
Rad story about how as he was getting up to speed on the freeway the cops thru-up a road block...146mph in second-gear getting ready to shift to third.
Your's is still sweet and well done.............just wondering.
leerider52 11 months ago
A flat six, in a Harley? Madness! I like this very much, almost looks like a factory option. Look out V-max owners, you're about to look silly. Please, please, add twin 85 mm turbos to this already insane machine!
funtarded 1 year ago
this bike is better than a lot of factory bike!!
I like it and it seem so drivable!
nicodanger13 1 year ago
Awesome. You need to bring this to Reno for Street Vibrations. Or even Hot August Nights. Anybody remember the BSA that former SAAB USA President Bob Sinclair (since passed away) had built with a SAAB 3 cylinder 2Stroke? Sure would like to know where it ended up.
jaxwagen 1 year ago
Holy shit that's cool
simplestupid1 1 year ago
Amazing
usd25674 1 year ago
That is very nice. I bet it will flat out fly!
compukenny 1 year ago
Car engine in a motorcycle frame = CRAZY-cool
Reedynn 1 year ago
I read the title and thought what a stupid idea, but after I saw the finshed bike it turned out it all works together, well done !
TifosiNZ 1 year ago
I am a Harley rider and I own a 1965 Corvair. Never even thought of combining the two. You have a really cool bike. The Corvair engine has an aviation conversion too. Thanks for sharing.
aerohog 1 year ago
Sure, I mean who wouldn't put their spare Corvair 6 cylinder into their HD that just happens to have no engine?
I love it! Sounds fantastic and looks like it was a regular factory bike. Nice job!
CrazyAlvis 1 year ago
It certainly looks like it handles and is managable, unlike some other car engined bikes, well done.
D1200s1 1 year ago
WOW! Looks like that beats the socks off a Honda Gold Wing any day.
1foxtrot70 1 year ago
probrably the nicest sounding harley i've heard. Well done ! Now just upgrade the brakes.....
tjm52071 1 year ago 2
hazzzzah! how cool is that?
P0wergl1de 1 year ago
cool bike !! how much does it weigh??
pmanson0624 1 year ago
@pmanson0624 It weighed in at 720 lbs. My intention was to keep it within the size weight and wheel base of stock bikes. I saw a full dress Harley listed with a weight of 760lbs. Thanks for the interest. I am still enjoying riding it.
Rdhog 1 year ago
@Rdhog wow thats not much at all. much be a blast to ride
pmanson0624 1 year ago
@Rdhog Outstanding ! This is the original "Boss Hoss" Well Done !! V.
vaccumme 3 weeks ago
Sounds like my 911
SilentWingz 1 year ago
Beautiful job......that's some sweet engineering you did there.
But if you really wanted a flat 6 boxer engine in a motorcycle, you could've just bought a Valkyrie and saved youself alot of work.
thingamabob90 1 year ago
i want one now
2kdavies 1 year ago
looks like a clean install and i bet it is smooth and very strong nice video
deannaber 1 year ago
Beautiful ride! That smooth flat-6 is the other end of the spectrum from Harley's assymetric shaker!
pdrake074 1 year ago
NIce Job!
injunscout 2 years ago
Hey, that's really cool !!
gsx69bun 2 years ago
very nice i remember a corvair engine in a royl enfield frame back in late 1960s i had a poster with a guy on it dressed as a roman centurian and i wanted that bike then, well done.
Gary
garyjettrike 2 years ago
Beautiful ride!
jbx233 2 years ago
well done *****.
shaikhdishgan1 2 years ago
You turned a Harley into a Goldwing... very nice. I have a 78 Goldwing with no fairings - just a small windscreen ... it's a great highway bike and still nimble enough to ride in town. The low center of gravity of the flat 4 makes the heavy engine easy to maneuver. Congratulations on the build.
Now I hope to see the next guy take a Porshe boxer and do the same thing.
warrhead71 2 years ago
@warrhead71 No he did not ! It ain't a Jap ! All American
Hiramab1 2 years ago
Don't get me wrong the scooter is beautiful and well done. The cooling issue will involve the center two cylinders, which will not cool properly because they are surrounded by another cylinder on each side that are also trying to cool. This failure may take some time to build up, but it will happen. To a lesser extent the 4 outer cylinders will also suffer from local "hot spots". Now, how soon this will all happen is subject to a number of factors - So at least enjoy it while you can!
LWall2000 2 years ago
It is not that the center cylinders run hot it is that the front cylinders run cooler probably. Over 16 years and counting with no problems. Just think of that rear cylinder on a harley but this engine has proven more reliable and smooth running than the old Harley engine. Maybe because the one piece aluminum head conducts heat very rapidly. Just for fun it would be interesting to measure the temperature difference with a pyrometer I have. Thanks for the interest.
Rdhog 2 years ago
@Rdhog what kind of right angle drive is that.?
jjmqwerty 1 year ago
A warning on the cooling
LWall2000 2 years ago
If the comment "A warning on the cooling" was for concern of the engine overheating, it turned out to be a non issue. I did add an oversize oil cooler (see my video "Harley Corvair features for the Gearhead") but it may have not been necessary. I have thousands of miles on the bike with never an overheat problem. Even on a hot day in stop and go traffic the head temperature is always below redline. The stock fan is not needed at all and would pull additional power from the engine.
Rdhog 2 years ago
nice job Bruce, looks very powerfull. i´m living in brazil, i have a harley and i´m thinking to change the engine , but i´ll think to used a v8 chevy small block but still very hard and expensive to find here.
ferbott 2 years ago
thats one cool bike, my dad has a few corvair engines laying around and would like to build a bike like yours, how did you conect to the transmission
48kb2diesel 2 years ago
That project runs smoother than ANY harley in production. Nice job!!!!!
waterfordjim 3 years ago
First time I ever heard "smooth running" and Harley in the same sentence!
What did he do for cooling, as the Corvair has a fan and a complex shrouding system.
pef286 3 years ago
I had Harley's for years and yes this is the first smooth running one. I stripped off all the cooling shrouding and fan since in a motorcycle the engine is out in the open. I was a bit concerned with cooling and added a larger oil cooler. Turn out cooling was no problem at all. When the engine makes power and thus heat the bike is moving fast enough to supply good cooling. When sitting idling the open natural draft prevents any overheat. Thanks for the comment
Bruce
Rdhog 3 years ago
Comment removed
Tbogg03 2 years ago
Norm Grabowski built a Corvair powered bile in the late 60's. It had six carbs and full of chrome...
cabritorsss 3 years ago
is it me or is the throttle going opposite of a normal bike?
highonimmi 3 years ago
The throttle and all the controls and switches are stock Harley or made up just like them. I made up a bellcrank and linkage to adapt the throttle cable to the engine.
Rdhog 3 years ago
vairz and sleds....da perfect combo!
thanks so much for posting this. please, tell me u have a channel or a website my dad and i could watch ya?
highonimmi 3 years ago
Thanks for your interest. I am going to make some more videos soon of some of the motorcycle details and other things I like to do.
Bruce
Rdhog 3 years ago
Very nice conversion!
Next, a turbo 180 Corvair engine!
Turbo66Coupe 3 years ago
This is one kick-ass bike thanks for posting!!!!!!!!!!!!
cfhmj 3 years ago
If I'm not mistaken, I saw this bike and met the owner at a British car show in northern California in the mid-'90s. I can't remember for the life of me how you transfered power from the engine to the transmission. Do you have a webpage I can look at, or can you share some info on the combination?
te51levin 3 years ago
I am sure that was me. I remember going to a British car show a long time ago. I lived in Chico. I live in Santa Cruz now. As you can see I still have that bike. I have a picture of the gear train. If you give me an email address I will send it. I used the stock harley trans and clutch then used off the shelf parts from a bearing shop for the belt drive, right angle gearbox and coupling to the flywheel.
Rdhog 3 years ago
Awesome...too cool...six power!
lesd40 3 years ago
Norm Grabowski, the guy that used to play in the 60's beach movies used to build hot rods. One of "creations" was building a motorcycle with a Corvair engine. The bike was featured in several magazines back then. The guy that really impressed me built a trike around an Allison v12. Although mostly for show, he did ride it some.
cabritorsss 3 years ago
wanted to add you as a friend or something new to youtube wanted to see if there was some way we could e mail each other for tips so send me a messae or e mail me if you are more up date on you tube than i am but it amazes me and my stepfather who are building the trike with the kick start very nice work and it sounds and seems like it runs like a dream
RJByoyo1 3 years ago
hey nice bike but we are building a trike with a corvair engine it is a 140 hp hp crovair engine 4x1 140 HP corsa engne going on a trike i will have videos in like a week or so the build is complete working on all the tinks it has a stainless stinger front end and 60's kregger mags with L 60 tires so comment mine when u see it its an automatic with a powerglide transmission
RJByoyo1 3 years ago
Way cool! What did you use to turn the output 90 degrees for the transmission? How can I find out more?? I have access to both the major components and a burning desire to build one after watching your video :)
Scooter
scooterdesigns 3 years ago
That is verry cool Bruce, really nicely engineered by the looks of it.
badger294 3 years ago
Hi Bruce. Nice video.
<3 Jami
8rylo3 3 years ago
i bet that is quick!
emaxxl 3 years ago
You are my hero! Please make more!
corvairbusguy 3 years ago