Norton Rotary Bike Feature on Top Gear, features Police Interpol

Another old recording I found on VHS from the old days of Top Gear.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• mazda
• rx
• rx500
• cosmo
• sports
• 110s
• rotary engine
• 10a
• 12a
• 13b
• 20b
• nsu
• wankel
• wankelmotor
• engine
• ro80
• ro 80
• norton
• interpol
• classic
• commander

[kassenz]

I wonder why a rotary powered motorcycle never became mainstream much earlier. I think size/wieght ratio would make this a obvious choice.

Thanks for uploading!

[FukU2222]

Yeah that's what I was thinking too.

[MrDenniski]

Two thing Id like to say, firstly I think the rotary engine is a cool engine unfortunately EU l emission's laws seem to but an end to it all. but with modern engine technology im sure they could keep it alive and competitive. secondly its really cool to see bikes reviewed on Topgear in a professional manner. I'd like to see May and Hammond review one or two of the latest bike this season. Id also love to see how fast a superbike would lap the Topgear circuit. :D

[InYourFACE6789]

@kassenz because rotarys need a lot of fuel

[20bwannab]

@breethwithme

actually rotarys were very reliable back in the day and could stay at high rpms all day with out having valve spring damage and etc and when some thing goes wrong with a rotary there is only a couple faults with it and its the cooling seals and apex seals but what your speaking of is the oil crisis that almost killed the engine not the reliably

[purpleGoAhead]

@breethwithme you've got that a little wrong...

rotarys were always known for being a lot more reliable than piston-engines, it's just their short lifetime due to idiots who know nothing about how to treat them right - they gave them such a bad reputation :(

[breethwithme]

the rotary wasnt very reliable thats why nobody bought them just like the rotary's in the old mazdas they where just plane junks. an old piston engine was way more reliable than the rotary. even with todays technology they wont use it it spins at very high rpms but dont have the torque of the piston motor. and they still have many problems one of wich is the cost to rebuild one of them is astronamical.

[gs032009]

Is this really Top Gear?

The 'old chap' presenting the Norton bikes is very good, very nice old school of radio and tv comunication sort of journalist. Top Gear in the nineties hasn't showed many bikes, has it??

[2locma]

@kassenz somebodie tell me that was a mafia with the petrol´s "god". because the rotarys engines was too much economic compsumtion. i read too that the rotarys need a extreme compression, like the 2t engines so, with a bad compression or sealed, the motor can´t start. (sorry my english)

[Ninosilvio]

@kassenz