Does anyone know what kind of bike this is?

This bike caught my eye when scanning old images. It's from Putnam Park in May of 1992. The tank says Harley-Davidson, but the motor is obviously something else. Anyone have any clues?

 

Rotax?

 

It looks like an air-cooled vertical twin. I could be wrong though.

 

Yes, it is a Rotax...anywhere from 350 to 676cc in a DT chassis (looks like a Knight) as well. There was a time when a certain number of these motors were homologated by harley so their riders could ride them branded as Harleys.

 

No, its a vertical single four-stoke. (one exhaust, and the pushrods/cam drive can only be on the non-visible side).

 

Good deal.Thanks for the help. That's a very clean version of Rotax-based Harley. Now who was the rider? George Roeder, George Tapscott?

 

Probably neither since it's a novice rider. Hmm.

 

without a doubt a rotax.

came in many different variations and for a single, can bemade to make over 70hp.

i have a few sittnig in the garage now

its a belt driven, single overhead cam.

 

looks to be a nickle plated knight frame...
jemco exhaust

 

I'm betting that's George Tapscott, even though WERA listed him on a Honda at this race. Does anyone know George?

 

I'm pretty sure I see two exhaust headers. I can't tell if there's more than one cylinder however, it looks pretty square to be an inline twin. Perhaps two exhaust ports? Never heard of that, but there's plenty I've never heard of.

 

Is there a fucking echo in here????

 

Why why why

do do do

you you you

ask ask ask

 

I believe a certain number of these motors were homologated by harley so their riders could ride them branded as Harleys if I'm not mistaken.

 

I refuse to believe it unless Booster says it is so!!

 

That bike looks like a blast to ride. I want one.

 

It was George Tapscott. He won several races at Putnam that day and, even though he was a novice, finished second overall in the Unlimited Twins class. This thing must have been super-light and from the way George is throwing it into the turn it must have handled well too.

I just talked to George's widow. I'm sorry to report that George passed away from cancer back in 2000.

He was from a family of racers. I know he had at least one or two brothers who raced WERA too during the '80s.

 

Thanks again for all the input guys.

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=13991

 

It's a four-valve head w/2 separate exhaust ports. This pic shows two different schools of thought on exhaust on the same Rotax 614 single.

 

I am pretty sure that Danny's dad has one of those engines in his shop. Danny and AJ raced one on the dirt in a Wood chassis several years back.