Fascinating 8,500 RPM Upside-Down 3-Cylinder

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[@michaelre7556]

"underhead cam" lol

[@jamesgeorge4874]

It checks that box.

[@jamiewood4280]

First time I've ever heard that!

[@TTime685]

OHV is basically "underhead cam" 😌

[@mandrakejake]

​@@jamiewood4280the term is usually referring to a pushrod engine, but since this whole engine is inverted it is actually a SOHC arrangement and this term is no a misnomer

[@danielescobar7618]

You rascal.

[@artesano58]

The less complicated it is, the better it is but I can’t stop admiring crazy people like this for thinking differently. This bike is awesome!

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Simplicity has its own rewards in design. Which is why the best motorcycles are quite simple, such as the BMW air cooled twin & Harley Davidson air cooled V twin. As both bikes can travel for thousands of miles without needing repair...

[@paulfranks9760]

Where would we be without off the wall engineers like this ,amazing stuff please keep it coming thank you.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Hats of to this engineer going the unbeaten path. 210Nm on a bike is quite ridiculous, but the chassis seems to handle it well.

[@christiannoble5549]

Agreed, but 210Nm out of 2 liter is nothing special tbh.🤷

[@Tom-Lahaye]

@@christiannoble5549 Not when the engine is in a car, but on a motorcycle that amount of torque is a more than a handful.

[@christiannoble5549]

@@Tom-Lahaye 210 is more than enough, sure, my bike has only ~120Nm with 1100cc. I meant the Power/Liter is nothing special, the bike itself is insane.

[@Kalvinjj]

@@christiannoble5549 Yeah it's not some thermodynamics marvel or efficiency beast, it's "just" a good and crazy engine. Sounds like something like this would be an interesting kei car swap.

[@mikeadams2351]

german WW2 airplane fighters had upside down engines. nothing "new" here.

[@cskalle1213]

are you changing oil? no I'm just adjusting the valves!

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Are you changing oil? No im removibg the spark plugs to draini the excess thin 0w40oil that seeped through the pistons and dripped into the cylinder head!

[@lifted_above]

Similar challenges exist with flat engines (Subaru, Porsche, Goldwing), but obviously not as difficult. I would say that dry sump systems would make flat engines much more tolerable and viable.

[@connorgoonman9500]

The fact that it has such a similar sound to the old planes is enough for me.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

A greater centralization of mass was achieved by Honda with their CX500/650 engine which raised the engine and placed the gearbox beneath it (rather than behind). I have a 650 Turbo and when cornering the bike rolls like an aircraft about the centre of mass rather than leaning over. The CX handling was not liked by everyone!

[@deanomarino31]

Yes. I rode a CX500. It felt like riding a Tommy Tippie infants cup!! Definitely didn't like it

[@1258-Eckhart]

"Underhead camshaft" - brilliant!

[@mry82]

SUHC - single under head cam... I was going to make this joke and then saw that it was already called that... :) 2:52

[@michaelguerin56]

Excellent video. I suspect that COVID 19 may have been ‘the final nail in the coffin’ for such an innovative project.

[@Tom-wl9sx]

Wonderful sound! Haven't heard of this bike before. Always nice with people that are creating something out of the box. Wish you a Happy New Year. 🙂

[@GIGABACHI]

I heard back then when they came out with this crazy project. Always wondered what became of it. As I feared, exactly nothing. Well . . . "Thank you for playing and better luck next time !" 🤞

[@Turtletoise]

7:22 Definition of an artist!

[@marsbars5907]

this seems incredibly difficult, expensive, and only serviceable by well trained techs. Having said that, I would totally get one if I could :p

[@SoulTouchMusic93]

I disagree, a valve job is much easier. However you go to start it up on the weekend and the sparkplug are bathed in oil.

[@michaelguerin56]

@@SoulTouchMusic93Remove the spark plugs and clean them whilst the oil is draining out, as with the bottom cylinders of a radial engine. You will still get some black exhaust on starting but nothing like the soot from a DC3’s engine, let alone a double row engine on a Constellation, B17, Liberator, Sunderland, Corsair, etc.

[@AntonHoward-mx9sb]

Early aircraft engines were flipped upside down in the airframe to raise the crankshaft centreline which enabled the use of larger diameter propellers, that's why it was done.

[@Errol.C-nz]

Nope

[@shrimpy7862]

why was it done ?@@Errol.C-nz

[@Errol.C-nz]

@@shrimpy7862 to give the pilots better forward vision for reconicense, dogfights & landings.. if youve ever sat in a 109 vs a spitfire its clearly a big advantage even just on the ground

[@shrimpy7862]

@@Errol.C-nz why can't it be both? Perhaps it was just a coincidence or good fortune that this mechanical change was also a good visibility upgrade?

[@Errol.C-nz]

@@shrimpy7862 because it wasnt.. they flipped the engine for visubility FFS! just read its history.. RR Historic Heritage site aviation.. theres a good reason in physics as to why this upsude down high crank reciprocating flywheel effect is bad.. as the bike rolls into turns.. just as with inline vs V4.. the cenyer of roll moment.. is at ground level.. center of mass is meaningless for bikes

[@Hydrogenblonde]

Outstanding video! I had not known of such a machine.

[@akshaymykar5569]

Experiments leads to better innovations.

[@70sport37]

Cool effort I like the frame idea .

[@BlackCat-nv5sf]

Fascinating Engine: thankyou VR for making this video about it. Cheers

[@TheSlowDude]

Thanks again

[@c.a.r.s.carsandrelevantspecs]

Thanks for this great video! I enjoyed it and I learned something too.

[@himanshukafirmisra]

In 2016 I download this handbuilt motorcycle (caferacer) only because of its engine Nembo 32 Inverted 3 Cylinder - Concept Motorcycle. Thank you for showcasing on your channel

[@kevchev9952]

Automobile V8 engines have been used upside down for decades in home-built airplanes. It's easier to see over the top of an oil pan that doesn't have a sump as opposed to trying to see over cylinder heads, valve covers, and an intake.

[@brianb-p6586]

That is valid for direct-drive engines, and is the reason for the inverted position of the old V-configuration engines mentioned in the video.

[@jkim6200]

1984 Honda 500cc Grand Prix Bike (NSR500) explored the simikR concept by having exhaust pipes on top and the fuel tank on yhe bottom. Observers noted thst the race bike would pivot readily but not roll

[@someidiot1984]

Now that was super cool. Thanks bud.

[@brittenv1000]

Sounds amazing 👏

[@suzuka1307r]

amazing sounding engine

[@andyb.1026]

All that advanced Teck, but still using a 2 valve head ! ! 😮

[@ThePontiacgto65]

Once again thank you for this discovery of a beautiful piece of engineering. Even if for me It is a project with no future because except for torque, the series engines are more powerful at lower displacement..Happy end of the year 🎄🎉 🎊🎇🎆🧨 from 🇨🇵😉

[@adamsajewicz3238]

The sound of this engine!

[@owenwatson9828]

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO BOTH OF YOU❤😊🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@st170ish]

Lower center of gravity? With the heaviest component up high spinning at 8500rpm, wouldnt that increase the leverage of that gyroscope?

[@christophermikrowelle7093]

That was my thoughts too. May be we get an answer.

[@Devo491]

Sounds real good!

[@garyt.8745]

When not running, all the oil sinks to where you _don't_ want it, in the cylinder head (this was a major problem with radial aircraft engines).

[@1258-Eckhart]

Danke!

[@VisioRacer]

Thank you!

[@1258-Eckhart]

Sorry, forgot to wish you a happy and prosperous New Year. All the best for your plans! @@VisioRacer

[@Flies2FLL]

Fascinating.

[@mikebell2750]

It sounds good and from what I can see in the video it looks like it has tons of low end torque. Too bad it hasn’t gone further…

[@Damien.D]

Looks nice and powerful and well designed but I would have loved to know if the handling characteristics of the bike as whole was improved in the end or if it is of no particular effect, thus ending the project.

[@brianb-p6586]

The logical extension of the pursuit of mass centralization to battery-electric motorcycles would mean placing the battery immediately under the seat and in the traditional fuel tank location. It seems that some electric bikes nearly do this, but probably only as the result of needing to use all available space for battery.

[@Guds777]

Doesn't the pistons drown in oil on a upside down engine, the oil must run from the crankcase and down under the skirt of the piston, how dose the piston get rid of the excess oil...

[@carguybikeguy]

Very cool! Want!

[@Groot_G]

Interesting!

[@TomTurner704]

The higher CG is desirable? Does this two liter bike require more counter steer and rider input Then a more traditional layout?

[@lifted_above]

A motorcycle tilting fulcrum is just above road surface, but it's a moving fulcrum due to the width of motorcycle tires shifting the pivot left and right. If you could concentrate all the mass as close to the fulcrum as possible, the ease of leaning a bike from one side to the other would be incredibly light. Seems this design focuses putting the heaviest parts of a motorcycle as close to one location as possible between the wheels. I'm not sure what that would feel like while riding because in my mind, the theoretical mass center is raised from the usual conventional place.

[@lescrooge]

Quite a throaty engine

[@blown572hemi]

Being a gearhead, I always used to think; why 3cyls? Until my father took me for rides on his h-1, gt750 water buffalo, and finally a Yamaha xs 850 bike. I was blown away by their performance and my attitude changed forever. I guess with dry sumps, you can run anything upside down or sideways. 2 strokes can do this with no sump and I think this would be more viable in this setup?

[@lifted_above]

Threes are cool and unique. One downfall is their rocking-couple vibration that's really hard to get away from.

[@christophermikrowelle7093]

@@lifted_above Check BMW's K75. They have an extra shaft to avoid (counter) these vibrations. I own one and it revs like a sewing machine. Smooth and no vibrations.

[@lifted_above]

@@christophermikrowelle7093 Every inline-3 runs a counterbalance shaft, otherwise they'd shake themselves to bits. The outcome is mixed. I've a MT-09 and it's smooth enough, but still delivers some buzz through the machine.

[@christophermikrowelle7093]

@@lifted_above Okay, good to know. If you have the possibility to drive a K75 you should try it. Absolutely no vibrations.

[@brianb-p6586]

Perhaps surprisingly,@@lifted_above, not all inline-3's have a balance shaft. Ford uses a balance shaft in their 1.5 L "Dragon" inline-3, but not in the 1.0 L "Fox" inline-3 engine. There are lots of inline triples in motorcycles, and some don't even have even firing orders (crank throws not at 120 degree intervals) - I don't know what they do for balance, but I would be very surprised if they all have balance shafts. The Yamaha MT-09 does have a single balance shaft.

[@hermandegroot1946]

When drawing I think you need less lean in curves. Later touching of parts?

[@MLK_Sold_Black_america_out]

Imagine trying to get that engine to work in an automotive application 😅😅

[@MattBrownbill]

I am assuming this had balance shafts to keep vibration down, being a three-pot?

[@jjp7216]

A two stroke version ❤❤❤

[@EthanM-by8bo]

"Overhead CRANKshaft...." :)

[@brianb-p6586]

LOL... but "overhead" in an engine means on the far side of the head from the crank, whether that is actually up or not. Flat (horizontally opposed) engines are still "overhead cam" even though the cams are at the same height as the cylinder centreline, not on top of the heads.

[@caryd67]

Remember when you were a kid and flipped your bicycle upside down to fix the chain? That’s how you change spark plugs on this bike.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

My cat says we need to bring back Opposed piston engine without the cylinder head again

[@loddude5706]

Twin heavy cranks or a Rock-around-the-knocker triple?

[@wernerschulte6245]

Admiring people who not only have the idea but the money the patience the power the endurance to bring it to live. The hanging cylinders of airplane engines first had a very simple reason. The inliners were slim and had the lowest drag. The pilot and second sat in tandem position, not next to each other like in car. The very first engines had had the crankshaft down and the prop also - as the albatross biplane had. The pilot couldn´t see anything in front and was exposed to the exhaust gases together with oil and half burnt oil. The prop was near to the ground, which was dangerous and the flying stability was bad with this configuration. Changing the power always needed a correction of the elevator. And so they turned the engines upside down, the propshaft now was in the centerline of the plane, the exhaust was seperated from the pilot. The better access to the cylinder of the mercedes WW2 engines was not the main reason. Mustangs and Spitfires used to have normal V12 engines and the maintanance was even faster than at the german fighters. However the nose of the Messerschmidt could be built more slim to give lower drag and more visibility to the pilot. Anyway, the british and american engines were the better ones. Hundreds still run today. The mercedes engines are very rare and with more failures.

[@haukesattler446]

Well, those Merlin Engines were still build long after the war ended. While Germany was forbidden to build airplanes for years. So, no wonder that there are more Merlins left than DB60x.

[@neville_bloody_bartos]

That would make a great roadbike engine. Kawasaki developed an upside down 250 v-twin 2 stroke for gp racing in the late '80s but it didn't really make it past the development stage.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Chinese companies should copycat those

[@appliedmechanical8790]

Sounds like a Truimph Rocket.

[@dennisford2000]

Instead of a chain, a shaft and its is geared to the cam much like a GAA Ford but uses a spiral to lift the oil instead of a pump. This would allow the cam to sit in oil and finning it . I can see this being oil cooled . A billet cylinder block with multiple oil passages surrounding each cylinder. . Next is a 2.2 l two stroke triple…..

[@atomatman3104]

in this way the engine pulls the cycle down to the road more speed in turns wow.

[@Cobblestonerton]

So, does it have a valve cover or an oil pan?

[@brianb-p6586]

Yes. 😉

[@joesutherland225]

He should look at ultralight aircraft as that design has built in advantages in aircraft

[@naikjoyx4291]

at that point might as well have a dorito engine

[@jamielombardo5292]

He's a brilliant engineer and he did a great job but I still think I'd rather have the Norton

[@loddude5706]

Think I'll wait 'til 'Orville Knawful' rides one as a jump bike . . . . . . twice. : )

[@soggycracker5934]

155ish ft/lbs of torque? Sign me up!!!

[@oscarzt1652]

wow almost 2000cc 3 cylinder!

[@importsstillsuck]

It's over 2000cc...which I guess "almost" still works...

[@oscarzt1652]

@@importsstillsuck i was looking at the infographic at 2:48 which says 1962cc

[@SSSTIERWAIFU]

Does the engine oil not seep into the combustion chamber? this is an Insane Motorcycle!

[@VisioRacer]

Yess, very possibly

[@bloodspartan300]

If being different for the sake of being different was a motorcycle.

[@jaybee5265]

Sounds like a GR Yaris

[@joecook3223]

Would've thought a higher centre of gravity of the bike's mass would just result in more effort needed to make it lean over in corners. More mass higher up might be beneficial if that weight could be moved relative to the wheels(like a human on the bike), but engines don't do that. They're bolted in place. I feel like either this idea was not very well thought out, or maybe there's some details we're missing. I don't know why the guy was inspired by inverted v12's. The reasons for that being done in a plane (propeller height, gun locations, i'd never heard it was an improvement in ease of service, that one's new for me) are not really applicable in a bike, it puts the spark plugs straight towards the ground which i wouldn't have thought would be better, makes the engine burn more oil(not certain about that one but i bet it does burn more) and raises centre of gravity(still not convinced that's a good thing, not as it's been explained anyway). Again, i feel like we're missing details, because the way this video is presented makes me very understanding as to why no one was keen to back this project.

[@terryandrews1404]

It doesn’t look like it turns very well, so change of direction would be atrocious with such a high centre of gravity

[@JohnSmith-ef8nr]

The higher the weight is the more easily the bike will turn into corners, but it makes the bike easy to drop at low speed. I have a T7 and its a very top heavy bike.

[@joecook3223]

@@JohnSmith-ef8nr ah yeah, i think that's making sense to me. Is it easier going into the corners but harder going out of the corners maybe? A bunch of different forces at play, i didn't think about the extra leverage gravity would have on a higher mounted engine.

[@johngalt97]

The higher the center of gravity, the less lean angle needed. Its why Harleys don't cope with corners well, you have to lean them over way too much.

[@joecook3223]

@@johngalt97 haha yeah, everything's wrong on them as far as cornering. Too low and too wide for any cornering angle

[@gmarshall1026]

Great stuff as usual

[@jonnnyonion]

I can understand the reasons why they made it air cooled and also why the mounted the engine upside down, But why did they make it 2valves per cylinder why not a dohc 4valve it would of reved higher too.

[@VisioRacer]

I assume it is a small engineering team with small budget

[@davidwickboldt712]

When you start to notice your unique idea has to many trade offs. It is time to rethink why you are doing it.

[@Mark_317]

Mercedes DB series was inverted so a cannon could be fired through the centre of the propeller hub.

[@christophermikrowelle7093]

The engine was inverted to have the possibility to install a prop with a bigger diameter. That's the only reason. The machine gun shoots right through between the propeller blades. It doesn't matter at what height the crankshaft sits.

[@brianb-p6586]

If an engine directly drives a propeller, then to fire through the centre of the propeller hub would mean firing through the centre of the crankshaft... and timing firing to miss all of the connecting rods. In fact, the Mercedes DB series engines used reduction drives, so the propeller was not inline with the crankshaft - it was in line with the vee of the engine. The _Motorkanone_ design was used with the Mercedes DB series in some aircraft, with the cannon firing through a tube in the engine vee and then through the hollow propeller shaft and hub... but that's not the crankshaft.

[@deanomarino31]

I believe Honda tried an upside down engine in a 2 stroke GP bike. Apparently it handled terribly

[@AC-op4dg]

Upright engines have also had canons firing through them so I don’t think it’s a factor. See soviet engines

[@rikuurufu5534]

The actual reason why many aircraft in the second world war had inverted engines is because of ease of maintenance; Invariably, the engine is elevated above your head when the aircraft is on the ground for reasons of propeller clearance. Most of the most frequently serviced parts of an engine are in the head, and inverting the engine puts all of those parts closer to the ground where, in this case, they'll be easier to access without needing a ladder for example. Engine orientation had only a very minor effect on gun placement or field of vision.

[@superliegebeest544]

I can already see the oil leaking into the cylinders while parked. And some call me lazy but I ait looking for issues if it's not nessesary. Ur asking for problems with this. Maby as a two stroke, but Why not flip the whole motorcycle upside down? Rider under the engine?

[@postulator890]

Looks like an answer to a question that only one person asked. I find it hard to believe that this fellow has more intellectual might than all the combined factories, racing against each other, every weekend for fame. marketing, and money. Let's see if in five years, this changes anything or is dropped into the dustbin of history. No thanks.

[@jpalm500]

Ala husaberg

[@blurglide]

Backpackers put their heaviest items at the top of their pack for somewhat similar reasons.

[@christophermikrowelle7093]

But backpackers don't usually have such a special lean angle when cornering.

[@cesarenotardonato9937]

I must think you owe them somenting

[@micaellanoeric4122]

But it reduces the bike handling because the heavy side of the engine now in higher position.

[@brianb-p6586]

The designer's point was that the higher mass is closer to the centre of the mass of the bike and rider, so it _improves_ the bike's handling.

[@jpalm500]

Could put in a new top end in a few hours

[@aquilaaudax6033]

✋🏼🇦🇺👍🏼

[@Helloverlord]

..."design by Italian" means unreliable, overcomplicated, non-servicable, inefficiant aparatus... but it looks nice.

[@lifted_above]

Ah the things that could be done if it weren't for bureaucratic environmental worship, insane taxation, endless propaganda about energy, and a media keeping the whole racket connected. I've observed less and less innovation, smaller and smaller engines, higher and higher costs as the world goes from Euro3, to Euro4, to Euro5 and so on.

[@mikeadams2351]

cool. german fighter planes of WW2 had upside down v-12 engines, so it's nothing new.

[@brianb-p6586]

There have been many inverted aircraft engines - linline-4 and inline-6 were also common.

[@spiroskatsikas]

There is no benefit in this design at all

[@turbo16vgti61]

It really doesn't seem to work.. the bike looks incredibly lazy when it comes to the corner lean in. Also, you want a high center of gravity for the rider on a sport bike, that mass moves. Not the fixed mass of the engine....

[@justinmiles977]

All that so it can get blasted past by a GSXR600....

[@garyparietti5124]

It’s dumb.. you wanna lower weight a centralize mass? Use a rotary.. this concept is absurd

[@shawnrichey5847]

Big fat turd engine. What good is a 2100 cc 250hp engine in a motorcycle. 😂