Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128148
Feuling's idea is so simple and, in terms of converting a Milwaukee motor to provide significantly more straight-line performance, and so cost-effective ("It would have needed a total of 10 new parts," says Feuling), it's a little surprising H-D didn't take up the idea as a means of expanding their range en route to the quarter-million annual production they're now targeting. The original W3 prototype used predominantly Harley engine parts, but Feuling's Andrews-made cluster under development with a wider spread of ratios, which, as well as being stronger, will improve acceleration still further (so it'll become mind-altering, rather than merely awesome), will reduce the present rather truck-like 69-inch/ 1753mm wheelbase by up to six inches/150mm, and will allow a higher top speed of around 180 mph. That's instead of 'just' 148 mph, as the 2.5 liter engine is presently geared to pull when the rev-limiter The Fueling W3: 250Occ, 210 foot pounds of torque and iSO-pius horsepower. Not your average cruiser. kicks in at 5500 rpm - at which point Feuling claims peak power of 154.4 hp is pumped out to the fat 200-section Avon rear tire, in spite of the lowly 9.5: 1 compression ratio and relatively mild cams. And, let me tell you - after riding it, I believe him. To create what is not only the strangest-looking (though you'd be surprised how many other bikers ride past it in the street without a second glance, thinking it's 'just another Harley'!) but undoubtedly the fastestaccelerating motorcycle engine in the marketplace today, Feuling has dis· carded Harley's chain drive to the triple camshafts in favor of gear-driven cams which not only permit a more compact all-new crankcase design, but through reduced friction also deliver an extra 6 hp on their own, and are combined with chromemoly steel push rods. The cylinders and heads are also Feuling's,Jtwn. designs, the latter incorporating his trademark high· velocity port design, featuring saucer· sized two-inch intake (and 1.5-inch exhaust) valves, presently fed by a trio of 39mm Keihin f1atslide carbs. A multipoint fuel-injection system will be available as an option on produc- production version employs a neartotality of own-design components, as well as resolving some compromises inherent in converting a 45degree Twin Cam Harley motor to W3 format, by cloning one cylinder and its camshaft and rotating them 45 degrees further downward on the crankcases. What the Feuling W3, now being readied for limited-series production, instead has is an all-new, dedicated engine of which the only carry-over H-D component still employed is the five-speed gearbox with belt final drive, coupled to a Barnett clutch beefed up to handle all that extra torque - and Jim has a six-speed The original W3 prototype used predominantly Harley engine parts, but the production version employs almost all Feulingdesigned components.