2000 Rotary Cruiser (Australian) 30cc Motorized Bicycle
I don’t know much about modern cars, motorcycles and bicycles. My ‘interest cut-off point’ is around the fifties or sixties, with rare exceptions. This is one of those exceptions, essentially because it’s a modern version of a 1950s cyclemotor that looks good and rides well. It’s a new-old-stock ex-Showroom Display. I’ve advertised it on the http://www.BuyVintage.co.uk website because selling obscure motorized vehicles is what I do for a living. It’s rare in Great Britain and, despite its modernity, is undoubtedly a museum piece so I’m sharing it with you in these pages too.
W49 YNM is new-old-stock and has only been ridden once or twice on the road. The photos do not really do it justice, as it is larger than it appears in the pictures. With its wide handlebars and motorcycle-style petrol tank it has the feel of a lightweight motorcycle rather than a cyclemotor.
It starts easily, runs well, and is ready for MOT.
The Rotary Cruiser is an Australian machine that was introduced 12 years ago. The Cruiser was their first model, and different designs have been introduced subsequently by the company Rotary Australia.
You can still buy one new in Australia (the Australian price is shown further down the page), although the company’s Australian website suggests a limited supply of this first version.
The Cruiser has achieved cult status in Australia and the Sydney Power House Museum has one of these in its collection.
The company tried to market their products in the UK and, for a short time, a dealer in Bedford imported some for sale here. This particular machine was one of his showroom vehicles. It was DVLA registered at the time, probably to confirm that there would be no problem registering one (it can be difficult registering modern cyclemotors, as many owners of new Velosolexes have discovered).
Whereas many modern machines are shoddy and badly-assembled, this Rotary Cruiser is put together intelligently and is well-built. It feels like it has been designed by a cyclemotor enthusiast.
The saddle is both attractive and comfortable.
Apart from a dent under the petrol tank at the back on the right hand side (which you don’t notice easily when you see the actual machine; see picture below) it is in excellent order throughout.
The power unit is a German Sachs 301 engine made under license in China. You can see the starting handle below. To start, you turn on the petrol, and also the choke if necessary (on the left side handle bar), and pull the starting handle. It’s all quite civilized.
Included in the sale is a User Manual, which explains everything logically and easily.
The engine is sold in Germany as a Saxonette, usually fitted to a Hercules or Spartamet unisex frame, which are quite ugly bicycles. The Cruiser is far more stylish!
What I particularly like about the German connection is that the original Cyclemaster was designed during WW2 as an improvement of the 1938 Sachs rear-mounting cycle-attachment engine. It’s interesting to compare modern cyclemotors with the originals. The Rotary Cruiser is a modern collectable cyclemotor.
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THE ROTARY AUXILIARY HUB ENGINE for a bicycle
* Rotary’s 30cc 197watt power unit
* Front disc brake with alloy Teny rim
* 18 speed pedal gears
* Generator lighting system
* Colour-coded wheels
* Large sprung saddle,mirrors & colour coded fenders
Specifications:
Maximum Power Assistance (Effective Power): 197 Watts @ 130r/min, measured at OUTPUT spindle (shaft HP).
Maximum speed under power: 25km/h on level ground (average 23km/h)
Fuel consumption: 60km per litre @ steady 22km/h
Fuel tank capacity: 4.5L (usable)
Price
Price for complete bike: $2499 inc GST + freight.
Price for engine kit only: $1550 inc GST + freight.
In this era of increasing environmental awareness and the frightening scenario of the ‘peak oil’ concept, any effort to lower the number of motor vehicles on the road must be seen as a positive step forward.
Rotary’s RH-01 INTERNALLY GEARED HUB ENGINE is more than just a ‘2-stroke motor bolted to a bicycle’. Rather, it’s a complete design package that condenses all elements that make up a reliable & light weight LOW OUTPUT propulsion unit to power assist your bicycle. It is NOT a higher power ‘off the shelf’ product that’s been restricted or governed to reduce its power.
This is achieved by taking an already proven design (German) and making improvements using modern technique’s in small engine manufacture.
All engine units are assembled & TESTED IN AUSTRALIA with quality components from Germany (bearings), Taiwan (case/internals) & Japan (carburettor).
ETHANOL BLENDED FUELS. Testing has finished on ‘E10′ fuels & we can confirm the RH-01 Hub Engine will run on 10% Ethanol Blended Fuels with no ill effect, nor any change to output power.
DID YOU KNOW The Sydney Power House Museum has one of our older motors in its collection ?
[Information taken from the company’s website: http://www.rotarybike.com%5D
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By the way, the Rotary name is not new. Here are a few early claims to the name: Carters’ Rotary Hand Tricycle, which was an early invalid carriage; and the well-known Rudge Rotary.
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