Hercules Wankel 2000
The Hercules W2000 is honored as being the first Rotary-powered motorcycle offered for public sale through a dealer network. It was labeled as a "full-production model" in press releases, flyers, and brochures. But in reality, the Hercules W-2000 was built as a "limited trial" machine to test the public acceptance of a new power source for motorcycles. Rotary Recycle was present when the first W-2000 Rotary made its debut in November of 1974. A jam-packed ballroom of prospective buyers, enthusiasts, curiosity seekers, factory representatives, and a well-represented band of press reporters were also in attendance.
Through the large, double-doored archway into the main ballroom were two elevated, red W 2000 Rotary engine motorcycles mounted on a slowly revolving turntable, with special colored lights positioned to enhance/highlight their detailed appearance. Over both machines hung a blue and white banner, which read "Hercules Rotary Engine Cycles, First In The World."
This container consisted of 41 pre-mix models, of which 34 had red tanks and 5 had yellow tanks. Armed with these new machines, the Rotary sales team fanned out across the United States and praised the merits of the Wankel engine as the power source of the future for motorcycles. Consequently, Rotary sales were quite active and did show serious promise, with new dealers joining the W 2000 parade.On 1975, a new model - the KC30 GS Enduro Rotary dirt bikes - was introduced. Two were delivered to Rotary recycle and were basically used as prime demonstrators to entice quantity orders. The new GS Rotary caused quite a lot of excitement and was taunted as the "one to beat." Meanwhile, the W-2000 continued to fluctuate up and down in sales for most of the summer. By the end of August, Rotary sales became extremely slow. This, in part, was due to the anticipation of a new W 2000 model. The much-awaited event arrived on September, 1975, when the new 1976 W2000 Rotary motorcycle was unveiled to the public. The special feature of this 1976 model was that it now came with the exclusive oil-injection, "auto-mix" system, which eliminated the hand mixing of gas and oil together. This new gas and oil model was an instant success, and sales of the Hercules W-2000 Rotary rose sharply.
Once again, new dealers joined the Rotary network, and it seemed as though the Hercules W-2000 Rotary had found its place in the motorcycle family. Even though increased sales and new dealers were on the rise, on November 26, 1976 - out of nowhere - Hercules W-2000 motorcycle production came to an abrupt halt. More specs and user manual of Hercules W-2000 you can see in next overview.
Hercules W2000 specification
General information
Model: Hercules W 2000
Year: 1973
Category: Classic
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 294cc
Engine type: Single disk Wankel
Power: 25 HP (18.2 kW) @ 6500 RPM
Compression: 8.5:1
Cooling system: Air
Gearbox: 6-speed
Transmission type
final drive: Chain
Physical measures
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 172 kg (379.2 pounds)
Chassis and dimensions
Front tyre dimensions: 3.00-18
Rear tyre dimensions: 3.25-18
Front brakes: Expanding brake
Rear brakes: Expanding brake
Top speed: 141 km/h (87.6 mph)
Other specifications
Hercules was a brand of motorcycle manufactured in Germany until 1992.
The Hercules Company was founded in 1886[1] and began producing motorcycles in 1904. It was merged with Zweirad Union after being purchased by ZF Sachs in 1963.
In the 1950s and 1960s Sachs was the largest European fabricator of two-stroke motorcycle engines. Many of these engines were used in the Hercules line of small motorcycles, scooters and mopeds.
In 1974 Hercules became the first company to offer a Wankel-engined motorcycle for sale to the general public. The W-2000 had a single-rotor air-cooled engine of 294cc that produced 25 bhp, later increased to 27 bhp (20 kW). Engine lubrication was by manually adding oil to the fuel in the tank.
In 1976 Hercules launched the W-2000 Injection in which engine lubrication was from a separate oil tank via a pump. In some countries the W-2000 was sold as a DKW.
Partial product line
Hercules Moped, 49cc (1957)
Hercules Scooter, 50cc
Hercules Ultra III Sachs 50 SW
Hercules Lilliput, 98cc
Hercules M4 Moped
Hercules Prior Moped
Hercules Lastboy
Hercules K100 (1959)
Hercules R 200 (1959)
Hercules 220 (1965)
Hercules 103 (1966)[4]
Hercules Postie Bike (1969)
Hercules K 105 X (1970)
Hercules K 125 X (1971)
Hercules K 50 RX (1971)
Hercules K 125 Military (1971-1990)
Hercules K 125 (1972)
Hercules K 125 T (1973)
Hercules K125 S (1974-1979)
Hercules W2000 (1974-1978)
Hercules E1 (1974)
Hercules 175 GS (1976)
Hercules GS250 Ice Racer (1977)
Hercules MC250 (1978)
Hercules DKW 250 GS (1978)
Hercules Prima 5S (1984)
Hercules Prima frisiert
Hercules GS 125B
Hercules KJBe
Hercules K 180 Military (1991-1992)
Through the large, double-doored archway into the main ballroom were two elevated, red W 2000 Rotary engine motorcycles mounted on a slowly revolving turntable, with special colored lights positioned to enhance/highlight their detailed appearance. Over both machines hung a blue and white banner, which read "Hercules Rotary Engine Cycles, First In The World."
This container consisted of 41 pre-mix models, of which 34 had red tanks and 5 had yellow tanks. Armed with these new machines, the Rotary sales team fanned out across the United States and praised the merits of the Wankel engine as the power source of the future for motorcycles. Consequently, Rotary sales were quite active and did show serious promise, with new dealers joining the W 2000 parade.On 1975, a new model - the KC30 GS Enduro Rotary dirt bikes - was introduced. Two were delivered to Rotary recycle and were basically used as prime demonstrators to entice quantity orders. The new GS Rotary caused quite a lot of excitement and was taunted as the "one to beat." Meanwhile, the W-2000 continued to fluctuate up and down in sales for most of the summer. By the end of August, Rotary sales became extremely slow. This, in part, was due to the anticipation of a new W 2000 model. The much-awaited event arrived on September, 1975, when the new 1976 W2000 Rotary motorcycle was unveiled to the public. The special feature of this 1976 model was that it now came with the exclusive oil-injection, "auto-mix" system, which eliminated the hand mixing of gas and oil together. This new gas and oil model was an instant success, and sales of the Hercules W-2000 Rotary rose sharply.
Once again, new dealers joined the Rotary network, and it seemed as though the Hercules W-2000 Rotary had found its place in the motorcycle family. Even though increased sales and new dealers were on the rise, on November 26, 1976 - out of nowhere - Hercules W-2000 motorcycle production came to an abrupt halt. More specs and user manual of Hercules W-2000 you can see in next overview.
Hercules W2000 specification
General information
Model: Hercules W 2000
Year: 1973
Category: Classic
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 294cc
Engine type: Single disk Wankel
Power: 25 HP (18.2 kW) @ 6500 RPM
Compression: 8.5:1
Cooling system: Air
Gearbox: 6-speed
Transmission type
final drive: Chain
Physical measures
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 172 kg (379.2 pounds)
Chassis and dimensions
Front tyre dimensions: 3.00-18
Rear tyre dimensions: 3.25-18
Front brakes: Expanding brake
Rear brakes: Expanding brake
Top speed: 141 km/h (87.6 mph)
Other specifications
Hercules was a brand of motorcycle manufactured in Germany until 1992.
The Hercules Company was founded in 1886[1] and began producing motorcycles in 1904. It was merged with Zweirad Union after being purchased by ZF Sachs in 1963.
In the 1950s and 1960s Sachs was the largest European fabricator of two-stroke motorcycle engines. Many of these engines were used in the Hercules line of small motorcycles, scooters and mopeds.
In 1974 Hercules became the first company to offer a Wankel-engined motorcycle for sale to the general public. The W-2000 had a single-rotor air-cooled engine of 294cc that produced 25 bhp, later increased to 27 bhp (20 kW). Engine lubrication was by manually adding oil to the fuel in the tank.
In 1976 Hercules launched the W-2000 Injection in which engine lubrication was from a separate oil tank via a pump. In some countries the W-2000 was sold as a DKW.
Partial product line
Hercules Moped, 49cc (1957)
Hercules Scooter, 50cc
Hercules Ultra III Sachs 50 SW
Hercules Lilliput, 98cc
Hercules M4 Moped
Hercules Prior Moped
Hercules Lastboy
Hercules K100 (1959)
Hercules R 200 (1959)
Hercules 220 (1965)
Hercules 103 (1966)[4]
Hercules Postie Bike (1969)
Hercules K 105 X (1970)
Hercules K 125 X (1971)
Hercules K 50 RX (1971)
Hercules K 125 Military (1971-1990)
Hercules K 125 (1972)
Hercules K 125 T (1973)
Hercules K125 S (1974-1979)
Hercules W2000 (1974-1978)
Hercules E1 (1974)
Hercules 175 GS (1976)
Hercules GS250 Ice Racer (1977)
Hercules MC250 (1978)
Hercules DKW 250 GS (1978)
Hercules Prima 5S (1984)
Hercules Prima frisiert
Hercules GS 125B
Hercules KJBe
Hercules K 180 Military (1991-1992)
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