The Hercules Wankel 502 GS was the first dirtbike motorcycle to use a Wankel engine in production. To lubricate the engine, the original models used a two-stroke mix in the fuel, which was eventually improved to an oil injector. Between 1974 and 1976, approximately 1800 were sold under both Hercules and DKW badges. Hercules produced a few off-road Wankel-powered motocross models for the United States. A few of them have appeared in the United States, although they are extremely rare.
The crankshaft was virtually vertically positioned, apparently to provide a shorter wheelbase and improved cooling, and while the engine appears to be a standard two-stroke, a closer inspection reveals that it actually a Wankel.
Please follow and like us:
