Feuling W3
In the building next to the workshop, I experience a piece of motorcycle history. Jim's collection boasts Vincent Black Shadow, a Honda CB 750 and that three-wheeled beast that Jim rode on Lake Bonneville to a world record of 534 km / h. In addition, I see a trio of seemingly everyday motorcycles, but a keen eye discovers that they are exotic.
Large cruisers are even very different from the usual V-twin. These are the first examples of the Fueling W3, one of the most unusual motorcycles money can buy right now. They are amazing even when compared to other Jim's inventions. Black and topped with the number 1 is for actor Larry Hagman. You do not know? He played this bastard in Dallas TV Lemonade and allegedly chose black for this.
W3 is a project that was originally conceived as a collaboration with Harley Davidson. At the factory, they kept a close eye on what Feuling was going to do with their Twin Cam 88 two-cylinder engine. Attached to this idea-filled Jim was an additional front cylinder, also angled at 45°, and the three-cylinder was born.
He seemed to find his home right on the Milwaukee production line, but the Harley bosses soon cooled off. Jim stayed dry so he redesigned the generator and gave it his name instead of the Harley badge. However, the basic design of the unit remained the same - an unusual three-cylinder, with a volume of 2500 cubic centimeters and a capacity of 156 horsepower.
In the unit, Jim's design of three connecting rods deserves attention. The main one is the connecting rod of the middle cylinder, which is in the same plane with a pair of additional two (for the front and rear cylinders) on the crankshaft. The solution is surprisingly similar to the design of a radial aircraft engine.
Jim added his own to the main parts of the Harley engine, while otherwise a well-equipped bike is quite common. The frame is made of steel pipes, the fuel tank is the work of Rob North, who painted the Triumphu Speed Triple frame. The front Storz/Ceriani fork is set at 30 degrees, the progressive suspension provided a pair of rear shocks, and the rims and brakes are Performance Machine.
Bursting asphalt
When I turn it on, the sound is a little less convincing than expected - like a Harley with a harsh undertone. Hey, can I really hear the Ducati in the background at all? Maybe, but this creation below me is not an athlete. The W3 is as long as a Monday cruiser, with a wheelbase and that much weight.
Despite its generous size, the W3 is not bulky to drive. When I honestly first turn on the gas, I almost get carried away from the beast. In lower gears, Feuling accelerates with tremendous power, and when smoking the Avon rear tire, despite its length, it threatens to lift the front wheel. Believe me, with a torque of more than 200 Nm from 2000 to 5500 rpm, such sensations are unforgettable. The same feeling of speed is about 200 km per hour.
This is not unusual for W3 and even surpasses it. Jim claims that the motorcycle can easily reach 235 km per hour, and with a modified gear ratio and a driver with steel nuts, it can even accelerate to 300 km per hour. Contrary to my expectations, both the front and rear suspensions are very good, as is the stability. Well, at least up to 150 miles per hour.
In the corners, I was pleasantly surprised by the W3's responsiveness, ignoring a little vibration, and the very reliable brakes are the best part of the bike.
The W3 is not a cruiser, although it looks like that, and although the position on it is similar to a cruiser. I compare it to sitting on a brutally powerful rocket that is unmatched, flies like hell, and costs $ 40. The kit is yours for $ 000.
Feuling W3
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
engine: Air-cooled, three-cylinder
Volume: 2458 cm3
Bore and movement: 101, 6 x 101, 6 mm
Compression: 9 5: 1
Carburetor: 3 x 39 mm Keihin
Switch: Multi-disc oil
Energy transfer: 5 gears
Maximum power: 115 kW (6 hp) at 156 rpm
Maximum torque: 236 Nm at 4000 rpm
Suspension (front): Telescopic forks Storz / Ceriani
Suspension (rear): Adjustable pair of Progressive Suspension shocks
Brakes (front): 2 spools f 292 mm, 4-piston caliper
Brakes (rear): Colut f 292 mm
Wheel (front): 3 x 00
Kolo (ask): 6 x 00
Tire (front): 110/90 x 19, Avon Venom
Elastic band (ask): 200/60 x 16, Avon AM23
Frame head angle: 30 °
Wheelbase: 1753 mm
Fuel tank: 19 liters
Dry weight: 268 kg
Roland Brown
Photo: Kevin Wing, Roland Brown
Technical information
engine: Air-cooled, three-cylinder
Torque: 236 Nm at 4000 rpm
Energy transfer: 5 gears
brakes: 2 spools f 292 mm, 4-piston caliper
Suspension: Storz / Ceriani / Telescopic fork Adjustable pair of Progressive Suspension shocks
Fuel tank: 19 liters
Wheelbase: 1753 mm
Weight: 268 kg
