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Giant Kawasaki motorcycle with 48-cylinder, 4200cc engine sells for $120 at auction, setting a record
The impressive 48-cylinder “Tinker Toy” is one of the most iconic and eccentric motorcycles in the world. world. This machine was designed to set a new standard in the custom motorcycle scene, and ended up becoming a Guinness World Record. Check out videos of the bike below
Whitelock's History in the Custom Motorcycle World
Mechanic Simon Whitelock has been a household name on the UK custom motorcycle scene since 1985. Initially, he built simpler builds using two-stroke engines and parts from various machines. The popularity of his creations grew rapidly, and he began to explore more ambitious projects.
Some of these include innovative engine configurations, such as the nine-cylinder “triple-triple” and a seven-cylinder inline engine. All of these machines were assembled using Kawasaki engines.
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The Cylinder Arms Race
The custom motorcycle scene began to follow a peculiar trend: the quest for as many cylinders as possible. Various builders tried to outdo each other, and at one point Whitelock decided to take this idea to the extreme, creating a machine that would be the pinnacle of this “arms race”.
This is how the 48-cylinder Kawasaki came into being, a motorcycle that impresses with both its design and its mechanical complexity. Nicknamed the “Tinker Toy“, named after a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, this machine is made up of six eight-cylinder blocks.
The structure of Tinker Toy
The Tinker Toy motorcycle was built from the Kawasaki KH250, chosen for its wide availability and low cost. This factor facilitated the development of the design, which also required the addition of a 125 cc auxiliary cylinder to start the main 48-cylinder engine.
This extra cylinder works like a “dumb engine”, being turned off as soon as the main engine starts working.
Additionally, the project features a BMW K100 gearbox, an alternator adapted from a car and a modified fuel and ignition system.
Due to its robust structure, the motorcycle weighs approximately 600 kg. To support this weight, reinforced Hagon wheels and a front suspension from a Honda Goldwing were added.
The exhaust system and additional settings
The Tinker Toy's exhaust system is interesting: it's configured as a 24-to-1 on each side of the bike. Each of the six cylinder banks has its own Mikuni carburetor and individual ignition.
The fuel tank, constructed from 150mm diameter stainless steel tubes, is located between the cylinder blocks, while the upper part of the motorcycle, which resembles a tank, is actually a casing that houses electrical components and ignition systems.
The project, started in 1998, was only completed in 2003, with most of the work having been done in the last year, according to Whitelock. Tinker Toy has an active license in England and meets all regulatory requirements.
The experience of turning it on for the first time
Simon Whitelock described the first experience of turning on the Tinker Toy as something memorable. He compared the sound of the engine to a Rolls-royce merlin, a classic British aviation engine.
During a recent attempt to start the motorcycle, the engine sputtered, likely due to clogged Mikuni carburetors. Fortunately, Whitelock only needed six carburetors to fix the problem.
The sale of the machine
In April of this year, Tinker Toy was sold. The final price, including the buyer's fee, was £92.000, which is approximately $120.000.
This means that each cylinder cost around $2.500, a considerable amount for a bike that, according to Whitelock himself, was not designed for speed or power, but rather to set a world record.
"It wasn't built for speed or power. It was built to make the Guinness Book of Records.”, said Whitelock. The Tinker Toy reaches around 120-130 mph (193-209 km/h), but its importance goes beyond performance: it is an icon of innovation and audacity in the world of custom motorcycles.
The Future of Tinker Toy
Despite being a project completed over a decade ago, Tinker Toy continues to arouse the curiosity of motorcycle enthusiasts.
Even before the age of social media, it was a “WTF” machine on various forums and events. And today, with the popularity of platforms like Instagram and YouTube, the motorcycle still stands out in enthusiasts’ feeds.
Whitelock has said he has no intention of building another machine of such complexity, but his legacy lives on. The Tinker Toy is not just a 48-cylinder motorcycle; it is a symbol of creativity and daring.
The 48-cylinder Kawasaki, while it has an impressive market value, is first and foremost a work of mechanical art. Whitelock has managed to create something that transcends the limits of conventional engineering, and it is unlikely that another motorcycle of the same caliber will be built any time soon.
Even with some glitches in the last attempt to start it, this machine continues to fascinate those who see it. The bike is so spectacular that it has become a huge success on social media. Any image of the motorcycle that is published has an almost immediate impact.
This is not ****, she shows off
IS THIS ELASTIC MAN'S MOTORCYCLE FROM THE FANTASTIC FOUR?
The article says that the engine to start the motorcycle is 125cc, while the video says 50cc. The article says that the total weight of the motorcycle is 600kg, while the video says that the engine alone weighs 1000kg. Which information is correct, the article or the video?
Is it possible to drive on the street with this makeshift solution? Can anyone drive?
Lie but not too much!
Your Portuguese is kind of bad.