He entered the Guinness Book of Records
The upcoming Bonhams auction will feature the unique Whitelock Tinker Toy motorcycle, which has earned its place in the Guinness Book of Records. This extravagant motorcycle has a unique engine consisting of 48 cylinders – this is a record among all existing vehicles. It is expected to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000 at auction.
It was created by the British Simon Whitelock, who was fond of building unusual engines for motorcycles. Starting with the conversion of the Kawasaki engine with an inline «three» in the «four», he gradually moved towards the creation of bikes with seven and nine cylinders. In 2003, he completed the Tinker Toy project, equipped with a 48-cylinder engine.
To create this motorcycle, 16 Kawasaki KH250 three-cylinder engines were used, combined into six blocks with eight cylinders each. The total displacement reaches 4.2 liters, and a separate 125 cc starter is used to start the engine.
After completing the engine, Whitelock created the frame and the rest of the structure around it. The tank located above the engine serves as a cover for the ignition system. The generator mounted on the motorcycle is automotive grade, and the front end, including the fork and brake, was borrowed from the Honda GoldWing, one of the heaviest production motorcycles.
Tinker Toy is able to start and move, but it is uncomfortable to ride due to its long and wide motor. Power and other characteristics are not reported. The motorcycle is road legal in the UK.