The French Revolution - Wakan 1640

A new motorcycle company from France? It looks that way and their first bike is pretty nice. Wakan Motorcycles has produced the Wakan 1640, a single seat, V-Twin powered sport bike built around the AC Cobra idea of dropping a big American powerplant into a sporty European frame. And they managed to realize that...it has a very cool sporty design and a strong engine.

The Wakan 1640 starts with a single spine oil carrying frame, a 54 inch wheelbase, with inverted Ceriani forks mounted at 22 degrees. Power comes from a 100 cubic inch S&S V-Twin producing 115hp and 115 foot pounds of torque and those horses are moving a motorcycle that weighs only 390 pounds with oil, no fuel. The engine sports a single Keihin flatslide carb that gets ram air through a blower type scoop situated above the airbox cover. The fuel tank is below the seat, molded to double as a sort of rear mudguard with the filler mounted on the tailsection.
The engine has been dynamically balanced to reduce vibration plus the bar end weights help and the result is a much smoother bike than you might expect.
Braking chores go to a single 340mm front disc with a six piston caliper, which first road tester, Alan Cathcart, calls, “OK” but which might need to be tweaked a bit for serious stopping power. Cathcart also says the handling is similar to the Buell Firebolt XB12R but performance from the S&S V-Twin is definitely a step up.
The first 15 bikes are scheduled to be produced by October for €28,000 ($35,000),but as production ramps up the price is expected to fall quite a bit. The next 100 bikes for 2007 will retain the Keihin carb but afterwards, fuel injection will be necessary to meet Euro 3 emissions requirements in 2008.
This is no prototype bike, it’s ready for production now and pre orders are already trickling in. They’ve kept the bike totally under wraps during the three year development time and these first stories show a complete bike. Anyway, this is a limited edition, made in France bike.


Here are the complete technical details:
General information
Model: Wakan Road 1640
Year: 2007
Category: Naked bike


Engine and transmission
Displacement: 1640.00 ccm (100.07 cubic inches)
Engine type: V2
Stroke: 4
Power: 115.00 HP (83.9 kW)) @ 6250 RPM
Torque: 165.00 Nm (16.8 kgf-m or 121.7 ft.lbs) @ 4250 RPM
Bore x stroke: 101.6 x 101.6 mm (4.0 x 4.0 inches)
Fuel system: Carburettor. Keihin
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel control: OHC
Starter: Electric
Gearbox: 5-speed

Transmission type
Final drive: Chain


Physical measures
Dry weight: 177.0 kg (390.2 pounds)
Seat height: 790 mm (31.1 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Wheelbase: 1,370 mm (53.9 inches)

Chassis and dimensions
Front tyre dimensions: 120/70-17
Rear tyre dimensions: 180/55-17
Front brakes: Single disc
Front brakes diameter: 340 mm (13.4 inches)
Rear brakes: Double disc
Rear brakes diameter: 220 mm (8.7 inches)


Speed and acceleration
Power/weight ratio: 0.6497 HP/kg

Other specifications
Fuel capacity: 13.00 litres (3.43 gallons)
Color options: White, blue, black

Personally, I just love the fuel tank scoops and the overall design. Specs are good...I would just like to ride one, but until I get to France...

Peace and...
Dry roads, riders!