The motorcycling world is replete with mechanical oddities that never really caught on. Think hub center steering, two-wheel drive, and even automatic transmissions. But top of the list has got to be the rotary engine. Despite its limited success in the mainstream car world, there are plenty of folks who have tried to make a Wankel-powered motorcycle.
Suzuki is probably the best known, with the RE5. But around the same time, the Dutch company Van Veen was also experimenting, and so was the German outfit Hercules?with its imposing W-2000.

This is the first time we?ve seen a custom Hercules, but it was built by a man who will be familiar to regular visitors of this site: Greg Hageman. Greg made his name with Virago customs, but these days, he can turn his hand to just about anything with two wheels. That made him the perfect choice for client Alessandro Bonomi, who was intrigued by the idea of a first-of-its-kind rotary restomod.

Alessandro is particularly fascinated by the story of Hercules: ?There?s something magical about forgotten automotive dreams and relics,? he ruminates. ?One notion was the idea that rotary engines could have been the future of motorcycles.?
?On paper, the thought appeared to be genius. A system that would reduce vibration and provide uniform torque, while providing considerable weight savings. Unfortunately, it was the right idea but not the right time.?

Finding the right donor bike was paramount, because resuscitating or repairing a poor c...