Roadog was built over an 8-year period in the 1960's and features a 4-cylinder, 2490cc Chevrolet automobile engine. It weighs a mere 3,280 lbs, is 17' long, has a 5-gallon fuel tank, and could cruise at 100+ mph. Wild Bill reportedly put over 40,000 miles on the beast and happily rode it from state to state on a whim.
Automatic transmission with reverse:
Trailing-link front suspension:
Spare tire:
Other features:
Instead of a kickstand it had hydraulic jacks at each corner.
Steel 4140 alloy tubing frame.
Shaft drive.
Disc brakes (from a Corvette) at front and rear.
Four coilover shocks for each wheel.
The rear differential came from a truck with the spider gears welded together.
The Roadog shown above is the first of two Gelbke built. The second one was briefly owned by Buzz Walneck, founder of the Motorcycle Trader magazine. Years ago, Buzz let one of the writers for Cycle World try to ride it but it crashed at a low speed and tipped over, yet was mostly undamaged. The above photo has been reprinted countless times over the years (I remember seeing it as a kid) and I have a 3' x 6' photo of it on display inside my garage.
I think the Roadog is one of the coolest, most audacious motorcycles ever built, and I want one.