V8 Motorcycle Transmission in Development

A new partnership between Sabertooth Motorcycles and Taylor Race Engineering promises to lead to a revolutionary technology that will allow plugging a V8 engine in a motorcycle frame by finding a solution for transferring all the power to the rear wheel.

This new multi-speed DynaClaw transmission will be the first designed and engineered specifically for use in a motorcycle and will have 4 forward speeds and an electric reverse and will be used with a Gates Polychain carbon GT belt drive or a 630 chain drive on select models. Two standard configurations will be available, namely a manual transmission with a lightweight pull hydraulic clutch and a clutchless transmission with a torque converter.

The approximate transmission overall gear ratios are:

• 1st: 9.2:1
• 2nd: 5.5:1
• 3rd: 3.3:1
• 4th: 2.2:1

“We are very excited to be working with Sabertooth Motorcycles on this project,” Mike Watson, CEO of Taylor Race Engineering, was quoted as saying by Motorcycle USA. “Dr. Daniels’ idea of ultimate performance is in line with our own vision and we are thrilled to be the first company to design a multi-speed, purpose-built motorcycle transmission for a V8 motorcycle.”

“In V8 motorcycles, the transmission has traditionally been the weak link. Transmissions used in other V8 motorcycles are notoriously fragile and limited to either single speed or two speed configurations,” said Dr. Daniels, owner of Sabertooth Motorcycles.

“The DynaClaw transmission will be the first multispeed transmission designed specifically for the power, torque and weight of a V8 motorcycle and I couldn’t think of a better company than Taylor Race Engineering, with their years of specialty race transmission experience and engineering, to help us develop it.”