Lucky Keizer's
motorbike showcases WWII plane engine
By Sophie Kesteven
If the loud rumble of Lucky Keizer's motorbike does not catch
your attention, the sight of its engine certainly will. The
supercharged spectacle looks like it just drove off the set of
Mad Max, but its history dates back to WWII.
Lucky says his motorbike, called 'Merlin', has one of the most
unique engines in the world.
This is because the engine was salvaged out of a Mosquito-bomber
aeroplane that once dropped bombs on Belgium during WWII.
"The engine complete would be worth half a million dollars,"
Lucky said.
"But I salvaged one out of a wreck and I thought 'I want the
world's biggest V twin engine', because since my childhood I
wanted something bigger and better than anything else in the
world and I have got it."
Lucky made the 5000CC motorbike back in the 80s and he says it
can reach up to 400 kilometres an hour.
"A lot of people have said it looks like it's out of Mad Max
because it is so unusual, and the combination of a motorbike
that is five litres for a starter, an aeroplane engine and a
super charger and it has got nitrous oxide. It is one of the
most awesome motorbikes on this planet," he said.
Speeding in a baby's pram
Lucky's love for motorbikes goes back to when he was 11 years
old.
"I had the mechanical inclination and need for speed back then
and I got done for speeding in a baby's pram," he laughed.
"I put a motor in it out of my father's cement mixer... I was so
proud of it I had to take it down the highway near Dubbo in New
South Wales.
"I got fined five pound ten and it took about two years to pay
it off."
From there his invention planted the seed to create more fast
things such as motorised billy carts, mini bikes, dragsters and
eventually his one of a kind 'Merlin'.
Berlin and beyond
Lucky has showcased his bike at different events around the
world, including most recently the Wings and Wheels event at the
Aero Club in Mackay.
"I like shows like this more than any other shows because [the
bike] is half aeroplane half motorbike, and it speaks a lot of
history and there happens to be a Mustang aeroplane out on the
airstrip that has the same engine," he said.
"Motorbikes are in my blood and it is not going away ... I can't
get it out of my system, it is such a big part of my life and
everyone that I know on this planet knows that.