Chevy-Powered Roadog Motorcycle Fires Up After 30 Years

Specs-wise, the Roadog has a four-cylinder 152 cubic inch Chevy II engine, a PowerGlide transmission, a modified Chevy differential, and disc brakes from aChevrolet Corvette. The brakes were busted when Kerr got the bike, so the team worked on that since the braking system is critical for this heavy, two-wheeler ride.

The reason why Gelbke went for the design was to prioritize comfort. Wild Bill wanted to make the Roadog a touring motorcycle that would insult the ride quality of Harley-Davidson bikes. Moreover, the vehicle was developed to be as reliable as possible. He even clocked 20,000 miles in its first year to prove a point. That's like driving (or riding) from Los Angeles to New York and back four times.

For years, the untimely death of Gelbke in 1979 remains a mystery. Kerr did some digging, and he found out that there was a rumor suggesting Wild Bill had cancer. Another rumor says he was shot dead by a police officer because there was bad blood between them.

Regardless of what is true or not, Wild Bill's legacy will continue with the Roadog in the hands of Kerr. His YouTube channel has 1.9 million subscribers, which should help spread the word faster. Upon completing the repair, he wasted no time in taking the Roadog out for a spin.

Kerr said the motorcycle felt unbalanced, making it hard for him to turn. Once he got used to the maneuverability, he was able to cruise at 90 mph easily and comfortably, even on long-distance trips. That sounds like an experience, but then again, the lack of roof, door panels, and air-conditioning makesdriving a car for road tripseasily the preferred option.