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When the first prototype was completed in 1972, it was referred to as the "Gelbke
Special", and reviewed in Cycle News East.They reported the bike to be comfortable, relatively easy to ride despite its size, and able to cruise easily and quietly at 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).
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bike during the 1960s, he wanted to create a more practical large motorcycle for touring and police needs that could go into regular production. As with Roadog, Gelbe constructed and welded the frame himself using 4130 chrome-molybdenum tubing. The bikes were equipped with a
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4-speed automatic transmission. While the frame and body were custom built by Gelbke, electrical parts, such as headlights and taillights, were sourced from
General Motors vehicles, for example the taillights from a 1959 Cadillac. Suspension was sourced from
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during the early 1970s. Approximately seven examples were built. Gelbke, who had attended engineering school in
Wisconsin and at
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is a motorcycle designed and built by engineer and motorcycle enthusiast
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Gardlin, Amos (September 19, 1972). "The Gelbke
Special!".
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16:Motorcycle designed and built by Wild Bill Gelbke
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295:Motorcycles designed by Wild Bill Gelbke
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116:and also owned two motorcycle shops in
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49:77.8 cu in (1,275 cc)
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290:Motorcycles introduced in the 1970s
240:"Special Feature: Gelbke Auto-Four"
153:Similar V8-powered motorcycle from
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110:University of Southern California
89:1,300 pounds (590 kg) (
209:"What in the World is "Roadog"?"
183:"It ain't nothin' but a Roadog"
244:Walnecks' Classic Cycle Trader
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181:Mueller, Jim (July 8, 2001).
66:2.78 in (70.612 mm)
238:Walneck, Buzz (April 2008).
68:3.2 in (81.28 mm)
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124:. After building his
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51:British Leyland I-4
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19:Type of motorcycle
160:Since the 1990s,
114:McDonnell Douglas
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81:4-speed automatic
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162:Boss Hoss Cycles
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122:Hammond, Indiana
106:Wild Bill Gelbke
31:Wild Bill Gelbke
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272:. pp. 5–6.
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74:Transmission
28:Manufacturer
39:early 1970s
284:Categories
168:References
36:Production
102:Auto Four
23:Auto Four
250:15 April
218:14 April
192:14 April
118:Chicago
126:Roadog
86:Weight
62:stroke
45:Engine
252:2016
220:2016
194:2016
133:and
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100:The
58:Bore
91:dry
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