The Original 1966 TV Batcycle

 

YAMAHA "BATCYCLE" TO BE LATEST WEAPON OF CAPED CRUSADERS

One of the most phenomenally successful television shows in recent years is ABC's "Batman."  One of the interesting aspects of this show is the unusual and exciting vehicles in the pursuit of deadly evil criminals.  From the batcave emerges a batcar, a batcopter and many, many more imaginative vehicles, all styled in the Batman motif.

Tying in with the extreme popularity of sportcycles, Batman has inevitably utilized a sportcycle--the Batcycle--in his efforts to thwart the forces of evil.  The Batcycle itself is a real showpiece.  Built from a Yamaha Catalina (YDS-3) 250, the Batcycle features a side car with a portable go-cart resting on it for Batman's invisible aide, Robin.  As Batman slows down or stops the Batcycle, Robin is propelled off of  the side car and becomes mobile in his own right in the go-cart. The entire Batcycle and side car are handsomely customized in black and white colors with a batshield molded into the fairing and fender guard.  Not only is the Batcycle a hugely modified Yamaha Catalina 250, but Robin's cart, which is an integral part of the Batcycle rig, is powered by a 50cc Yamaha engine.

The Batcycle will soon be seen in a feature length Batman motion picture.

from the June 1966 "Yamaha International News"

The exterior was designed by Tom Daniels and built in April 1966 by Richard "Korky" Korkes & Daniel Dempski, doing business as "Kustomotive."  Yamaha gave them two black motorcycles, so they could build one "hero" bike and one copy.  The basic design of the fairing came from a Yamaha racing fairing that was modified with Filon sheets.  Filon sheets were also used to create the sidecar's wing.  The distinct round, red light on the sidecar also flashed as well.  The "hero" bike had three rocket tubes on the back of its sidecar and the copy bike did not.  There were two "Speedline" patterns used on the sidecar in 1966.  One was shaped as an "S" and the other was shaped as a "Z"

In 2009, I spoke with Korky & Dan to verify these details.

Batcycle Batcycle Batcycle Batcycle
Batcycle Batcycle Batcycle Batcycle
Batcycle Batcycle Batcycle The Dynamic Duo
Batcycle Batcycle Robin on his go-cart Go-cart
The two side-car patterns in 1966

 

 

1966 photo

A 1966 photo of the original Batcycle sidecar frame
Bill Cushenbery Jr.

In 1968, here's Bill Cushenbery Jr. (driving) and his sister (side-car) hanging out with the kids in their neighborhood.

Bill Cushenbery Sr. was a well known car customizer who worked on the original modifications from the Futura to the Batmobile in 1965.

 

At the Aurora factory At the Aurora plant At the Aurora plant
 Aurora Batcycle

These photos were taken at the Aurora Plastics plant in West Hempstead, New York sometime in late 1966 or early 1967.  Aurora borrowed the Batcycle to help the model creators with a life-size reference. 

Pictured is one of the "duplicates" that was created for touring. 

Courtesy of John Stacks

Built by Chopper

Here's a built-up Polar Lights (reissue of Aurora kit) Batcycle model custom built by Chopper

 

Dan Magiera and Bob Butts

The CHP with an original Batcycle
Dan Dempski (Magiera), creator of the Batcycle, and customizer  Bob Butts.

The California Highway Patrol with an original Batcycle and the '89 Batmobile

 

The original Batcycle The Original Batcycle Being prepped to take molds from
The original Batcycle with the molds that were taken The original Batcycle with the molds that were taken The original Batcycle

One of the original Batcycle's in 1991 being prepped for duplication.  Shown is the Batcycle with the molds and "positives" that were created.

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