Is Rotax 503 and 582 going off the market? Replacement?

[Maybe]

There's been some rumors that the smaller Rotax engines (503 and 582) will go off the market and people in the market for a new engine should avoid going for the rotax again......

If these rumors are true:
1.) When will they go off the market?
2.) How long will spares still be available?
3.) What will the typical replacement engine be for the 503 in a trike?

Thanks.

[Trikenut]

As far as I know, only the 503 is going off the market.
The 582 will probably be the replacement.
As for spares and the time it goes off the market, I don't know.
Hope this helps,

[kloot piloot]

2-stroke engines are slowly being declared enviro-unfriendly worldwide. Major bike manufacturers have stopped making their 2-stroke engines. I believe that Honda, Yamaha, Kawa, and others will not produce 2-stroke MX bikes after 2010.
Rotax thus had to follow suite.

I have no doubt that they will deliver a small version of the 503 and 582 very soon, but then as a 4-stroke.

As for spares for the 2-stroke motors I am convinced that they will be available over a reasonable "phasing-out" period. Definitely another 10 years.

[Maybe]

Thanks for the replies!!


So one is safe installing a rotax engine again....seeing that there are no real alternative for the trikes available at the moment. (ease of installation, ready-converted for air use, spares etc?)

Guess I'll be off to the classified section to start searching for a good condition 503.

[Bayliner]

Have a look at this site. Very Interesting stuff.

http://www.airtrikes.net/engines.shtml

[kloot piloot]

Good link Bayliner !

Confirms that Rotax has stiff competition coming. Would love to have a sneak preview in their R&D basement.