Car & Bike Talk

N567 · Sun 29 May 2022

That is one hell of a superbike you've got.

With the engine block made of A390 aluminum alloy to reduce weight and increase heat dissipation and using fuel injection, which atomizes the fuel pumped into the combustion chamber to ensure that the fuel burns almost completely, both invented by General Motors in the 1950s to increase the efficiency and specific power density of engines, the engine cylinders also made of A390 aluminum alloy to further reduce weight and further increase heat dissipation, invented by Carrol Shelby in 1964, the frame and wheels made of bonded aluminum, invented by Ken Miles in 1964, to also reduce weight, the fuel tank made of plastic to also reduce weight, and using grooved tires for good traction, this model has a top speed of 196km/h, making it a superbike that held the records for fastest motorbike from 1958-1971.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fastest_production_motorcycles

The older models of motorbikes such as the Harley-Davidson Model W, introduced in 1919, only had a top speed of 81km/h because they were made of steel, including the fuel tank, which was heavier, they had no fuel injection in the engines which was less efficient, and they only used tires with lines, instead of complicated groove patterns, which had less traction than modern tires.

The fastest superbike today is the MTT 420-RR. Invented by Christian Travert and made by American company Marine Turbine Technologies, it is the 1st motorbike to be powered by a turboshaft engine and it is the 1st to use carbon fiber reinforced plastic for its fairings, which gives this superbike a top speed of 439km/h.

Below is an image of the MTT 420-RR:

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTT_Turbine_Superbike
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Turbine_Technologies
https://luxe.digital/lifestyle/cars/fastest-motorcycles/

American company Lightning Motorcycle also set the world speed record for the fastest electric motorbike with a top speed of 351km/h using its Lightning LS-218. Using a leak proof lithium ion battery, invented by Elon Musk, that can last for 8 years and fully charges in 30 minutes, thanks to the DC fast charger also invented by Elon Musk to turn electric vehicles into a mass market phenomenon, this superbike uses this powerful and durable battery to run a 150kW drive motor to reach its record beating top speed.

Below is an image of the Lightning LS-218:

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_LS-218
https://luxe.digital/lifestyle/cars/fastest-motorcycles/

The Harley-Davidson Streamliner also set a world speed record in 1970 of 427km/h using, for the 1st time, nitromethane as the fuel for the engine, because of its high energy density, which greatly increased engine power output and consequently the top speed, and using, also for the 1st time, an aerodynamic fairing to reduce drag and further increase top speed. This motorcycle was designed by Warner Riley and driven by Cal Rayborn.

Below is an image of the Harley-Davidson Streamliner:

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_land-speed_record
https://www.motorweb.ws/2019/10/worlds-fastest-harley-davidsons.html

Harley-Davidson also set another world speed record in 1990 with the Easyriders Streamliner of Dave Campos that had a top speed of 518km/h.

Below is an image of the Harley-Davidson Easyriders Streamliner:

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_land-speed_record
https://www.motorweb.ws/2019/10/worlds-fastest-harley-davidsons.html
https://www.bikertrashnetwork.com/2017/03/easyriders-magazine-on-auction-block.html

American aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss actually set the 1st motorcycle speed record in 1903 with his Curtiss motorcycle that had a top speed of 103km/h. It was named Curtiss because it was Curtiss' own design and it was made by his own company which was also the 1st company to mass produce airplanes using the moving assembly line system invented by Henry Ford and adapted for making airplanes by Glenn Curtiss.

Below is an image of the Curtiss:

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_land-speed_record

Rob82 · Sun 29 May 2022

Thank you brother. The person I bought it from rarely used it, so it was kept in good shape, and not a lot of mileage on it. Bike runs great despite being over thirty years old. I love it. Thank you as well for the history articles.

N567 · Mon 30 May 2022

Quote from: Rob82 on Sun 29 May 2022
Thank you brother. The person I bought it from rarely used it, so it was kept in good shape, and not a lot of mileage on it. Bike runs great despite being over thirty years old. I love it. Thank you as well for the history articles.

You're welcome.

The bike you bought was the fastest production motorcycle from 1958-1971 because of all of the innovations that were put into it.

It became the 1st superbike and led to a rise in outlaw motorcycle gangs because it was fast enough to outrun police motorcycles and cars.

Though there were already outlaw motorcycle gangs in the US since 1935, they did not really expand their operations until the high speed superbikes and long range touring bikes were invented thanks to the innovations I mentioned. These 2 classes of bikes, invented in the USA, made it possible to either outrun the authorities or travel longer distances which made escape to neighboring states or countries easier.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_club
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlaws_Motorcycle_Club

Rev.Cambeul · Tue 12 Jul 2022

The American GMC Chevelle - Compares with the GMH/Australia Kingswood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5ycYVGmKmk

* * * *

And Now for Something Completely Much the Same

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xErPSmpM68

Holden Kingswood - Your Average Oz Granny Chariot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z3TxdvYYZQ

The GMH Kingswood - Died with the Commodore
Correction: Bathurst 500 Mile became Bathurst 1000K
Metric came to Australia in 67
- - - -
Ignoring other errors: Tom Walkinshaw - Not Wilkinshaw
He drove a Jaguar & came 3rd in Bathurst 85
- - - -
I'm variously told my Holden VZ has a HSV & a Tom Walkinshaw Body Kit
WGF which one - if either? I like it.
0-60K in 2.5 seconds/0-60M in about 6 seconds
It's a stock GM Alloytec - Figure it out

PONTIAC = Poor Old Nigger Thought It's A Cadillac