Most radical GP bikes?

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Mick D said:
In 2005, the time had come: The KR team finally started a MotoGP with me on board. Kenny Roberts and KTM had agreed to join forces. Briton Shane Byrne was engaged as a rider. KTM provided the engines, bore the cost of the rider’s salary and paid for the Michelin tyres. With the help of external sponsors, the Roberts team was responsible for ensuring sufficient funding to cover the running costs.

But the collaboration proved ill-fated, bringing only moderate success. I would have preferred sophisticated electronics from TAG McLaren or Magneti Marelli, but I had to make do with a cheaper EFI system from England. This impaired my rideability, which ultimately affected our performance. My best result with Shane Byrne on board was 15th place at the Laguna Seca GP, which earned one Word Championship point. At a rainy Donington, a podium place was within reach for much of the race, but our hopes eventually ended in the gravel trap. My last MotoGP appearance then came to an end with an early crash at the Sachsenring circuit.

When there was no end in sight to the discussions about team financing, my bosses eventually drew a radical line under the matter. At the Brno GP, the KTM engines were collected and taken to Austria, which represented the end of the GP1 and MotoGP story for me as a power unit.
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I guess it did. I never even knew KTM built the engines...wow I must have been out of it then. 2005 I was finishing my last year of college and drinking myself into oblivion.
 
MdubSTYLIE said:
Thanks for clarifying that for me. I mean for me to know that Willski donkey punches like a girl I would have to have been donkey punched by both a girl and willski. I suppose its possible little sparrow donkey punches like a dude, but willski still donkey punches like a bitch.
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this gathering does continue to be an educational experience and one I would recommend to all. Having learnt what a donkey punch is, could one inform me the purpose of afore mentioned 'strap on'
 
Willski said:
this gathering does continue to be an educational experience and one I would recommend to all. Having learnt what a donkey punch is, could one inform me the purpose of afore mentioned 'strap on'
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Little known tidbit. Willski's .... wears a matching burberry scarf with every outfit.
 
HEISMAN said:
A lot of personal favorites have been mentioned, but I'd also like to show this even though it was not a GP bike nor a Superbike,

The Norton NRV 588

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It's a real shame that development on rotary bikes was killed off.

I could be wrong but didn't the Japanese do everything in their power to get the rotor bikes outlawed?
 
p4p1 said:
It's a real shame that development on rotary bikes was killed off.

I could be wrong but didn't the Japanese do everything in their power to get the rotor bikes outlawed?
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Yes. I believe they felt the "displacement" would be an advantage for the rotary if ever it became perfected.
 
They sound incredible, saw a couple of the old Duckhams Norton superbikes at the Festival of 1000 bikes a few years back, they sound evil, apparently they handle evil as well.
 
p4p1 said:
It's a real shame that development on rotary bikes was killed off.

I could be wrong but didn't the Japanese do everything in their power to get the rotor bikes outlawed?
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It was mainly because the authorities couldn't get there heads around it in regard to the rules. These bikes made their debut at the North West 200 in 1990 and they were going through the speed trap 20 mph faster than the next fastest bikes which were the usual mix of Japanese 750cc 4 cylinder machines. I think the argument at the time was that the rotary engine was putting out the equivalent of an 1100cc 4 cylinder even though it was less than 600cc.
 
AntG said:
It was mainly because the authorities couldn't get there heads around it in regard to the rules. These bikes made their debut at the North West 200 in 1990 and they were going through the speed trap 20 mph faster than the next fastest bikes which were the usual mix of Japanese 750cc 4 cylinder machines. I think the argument at the time was that the rotary engine was putting out the equivalent of an 1100cc 4 cylinder even though it was less than 600cc.
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Exactly, and thats why its a real shame this engine wasnt pursued.
Same .... happened here. Felt like a chicken .... move to me.
 
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Laughably, the Roton was allowed to compete in 500GP.
It was deemed a 688cc (or whatever) at the time. And was still allowed in.
WANKels are hard to pin down capacity wise, swept volume is usually the agreed method, so the Nortons were indeed over 1000cc. Note that they only competed under UK rules...I wonder why that would be.
In any case, they left the series because they went out of business.
 
oh yeah, you had a similar negative take a long time go when the topic came up. What happened, rotary engine stole your girlfriend?
 
I don't see what people have against rotaries surely an engine that doesn't need to change direction, has less stressed parts and makes more power per displacement and has lighter weight is better?
 
They're dirtier than a towl after a gypsie wedding


@krop : was it louder than a gp7/8? I thought the first screamer desmos were the shiznit. Super loud,as aggressive as iron mike on blow and could only be handled by victims of recurring diarrhea
 
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Yup I'm back. Now straight to the business at hand cause we ain't got time to waste time monicas.

Jr winning sbk. Told you so
 
Jumkie said:
oh yeah, you had a similar negative take a long time go when the topic came up. What happened, rotary engine stole your girlfriend?
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Oh dear. An opinion contrary to the "Japanese got the Nortons banned trope".
Can't have that, can we?

For the record, Wankels (rotary = WW1 era radial engine with fixed crankshaft - mental) are ....... cool. They are .... for emissions and consumption, just like my beloved two-strokes. They sound great and one of the coolest things in cars was the redline buzzer on ye olde RX7.
Ever driven a Mazda 1200 with a tuned 13B, Jum?
 
Thx doc. Good to see so many of the old guard still being active.
Shout out to : cobra,lil red,madmex and teenage .......(now u ban him?gtfo),stiefel,gekko,kesh ,roo and geo.

New faces too. Thought at first jps was to doc no what margarine is to butter but you're cool. Here's your aMa invitation. So sparrow is our Lydia with a strap on? Welcome
 

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