In 1986 the Suzuki factory stopped racing with the square four bikes and made a V4, the XR71. Team Heron was commissioned to make a frame. Nigel leaper was asked to built a new carbon fibre composite chassis for the XR71 engine, but it was never tested. The project was stillborn - even though comparison with the Suzuki alloy factory frame, by then standard for GP racers, showed that the carbon fibre frame was 1.3 kg lighter, as well as substantially stiffer. The weight with all the magnesium inserts was 8.3 kg, with a carbon composite swing arm - on a Heron design for the first time - scaling a further 6 kg. Though one of the 3 chassis found its way to Japan, the word came down from high, thanks but no thanks.For more pics see
Ciba Geigy V4
