Bimota Tesi V-Due 500

In 1992 Bimota chose to build its own engine for the 500cc GP class which was then the domain of four-cylinder two strokes which had a minimum weight of 130kg. It was a v-twin two stroke which initially used a Tesi-style front end, but strictly speaking, Bimota did not actually build the engine, which was outsourced to the nearby Franco Morini Motori. The FIM had recently gazetted a lower (105kg) limit for 500cc class twins, the aim being to encourage production of cheaper machines that privateers could afford to buy and race, and Bimota aimed to exploit that advantage. The fuel-injected engine used forced lubrication for the twin crank bottom end and poked out 132 hp. Francesco Monaco was the rider of the bike. Parallel to the racing effort, Bimota was also working on a road-going version of the 500, but it was a long time coming. This was the Vdue, which first appeared in prototype form in 1992 but took a full five years to reach the stage of production. Both the racer and the road bike were not very successful, there were a lot of issues with the fuel injection. Nowadays they are very collectable bikes. 

For more pics see 

Bimota Tesi V-Due 500

Two stroke multi-cylinder sidecar track racers

In the seventies and eighties two stroke multi-cylinders were common in sidecar track racing. In Germany they used König and homemade Yamaha triples as first made by Rudi Kurth. Later Suzuki GT750 and Yamaha TZ500 and 750 were used. in 1980 multi-cylinders were banned. 

For more pics see 

Two stroke track sidecars

Vid of a König sidecar

König start up

Rimotu 80cc racer

Bert Smit on the Krauser 80cc. 

It all started in the last years of 50cc GP racing by Kreidler. Herbert Rittberger made an engine for Kreidler under the name of Rimotu (Rittberger Motoren Tuning). In the 80cc it raced as Zündapp and Krauser, with Bakker or LCR (Louis Christen Racing) frames. The factory racers were Hubert Abold and Stefan Dörflinger, in the Netherlands Bert Smit raced an LCR Krauser with sponsorship of John Bestebreurtje. In 1988 he won the European Championship race on Thursday and became third in the TT race at Assen on Saturday!!

For more pics see

Rimotu 80cc

AMF Harley Davidson RR500

AMF (American Machine and Foundry) Harley Davidson RR500 as raced by Michel Rougerie and Muhammad Gumilar. It is a two cylinder two stroke 500 reed-valve engine with four 34 mm Dellorto carbs. Only 16 were made, 7 survived. 

Specifications

Engine: Water-cooled reed-valve parallel-twin two-stroke with 180-degree crankshaft, 72mm x 60mm bore x stroke, 488cc, 12:1 compression, Dansi self-generating CDI ignition, six-speed extractable gearbox, Surflex 16-plate dry clutch with bronze plates, 4 x 34mm Dellorto carbs with two reed-valve packs per cylinder, Ezio Mascheroni designed expansion chambers.

Chassis: Chrome-moly tubular steel duplex cradle frame, tubular steel swingarm, twin Girling shocks, 35mm Ceriani forks, 26º rake, 85mm trail, 1410mm wheelbase, 53/47% weight distribution (customer bike 51/49%), 2 x 280mm cast iron Brembo rotors, twin-piston Brembo calipers, 170mm Brembo cast iron rotor, single-piston Brembo caliper, WM2/1.85 and WM2/2.15in Borrani alloy spoked wheels, 3.50 – 18 and 3.75 – 18 Dunlop KR124 tyres.

Performance: 89bhp@10,500rpm and 68Nm@6800rpm at wheel, 124kg with oil/water no fuel, 280km/h top speed

For more pics see 

AMF HD RR500

Padgetts F1 RG500

Mark Phillips on the Padgetts F1 RG500. It was built by Padgetts Motorcyles. It has a Harris RGB500 frame and a modified RG500 Gamma street engine with Padgetts dry clutch and RGB ignition and carbs. Phillips won the 1986 British TT F1 title on this bike. When Suzuki launched its RG500 road bike in 1985 Padgetts converted the road engine into a full GP-spec RG and Phillips thrashed the heavier four-strokes. “The bike handled so well and was so light,” says Phillips. “In fact the TT F1 RG was lighter than the GP bike, because the road engine was based on the smaller factory XR45 engine.” 

For more pics see 

Padgetts F1 RG500

Cat Crescent sidecar racer

The very special 1974 Cat Crescent sidecar racer of Rudi Kurth and Dane Rowe. It has a 500cc triple two stroke engine out of a speed boat. Rudi was the man behind the low and fast streamlined monocoque sidecars. Also he was the one who build the first triple TZ Yamaha's.

For more pics see

Cat Crescent sidecar racer

Rudi Kurth and Dane Rowe

Lynx Saab 850 sidecar racer

Lynx Saab Sidecar (1965), as raced by Richard and Samantha Holmes. It is powered by an 850cc two stroke triple Saab car engine with reed valves and a Norton 6-speed gearbox. 

For more pics see

Lynx Saab 850 racer