Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Red Bull Yamaha YZR500

King of slide, Gary McCoy on the Yamaha YZR500.
For more pics see 
Red Bull Yamaha YZR500

Monday, December 18, 2017

Central Classics Houten 2017

Kreidler 50cc racing engine, seen at the Central Classics a large motorcycle jumble in Houten the Netherlands.
For more pics see
Central Classics Houten 2017

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Ex Paul Hanson Barton Phoenix sidecar

Ex Paul Hanson 1980 Barton Phoenix 750cc Racing Sidecar Outfit

'During 1996 the Phoenix number 2 engine reappeared in the hands of Manchester sidecar racer Paul Hanson. Housed in a Derbyshire kneeler chassis the Phoenix was raced at a Forgotten Era meeting at Barkston Heath, after initially being outlawed on the grounds that it was too fast.' – Mick Walker & Rob Carrick, 'British Performance Two-strokes'.

This racing sidecar outfit was built in 1980 by its sole owner, Paul Hanson, utilising a new Barton Phoenix 750cc engine and a Derbyshire chassis. The Phoenix engines were produced in very small numbers, estimates varying between five and eight examples of the 750cc motor manufactured. Barton had been founded by engineers Barry Hart and Tony Ryan, and made its first impact on the racing scene with a three-cylinder water-cooled '500' based on the Suzuki GT380 bottom end. Ridden by Martin Sharpe, a Spondon-framed, Barton-engined 'Sparton' won the 1976 North West 200 with similarly-mounted Frank Kennedy in 2nd place, while the previous year Sharpe's bike had proved as fast as the works Kawasakis at the Isle of Man TT. The switch to a square-four engine came about after Barry Sheene asked Hart to convert an RG500 engine to 650cc, something the factory said could not be done. Hart nevertheless succeeded and used the knowledge gained to produce his own version of the Suzuki engine: the Barton Phoenix, initially as a '750' and later as a '500'. The Phoenix engine showed promise but the project never received the financial backing required to develop it, despite Hart's appeals to the patriotism of the motorcycling public and a deal with the Rank Organisation to provide machines for the 1978 film 'Silver Dream Racer' starring David Essex. Although it achieved little in solo form, the 750cc Phoenix engine enjoyed considerable success as a sidecar power unit in the hands of Nigel Rollason, whose first major success with it was a 2nd place finish in the 1979 Isle of Man TT. Rollason would go on to finish nine out of ten TTs with his Phoenix-powered outfit, eight of them on the leader board, the highlight being victory in the 1986 event. By then Barton Engineering had ceased to exist, having been purchased by Armstrong in 1981. Barry Hart moved to Armstrong as chief designer and would be responsible for its highly successful Rotax-based tandem-twin racers.

A well-known and respected sidecar competitor, Paul Hanson spent some time refining his outfit's engine and chassis, incorporating various developments such as Armstrong cylinders and an improved fuel supply system, a process that culminated in him winning the 1985 Formula 5 Championship with passenger Stuart Aspin. The outfit continued to be raced regularly until the late 1990s. Thereafter it was used only for occasional parades, the last outing being at the 'Festival of 1000 Bikes' at Mallory Park in 2010.
For more pics see
Hanson Barton Phoenix

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Ex Noriyuki Haga Suzuki RG400

Ex Noryuki Haga RG400. This Suzuki RG 400 is the Asian version of the RG 500 Gamma. This model was sold in Japan and only a few arrived in Europe. The 1988 RG 400 is the last 4 cylinder two-stroke with rotary distribution produced by Suzuki and equipped with a reinforced gearbox (1987/88). The here presented model is entirely original (unlike the RG 500, the RG400 was factory delivered without the lower fairing). The bike has run 18.746 km from new. This bike has a particular history which is of high value for a collector. It was bought by the famous Japanese World Championship rider, Noriyuki Haga, who had a residence in Italy. Haga imported the bike to Italy.
Year: 1988
Frame N.: HK31A-108374
For more pics see 
Ex Noriyuki Haga RG400

This bike was sold by
Classic Motorbike Collection 

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Aprilia RSV and RSW250

Ex Anthony West RSW250. The Aprilia RSW250 is in my opinion the best and most beautifull 250cc racer ever build, it is a work of art!
For more pics see 
Aprilia RSV and RSW250

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Special made FPE RG500 barrels

Here a very nice and detailed photo album about the special made FPE RG500 barrels.
For more pics see 
FPE RG500 barrels

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Mostra Scambio Imola 2017

Ex Agostini RG500 seen at the Mostra Scambio Imola 2017, a large car and motorcycle jumble at the circuit of Imola.
For more pics see 
Mostra Scambio Imola 2017