Saturday, April 09, 2016

the most sophisticated and technically advanced motorcycle in the world came from New Zealand, the Britten


Last October, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum celebrated the Britten, and was able to get 9 of the ten made to give the Britten a terrific showing, the most ever collected at one time and place.

Renowned motorcycle journalist Alan Cathcart said of the bike: "It’s an easy bike to ride, in the sense it’s got a very wide power delivery, but to really get top performance, you have to ride it like a grand prix bike." And having ridden all the superbike contenders in the world today, I can say that the Britten is the closest to a grand prix bike."

The bike went on to win the Battle of the Twins in Daytona International Speedway's Daytona Bike Week festivities in the United States and set a number of world speed records.







Thanks to John Viviani!

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:02 PM

    Don't forget that these bike were all built more than 20 years ago. John Britten the designer/builder died in 1995. The bike in the lead shot is #7 and is at the Barber Museum.

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    1. I failed to make it clear that they were all at the Barber, all 9 were gathered there for these photos. I focused more on why they are important, and significant, and why I'm posted what appears to look like every other motorcycle since the mid 80s.... I don't know why anyone cares about new vehicles, they all look the same, and so do bikes. But, these are world champs, and that's why I posted about them. I hope readers pick up more on the fact that they were created in New Zealand, and perhaps make the connection with Burt Munro's New Zealand made bikes, and that small islands are the most significant part of racing bikes.. like the Isle of Mann races

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  2. 9 of the 10 Brittens built were on display - does the other bike still survive?

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    1. sounds like a homework question, just not mine. I doubt it. I figure the other one is in some collection of a person who couldn't be reached or couldn't be convinced to bring his bike to make the whole set complete

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