The Kiwi-made Britten V1000 is one of the most beautiful racing bikes ever built.
The classic styling, the body’s curves and texture, and aerodynamic fairing.
And of course, it’s fast – in 1993, it set the World Flying Mile Record for motorcycles 1000cc and under at 302 km/h.
In what has been described as the most extraordinary feat of mechanical engineering in motorcycling history.
The Britten Motorcycle Museum is currently carrying out a major overhaul and restoration on a rare Britten V1000 . A perfect opportunity to see more of the features that made it such a revolutionary machine.
The bike was John Britten’s life’s work. It would be a dream come true for any keen motorbike racer to see and race such a machine. The Gallery is proud of our modern New Zealand art collection.
The Britten V1000 is a testament to ingenuity. That one man can create something incredible.
But this story isn’t just about that bike. It’s about a man who had an idea and was able to see it through. The Britten bike they have on display at the museum took John nearly 12 years of development to perfect.
V1000
The Britten V1000 is in the center of the hall. There’s plenty of space to walk around the machine and see it from any angle.
You can also see all kinds of mechanical parts up close.Including pistons, rods, crankshafts, camshafts and an oversized clutch.
He wanted to build a vehicle that could be used daily yet would have the capabilities. To reach maximal speeds of 350 km/h (217 mph) while carrying two passengers, which is not easy.
Britten didn’t just intend to make a revolutionary bike.He wanted to bring back pleasures lost in the pursuit of more and more powerful motors.Compromises made in the interests of weight and speed.
Fast forward to the 20th anniversary of this landmark sporting affair from which today’s specimen hails.New Zealand’s most outstanding creation from its “golden age” of two-wheeled development.
via Tepapa
