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The '''motorcycle land speed record''' is the fastest speed achieved by a [[motorcycle]] on land. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions.
The '''motorcycle land speed record''' is the fastest speed achieved by a [[motorcycle]] on land. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions.


First run in 1907, an officially-sanctioned [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] record was not set until 1920. There was controversy over the 1930 record, when [[Osborn Engineering Company|OEC]] claimed to be fastest, on the basis of a publicity photo taken before a [[Zenith]] went quicker. "It was quite a while before the controversy died down."<ref>Tragatsch, p.304.</ref>
First run in 1907, an officially-sanctioned [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] record was not set until 1920. There was controversy over the 1930 record, when [[Osborn Engineering Company|OEC]] claimed to be fastest, on the basis of a publicity photo taken before a [[Zenith]] went quicker. "It was quite a while before the controversy died down."<ref name="Tragatsch304">{{cite book |last=Tragatsch |first=Erwin |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles |location=Feltham, Middlesex, England |publisher=Newnes Books/Temple Press |year=1984 |edition=second edition |isbn=0-600-38477-2 |pages=p.304}}</ref>


==Jet-engine trike==
The current record holder is [[Chris Carr (motorcyclist)|Chris Carr]], who achieved a speed of {{convert|350.884|mi/h|km/h|3|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.chriscarr.com/2006/news/060911_bonneville1.html Chris Carr website]</ref>
The fastest record certified by the FIM is that set in 1964 by the [[jet engine|jet-propelled]] [[tricycle]] ''[[Spirit of America]]''. It set three [[land speed record|absolute land speed record]]s, the last at {{convert|526.277|mi/h|km/h|3|abbr=on}}. While such records are usually validated by the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]], the FIA only certifies vehicles with at least four wheels, while the FIM certifies two- and three-wheelers.


==Piston-engine bike==
==Class records==
The holder of the absolute record for motorcycles is the "fastest man on two wheels". All such records have been with [[piston-engine]] machines.


{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%"
|+ 50cc <!-- if required -->
! Entry name
! Bike
! Date
! Speed
|-
| J. Arhens
| Kreidler
| 8/81
| 75.697
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 8/04
| 89.033
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 8/.927
|-
| Langsam Express
| Express
| 8/06
| 35.299
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 8/05
| 199.853
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 8/04
| 85.941
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 8/03
| 84.362
|-
| Sloan Express
| Express
| 8/06
| 34.754
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 10/03
| 82.201
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 10/03
| 84.448
|-
| William Paulovcin
| Honda
| 8/06
| 53.762
|-
| William Paulovcin
| Honda
| 8/06
| 48.939
|-
| Memory Lane Motors
| Express
| 8/06
| 34.243
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 8/03
| 83.981
|-
| Van Butler Racing
| Aprilla
| 8/03
| 82.590
|-
| Spider Grips
|Aprilia
|10/03
|75.245
|-
| Granithead Special
|Honda
|8/05
|46.618
|-
| [[Hermann Paul Müller]]
|NSU
|1956
|121.700
|-
| Walter Grether
|Honda
|10/03
|62.587
|-
| Walter Grether
|Honda
|8/04
|69.964
|-
| Team McLeish Bros.
|Van Butler
|8/04
|85.680
|-
| Team McLeish Bros.
|Van Butler
|8/04
|94.191
|-
| Costella-Nebulous 4
|Honda
|8/03
|47.353
|}
{{Col-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%"
|+ 100cc <!-- if required -->
! Entry name
! Bike
! Date
! Speed
|-
| D. Cummings
|Honda
|2002
|101.311
|-
| D. Cummings
|Honda
|2002
|101.311
|-
| McDermott-Wiese-Cox
|Honda
|2007
|97.512
|-
| R. Izard
|Honda
|1975
|81.869
|-
| B. Bowens
|Honda
|1977
|104.395
|-
| Darold Cummings
|Honda
|8/03
|106.432
|-
| D. Cummings
|Honda
|2002
|101.311
|-
| D. Cummings
|Honda
|2002
|101.764
|-
| Darold Cummings
|Gilera
|8/06
|61.622
|-
| Belen Wagner
|Honda
|1995
|105.984
|-
| Darold Cummings
|Honda
|8/03
|108.681
|-
| Darold Cummings
|Gilera
|8/06
|65.257
|-
| Darold Cummings
|Gilera
|8/06
|64.916
|-
| Katy Gassaway
|Derbi
|8/03
|82.846
|-
| Corporal Sam
|Honda
|8/06
|54.190
|-
| [[Hermann Paul Müller]]
|NSU
|1956
|138.000
|-
| Team McLeish Bros
|Yamaha
|2002
|89.570
|-
| Team McLeish Bros
|Yamaha
|2001
|94.487
|-
| Team McLeish Bros
|Honda
|8/04
|109.258
|-
| Team McLeish Bros
|Honda
|8/04
|102.574
|-
| Team McLeish Bros
|Honda
|8/04
|102.662
|-
| Nebulous Theorem 4
|Honda
|10/04
|141.213
|-
| Costella - Dugan
|Honda
|8/04
|123.240
|-
|}
{{Col-3}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%"
|+ 125cc <!-- if required -->
! Entry name
! Bike
! Date
! Speed
|-
| R. Coatman
|Honda
|8/80
|94.074
|-
|Falkner - Livingston
|Honda
|8/04
|82.741
|-
| Darold Cummings
|Honda
|8/03
|124.344
|-
| Darold Cummings
|Honda
|2002
|118.082
|-
| R. Coatman
|Honda
|1980
|100.807
|-
| R. Baker
|Can-Am
|1973
|136.537
|-
| P.C. Grufstedt
|Morbidelli
|1978
|133.168
|-
| Falkner - Livingston
|Honda
|8/04
|79.843
|-
| Falkner - Livingston
|Honda
|8/04
|71.195
|-
| Darold Cummings
|Honda
|2000
|122.854
|-
| Petrun Racing
|Honda
|1998
|120.559
|-
| P.C. Grufstedt
|Honda
|1977
|126.455
|-
| Petrun Racing
|Honda
|1998
|128.701
|-
| Snart Lite
|Cagiva
|8/05
|105.970
|-
| [[Hermann Paul Müller]]
|NSU
|1956
|150.000
|-
| Team McLeish Bros.
|Yamaha
|2002
|117.912
|-
| Team McLeish Bros.
|Yamaha
|2002
|115.500
|-
| Team McLeish Bros.
|Honda
|10/03
|99.960
|-
| Team McLeish Bros.
|Honda
|8/03
|112.902
|-
| Costella Compton
|Swede Tech
|8/06
|151.481
|-
| P.C. Grufstedt
|Morbidelli
|1977
|125.594
|-
|N.Edwards
|Honda NSR
|03/07
|105.252
|}
{{Col-end}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 850cc <!-- if required -->
! Entry name
! Bike
! Date
! Speed
|-
|[[Burt Munro]]
|[[Indian (motorcycle)|Indian]]
|1962
|178.97
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 950cc <!-- if required -->
! Entry name
! Bike
! Date
! Speed
|-
|[[Burt Munro]]
|[[Indian (motorcycle)|Indian]]
|1967
|183.58mph
|}

===Absolute record===
{| class="wikitable" style="clear: both; font-size:95%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="clear: both; font-size:95%;"
|-
|-
Line 460: Line 66:
|168.92|| 272.006||
|168.92|| 272.006||
|-
|-
|1937|| Gyon, Netherlands || [[Eric Fernihough]] || Brough Superior ||995 [[JA Prestwich Industries Ltd|JAP]] [[Supercharging|supercharged]] <ref>Tragatsch, text p.304.</ref>
|1937|| Gyon, Netherlands || [[Eric Fernihough]] || Brough Superior ||995 [[JA Prestwich Industries Ltd|JAP]] [[Supercharging|supercharged]] <ref name="Tragatsch304"/>
|169.68|| 273.244|| Fernihough was killed in a 1938 attempt<ref>Tragatsch, text p.304.</ref>
|169.68|| 273.244|| Fernihough was killed in a 1938 attempt<ref name="Tragatsch304"/>
|-
|-
|1937|| [[Brescia]], [[Italy]] || [[Piero Taruffi]] {{flagicon|Italy}} || [[Gilera]] || 492
|1937|| [[Brescia]], [[Italy]] || [[Piero Taruffi]] {{flagicon|Italy}} || [[Gilera]] || 492
Line 475: Line 81:
|184.83 || 297.6406||
|184.83 || 297.6406||
|-
|-
|1956|| [[Bonneville Speedway|Bonneville]], USA || Wilhelm Herz || NSU streamliner ||499
|1956|| Bonneville, USA || [[John Allen|Johnny Allen]] || [[Triumph Motorcycles| Triumph]] || 649
|193.730 || 311.778 || <ref name="Hennekam">
{{cite book |chapterurl=http://www.fim.ch/EN/magazine/MAG54/Record_bonneville_en.pdf |format=[[PDF]] |publisher=FIM |date=December 2005 |title=The FIM Magazine |chapter=World Records Bonneville |url=http://www.fim.ch/en/default.asp?item=47&o=/EN/magazine/MAG54/default.htm |first=Charles |last=Hennekam |page=p.57 |accessdate=2008-10-19}}
</ref>
|-
|1956|| [[Bonneville Speedway|Bonneville]], USA || Wilhelm Herz || NSU [[streamliner]] ||499
|211.4|| 338.092|| First record over 200 mph (300 km/h)
|211.4|| 338.092|| First record over 200 mph (300 km/h)
|-
|-
|1956|| Bonneville, USA || [[John Allen|Johnny Allen]] || [[Triumph Motorcycles| Triumph]] || 649
|1956|| Bonneville, USA || [[Johnny Allen]] || [[Triumph Motorcycles| Triumph]] || 649
|214.5 || 345.188|| Unratified by FIM<ref>Tragatsch, p.305.</ref>
|214.5 || 345.188|| Unratified by FIM<ref name="Tragatsch305"> Tragatsch, p.305.</ref>
|-
|-
|1962|| Bonneville, USA || [[Bill Johnson]] || Triumph || 649
|1962|| Bonneville, USA || [[Bill Johnson]] || Triumph || 649
|224.57 || 361.41||
|224.57 || 361.41||
|-
|-
|1966|| Bonneville, USA || [[Bob Leppan]] || ''Gyronaut X-1''<ref>Tragatsch, p.305.</ref> || 1298
|1966|| Bonneville, USA || [[Bob Leppan]] || ''Gyronaut X-1''<ref name="Tragatsch305"/> || 1298
|245.60 || 395.28|| Triumph Special twin-engined
|245.60 || 395.28|| Triumph Special twin-engined
|-
|-
|1970|| Bonneville, USA || [[Don Vesco]] {{flagicon|USA}} || [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] || 700
|1970|| Bonneville, USA || [[Don Vesco]] {{flagicon|USA}} || [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] || 700
|251.66 || 405.25|| [[Turbocharging|Turbocharged]]<ref>Tragatsch, p.305.</ref><br/>First record over 250 mph (400 km/h)
|251.66 || 405.25|| [[Turbocharging|Turbocharged]]<ref name="Tragatsch305"/> twin-engined<ref name="Hennekam"/> <br/>First record over 250 mph (400 km/h)
|-
|-
|1970|| Bonneville, USA || [[Cal Rayborn]] {{flagicon|USA}} || [[Harley-Davidson]] || 1480
|1970|| Bonneville, USA || [[Cal Rayborn]] {{flagicon|USA}} || [[Harley-Davidson]] || 1480
|| 254.84 || 410.37||
|| 254.84 || 410.37 || twin-engined<ref name="Hennekam"/>
|-
|-
|1970|| Bonneville, USA || Cal Rayborn || [[Harley-Davidson]] || 1480
|1975<ref name="Hennekam"/> || Bonneville, USA || Cal Rayborn || [[Harley-Davidson]] || 1480
||265.49 || 426.40 ||
||265.49 || 426.40 || twin-engined<ref name="Hennekam"/>
|-
|-
|1970|| Bonneville, USA || Don Vesco || [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] || 2030
|1978<ref name="Hennekam"/> || Bonneville, USA || Don Vesco || [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] || 2030
|318.598 || 509.757|| Turbocharged<ref>Tragatsch, p.305.</ref><br/>First record over 300 mph (500 km/h)
|318.598 || 509.757|| Turbocharged<ref name="Tragatsch305"/><br/>First record over 300 mph (500 km/h) twin-engined<ref name="Hennekam"/>
|-
|1990<ref name="Hennekam"/> || Bonneville, USA || [[Dave Campos]] {{flagicon|USA}} || [[Harley-Davidson]] || ?
|322.150 || 518.450 || twin-engined<ref name="Hennekam"/>
|-
|3 September 2006<ref name="fim2006">
{{cite news|url=http://www.fim.ch/en/flat/photos/photosworldrec.htm|title=World Record attempts: Historic land speed record broken in Bonneville |date=2006 |publisher=FIM |accessdate=2008-10-19}}
</ref> || Bonneville, USA || Rocky Robinson {{flagicon|USA}} || Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner || 2600
|343.127 || 553.209 || twin [[Suzuki]] engines<ref name="fim2006"/>
|-
|5 September 2006<ref name="fim2006"/> || Bonneville, USA || [[Chris Carr (motorcyclist)|Chris Carr]] {{flagicon|USA}} || BUB - Lucky 7 streamliner || ?
|351.062<ref name="fim2006"/> || 564.979<ref name="fim2006"/> ||
|-
|-
|}
|}

==Sources==
*Tragatsch, Erwin. ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles''. Feltham, Middlesex, England: Newnes Books/Temple Press, 1984 (second edition). ISBN 0-600-38477-2.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 510: Line 129:
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.roadsters.com/lsr/#Bikes Motorcycle land speed record racers] on roadsters.com.
*[http://www.scta-bni.org/SCTA-NewWeb/Bonneville/BNIrecs_bikes.htm Certified Bike Records].


{{extreme motion}}
{{extreme motion}}


[[Category:Land speed records| ]]
[[Category:Land speed records]]

Revision as of 07:34, 19 October 2008

The motorcycle land speed record is the fastest speed achieved by a motorcycle on land. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions.

First run in 1907, an officially-sanctioned FIM record was not set until 1920. There was controversy over the 1930 record, when OEC claimed to be fastest, on the basis of a publicity photo taken before a Zenith went quicker. "It was quite a while before the controversy died down."[1]

Jet-engine trike

The fastest record certified by the FIM is that set in 1964 by the jet-propelled tricycle Spirit of America. It set three absolute land speed records, the last at 526.277 mph (846.961 km/h). While such records are usually validated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the FIA only certifies vehicles with at least four wheels, while the FIM certifies two- and three-wheelers.

Piston-engine bike

The holder of the absolute record for motorcycles is the "fastest man on two wheels". All such records have been with piston-engine machines.

Date Location Driver Make Engine
(displacement in cc) 		Speed Comments
mph km/h
1903 Glenn Curtiss United States Curtiss one-cylinder IC 64 103 over the mile
January 24, 1907 Ormond Beach, Florida Glenn Curtiss United States Curtiss 40 hp (30 kW) V8 136.27 219.31 Unofficial record stood over 20 years
1920 Daytona Beach, USA Ernie Walker Indian 994 104.12 165.67
1923 Brooklands, GB Claude Temple Anzani 996 108.41 174.58
1924 Arpajon, Fr Bert Le Vack Brough Superior 998 118.98 191.59
1926 Arpajon, Fr Claude Temple OEC-Temple 996 121.3 195.33
1928 Arpajon, Fr O. M. Baldwin Zenith-JAP 996 124.55 200.56
1929 Arpajon, Fr Bert Le Vack OEC-Temple 994 128.75 207.33
1930 Arpajon, Fr Joe Wright Indian 994 137.23 220.99 First official record to exceed Curtiss' pioneering effort
1930 Ingolstadt, Germany Ernst Henne BMW 735 137.58 221.54
1930 Cork, Ireland Joe Wright Zenith-JAP 998 150.65 242.59
1932 Tat,[disambiguation needed] Netherlands Ernst Henne BMW 735 151.77 244.40
1934 Gyon, Netherlands Ernst Henne BMW 735 152.81 246.069
1935 Frankfurt, Germany Ernst Henne BMW 735 159.01 256.046[2] First record over 250 km/h
1936 Frankfurt, Germany Ernst Henne BMW 495 168.92 272.006
1937 Gyon, Netherlands Eric Fernihough Brough Superior 995 JAP supercharged [1] 169.68 273.244 Fernihough was killed in a 1938 attempt[1]
1937 Brescia, Italy Piero Taruffi Italy Gilera 492 170.27 274.181 Supercharged four-cylinder. Taruffi famous as Grand Prix driver.
1937 Frankfurt, Germany Ernst Henne BMW 495 173.68 279.503 Last prewar record
1951 Frankfurt, Germany Wilhelm Herz Germany NSU 499 180.29 290.322 First postwar record
1955 Christchurch, New Zealand Russell Wright Vincent-HRD 998 184.83 297.6406
1956 Bonneville, USA Johnny Allen Triumph 649 193.730 311.778 [3]
1956 Bonneville, USA Wilhelm Herz NSU streamliner 499 211.4 338.092 First record over 200 mph (300 km/h)
1956 Bonneville, USA Johnny Allen Triumph 649 214.5 345.188 Unratified by FIM[4]
1962 Bonneville, USA Bill Johnson Triumph 649 224.57 361.41
1966 Bonneville, USA Bob Leppan Gyronaut X-1[4] 1298 245.60 395.28 Triumph Special twin-engined
1970 Bonneville, USA Don Vesco United States Yamaha 700 251.66 405.25 Turbocharged[4] twin-engined[3]
First record over 250 mph (400 km/h)
1970 Bonneville, USA Cal Rayborn United States Harley-Davidson 1480 254.84 410.37 twin-engined[3]
1975[3] Bonneville, USA Cal Rayborn Harley-Davidson 1480 265.49 426.40 twin-engined[3]
1978[3] Bonneville, USA Don Vesco Kawasaki 2030 318.598 509.757 Turbocharged[4]
First record over 300 mph (500 km/h) twin-engined[3]
1990[3] Bonneville, USA Dave Campos United States Harley-Davidson ? 322.150 518.450 twin-engined[3]
3 September 2006[5] Bonneville, USA Rocky Robinson United States Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner 2600 343.127 553.209 twin Suzuki engines[5]
5 September 2006[5] Bonneville, USA Chris Carr United States BUB - Lucky 7 streamliner ? 351.062[5] 564.979[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Tragatsch, Erwin (1984). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles (second edition ed.). Feltham, Middlesex, England: Newnes Books/Temple Press. pp. p.304. ISBN 0-600-38477-2. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); |pages= has extra text (help)
  2. ^ Tragatsch, caption p.304, credits this run as 256.06 with a supercharged 746cc.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hennekam, Charles (December 2005). "World Records Bonneville". The FIM Magazine (PDF). FIM. p. p.57. Retrieved 2008-10-19. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c d Tragatsch, p.305.
  5. ^ a b c d e "World Record attempts: Historic land speed record broken in Bonneville". FIM. 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
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