Munro is the Man

[dangerous]

Yee frigen haaa................. I watched NZ's fastest Indian race Ausies fastest Indian today and what a bloody awesome thing to get too see... sorry guys but you really had to be there.
Heres a few pics I took you know which bike is Burt Munro's the other is a 4valve headed Indian from 1924 the real thing were as Burt's is a replica built for the movie.
You have to see these things move to believe it..... the 4v was pulling whellies down the main straight at Rupuna, I shit you not.

In the drag race betwen these bikes the Munro would pull out frount but mid track the 4v would pull out frount with the Munro then catching with only a bike lenth or 2 between them...... I think looking at the frount sprocket that the Munro was geared to high for such a small run.

Bugger it people I have a vid of the 1st drag on the camera but have no idea how to get it on the web for you guys to injoy.......... ohhhhhhhhhh the sound was beautafull.

[dangerous]

Ok... heres a few more.

[Kickaha]

The Aussie 4 valver was wheelstanding out of the dipper

[dangerous]

The Aussie 4 valver was wheelstanding out of the dipper
I knowwwwwww.................... how frecking cool was that :wacko:

opps..... were you there? thought I forgot something :confused:

[gav]

Makes you wonder how good they would be if they were still around today

[TonyB]

I didn't get to see the Munro replica running (fuggit!) but the Aussie 4 valver was an amazing beast- heaps of go, awesome sound. Dangerous, if you go to www.photobucket.com you can set up user name etc there, then you can link a URL to the movie file, or perhaps do a direct link.
Just a wee story to give you an idea of what a beast the Munro bike was (appologies for the sketchy details but sadly both of these good men died of cancer, so I can't refresh the details- find out all you can before they're gone):
My father in law (Len) and his brother in law (John) were 'milk bar cowboys' back in the 60's. They used to compete in the odd event, and on one occasion they went to some beach racing. I forget exactly what John was riding, but it was a Triumph of some description and was regarded as pretty quick at the time. Anyway, they lined them all up and John noticed 'this old bloke on this clapped out old Indian' sitting someway further back. John didn't know it, but it was Burt Munro and he was sitting back there because they had handicapped his bike. So John thought 'I'm not gonna sit up here while that old bloke on that POS is sitting way back there' so he pushed his bike back and lined up beside him. The flag dropped and the Munro bike "took off like a shower of shit" John couldn't see anything for all the sand it was kicking up. Apparently it blew past the other bikes and rapidly receeded into the distance, wheelspinning madly all the way.

I guess the only way of comparing it would be if someone dragged off your 05 GSXR1000 on something from the 60's...or maybe if your factory Ducati got its arse kicked by a bike 'built in a backyard shed' by some eccentric bloke in NZ...

[Wolf]

or maybe if your factory Ducati got its arse kicked by a bike 'built in a backyard shed' by some eccentric bloke in NZ...
Yeah, but how often does that happen? :lol: :lol:

[dangerous]

the Munro bike "took off like a shower of shit"
The Munro bike started of as a 596 Indian Scout in 1920 it ended up pulling 295.3kph (183.5mph) at Bonneville in 1967 :2thumbsup

[Kickaha]

Yeah, but how often does that happen? :lol: :lol:


In real life? it hasn't yet,built in a back shed by one bloke my arse! :shake:

[dangerous]

In real life? it hasn't yet,built in a back shed by one bloke my arse! :shake:
LOL... yeah GSX gear box for a start IIRC

[TonyB]

In real life? it hasn't yet,built in a back shed by one bloke my arse! :shake:
Yeh, I know I know. I've got the book. Sounds good for marketing purposes and perpetuating the Kiwi myth though, eh? :cool:
wonder if Munro really did it on HIS own???

[dangerous]

Wonder if Munro really did it on HIS own???
aparantly so........ cant wait for the movie to come out :2thumbsup

[Kickaha]

Yeh, I know I know. I've got the book. Sounds good for marketing purposes and perpetuating the Kiwi myth though, eh? :cool:
wonder if Munro really did it on HIS own???

I think it far more likely that a person of that era would be doing it on his own but I would think that anyone would sometimes have help from their friends etc form time to time

[Stevo]

I think it far more likely that a person of that era would be doing it on his own but I would think that anyone would sometimes have help from their friends etc form time to time

Hmmmmm. If ya want I will help your new sidecar by fitting a Honda POWERplant in there for ya mate. Be the biggest help anyone could be for ya. Ya might actually win then :killingme

[speedpro]

In real life? it hasn't yet,built in a back shed by one bloke my arse! :shake:
Jim Steadman's 750 triple was built in his shed, by him alone. He lives in the shed as well. OK he only made the crankcases and crankshaft but that would be comparable effort-wise to Burt I think.

[speedpro]

A flatmate in Chch had a Dad who owned an old Indian. Ginge the flatmate had a Z1 which he thrashed everywhere. He reckons his Dad's Indian would blow his doors off in a drag down the street. Don't know what had been done to the Indian but ginge wouldn't admit to being beaten if he hadn't been.

[gav]

Jim Steadman's 750 triple was built in his shed, by him alone. He lives in the shed as well. OK he only made the crankcases and crankshaft but that would be comparable effort-wise to Burt I think.
Ya got any photos and details on that bike? Saw it down here at Ruapuna for the Nationals but don't think it ever got on the track. Its an interesting looking piece, I certainly took a bit more interest when the name Jimmy Steadman was mentioned , he use to build (prob still does) some impressive looking buckets and bucket side chairs.

[dangerous]

Hmmmmm. If ya want I will help your new sidecar by fitting a Honda POWERplant in there for ya mate. Be the biggest help anyone could be for ya. Ya might actually win then :killingme
nope.... he'd manage to break it Honda or no Honda :niceone:

[Kickaha]

Jim Steadman's 750 triple was built in his shed, by him alone. He lives in the shed as well. OK he only made the crankcases and crankshaft but that would be comparable effort-wise to Burt I think.

Forgot about that one,it was at the Nationals down here but I didn't get to have a close look at it.

Didn't he make a bucket motor out of weedeater motors joint together?

[Kickaha]

Hmmmmm. If ya want I will help your new sidecar by fitting a Honda POWERplant in there for ya mate. Be the biggest help anyone could be for ya. Ya might actually win then :killingme

Then why is it if they're so good for the second year in a row the Honda powered outfit will finish second,this year to a Suzuki,last year to a Yamaha :shake:

[Paul in NZ]

I met Bert Munro once but i was too young to realise what he was (I knew who he was)

My Guzzi got it's arse kicked by a flat head indian at Manfield once (I could get him under brakes but thats IT)

30's bikes are a bloody marvel. Still basically bicycle frames but modern (ish) engines and some of them really honk. Mainly because they are quite light. (brakes and handling are suspect)

Army Indians (741's 500cc) are not startling though! (sheesh)


Paul N

[Motu]

There were a few Indians (army ones I presume,I was young at the time) back in the late 60s early 70s with British single top ends,Matchless I seem to remember,but I would say someone did it with B31s too,be kinda inevitable.

In amoungst the random Munro/Indian/Ruapuna threads is a Hillman Imp powered bike - I have seen one in a Featherbed and another in a sidecar.My mechanic has given up on Imp motors and has fitted a Subaru into his Imp.

While we are rambling about home built specials - years ago,very late 70s,early 80s - I was rumaging in the Strong Bros (the Mini wreckers,now Honda) scap heap and I unearthed 2 Triumph 650 Tiger cranks (I fitted one into a pre unit 500 Speed Twin motor)...and I also uncovered two left hand pre unit cases,a 5T and a T100...welded together in a V..!! I had no desire to build a 1000 or 1100cc Triumph V Twin,so just had them on my mantlepiece for years,bit of an eye popping talking piece for those who were allowd into my home.In my many shifts I seem to have lost track of it,I've asked my closest friends,who are the only ones I would give it to,if they have it,but they say no....

A couple of years ago leafing through a Classic Bike mag I see a story of a V Twin Triumph T100 Special,built in New Zealand,there was a picture of the bike - with my cases! They were wondering what became of the bike as it has disapeared - so I wrote an email to Classic Bike and told them my story...I don't know if they followed the story up with my letter,or if they tossed the letter as some wanker trying to make a name of himself...

[Stevo]

Then why is it if they're so good for the second year in a row the Honda powered outfit will finish second,this year to a Suzuki,last year to a Yamaha :shake:

Driver ability mate. Ya see the Zook and the Yammie only good for one year each! :killingme The good old Honda still truckin!

Think I agree with Dangerous on this one tho. Whatever you have you will break it.................... :brick:

[Stevo]

This will make ya chuckle tho. When I first read the thread I didn't think "Indian" as in motorcycle as in race between the fastest Indian NZ rider vs the fastest Indian Ozzzie rider. :killingme

Not sure I shoulda just admitted to that :spudwave:

[Kickaha]

The Aussie 4 valver was wheelstanding out of the dipper

http://www.sportzfotoz.co.nz/

Aint it cool! :niceone:

[dangerous]

http://www.sportzfotoz.co.nz/

Aint it cool! :niceone:
Mate make them work for it why dont ya :spudwave: and thats way cool told ya I wasent seeing things.... but whats cooler is the sound of it.
Thats the 4 valve header from 1924


http://www.sportzfotoz.co.nz/DSC_1531.jpg

[dangerous]

Not long now till the movie comes out...... so thought I'd bring the thread to life again for those that arnt up to speed with Burt Munro and his speed record out of his back yard shed.

Also see Rashika's thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=16227) and her mag write up on Munro. (open attachment post #1)

[inlinefour]

Sounds and looks like it was an awesome day :woohoo:

[Smorg]

Mate make them work for it why dont ya :spudwave: and thats way cool told ya I wasent seeing things.... but whats cooler is the sound of it.
Thats the 4 valve header from 1924


http://www.sportzfotoz.co.nz/DSC_1531.jpg

haha nice expression he should have worn a tinted visor :rofl:

[oldrider]

Not that it relates to Burt Munro but I learned to ride on an "Army" Indian and an old BSA. I also learned to drive in an old model T ford and an Austin seven car. We used to drive them all over our Grandfathers farm back in the early fifties. The Indian and the model T were a piece of art, nothing like today's set up. An Army Indian would be stretched at 60mph flat out. Throttle on right, spark advance /retard on left, foot clutch hand gear change and I think the brakes were hand both sides. Doesn't matter both brakes were useless anyhow. The lights made it darker they were that poor. It was a bit of an act for us little kids kicking it over real scary stuff but you had to take the risk to get a ride. We weren't really supposed to ride the bikes or drive the cars but when cats away!!! The bikes and cars belonged to our uncles. When Grandad drove a vehicle he always went through the back of the shed because it wouldn't stop when he said whooah. We used to piss ourselves laughing. Sorry off point, carried away, John.