Oddball engines and prototypes

[J.A.W.]

BSA built spine frames ( some from Ti) for its MX bikes back in the `60s,
& BSA/Triumph productionised them as oil-in-frame chassis in a couple of variants - B25/50, Adventurer - & 650/750 twins..

Egli also built space frames for TZ race bikes too..

[husaberg]

Any piece of any solid material has a resonant frequency; don't worry too much about it.
Fritz Egli constructed most of his frames over big four-cylinder four-stroke engines but he also produced beauties like a frame for the 250cc Rotax tandem-twin engine.
..

And beautiful looking bodywork..................................
For that he would have needed an Italian rather than a Australian I think.
Frits was most famous here for his Vincent frames.
He also commissioned his own wheels and forks.
Some of histories best spines imo

Egli for a TZ

Wooley Yam made by what was to become Spondon

Egli Rep made by Terry Prince (for Vincent)

Norton Laydown Manx

Grump version for a Machi

Waddon for a 125 Rotax

[WilDun]

Husa,
All familiar looking stuff to me, I must say! The first Egli (pic#3)looks like it was for the Vincent engine.

Wasn't the bike in pic #4 an experimental Norton? or is it a replica of an experimental Norton - with disc brake?

Haven't seen many Aermacchi machines lately and that one sure looks good Grumph - looks like it's quite small too! Guess the Aermacchi is a natural layout for the spine type frame.

As I recall, The late Dr. Gordon Blair's QUB 500 racer had a spine frame too (as ridden by Ray McCulloch).

Then there was the Linto? (2xAermacchi 250 engines combined).

[Grumph]

[QUOTE=husaberg;1130896428]

Grump version for a Machi

Trying to work out how long ago that was taken - that bike is coming up 20 years old shortly.
Russ still brings it out occasionally.

[husaberg]

Husa,
All familiar looking stuff to me, I must say! The first Egli (pic#3)looks like it was for the Vincent engine.

Wasn't the bike in pic #4 an experimental Norton? or is it a replica of an experimental Norton - with disc brake?

Haven't seen many Aermacchi machines lately and that one sure looks good Grumph - looks like it's quite small too! Guess the Aermacchi is a natural layout for the spine type frame.

As I recall, The late Dr. Gordon Blair's QUB 500 racer had a spine frame too (as ridden by Ray McCulloch).

Then there was the Linto? (2xAermacchi 250 engines combined).

I added in some clarifications

The pic is the real experimental Norton it has a conical Manx type hub.

I have the pics of the QUB (Colin Seeley did that one)

Plus many other here and here
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...itish-Euro-etc
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...chassis+thread

[WilDun]

I have the pics of the QUB (Colin Seeley did that one)

That's the one! - I think it was quite successful too in the hands of Ray Mcculloch. and I remember Colin Seely and Blair working together.
Not often you get a racing motorcycle (possibly) sponsored by the taxpayer, - don't think the Kiwi taxpayer would be happy with that arrangement! but then Blair and co. also did a lot of engine development work for Yamaha and (indirectly for Toyota,) because Yamaha did four and five valve cylinder heads for Toyota!
That's my understanding of how it was anyway.

[husaberg]

That's the one! - I think it was quite successful too in the hands of Ray Mcculloch. and I remember Colin Seely and Blair working together.
Not often you get a racing motorcycle (possibly) sponsored by the taxpayer, - don't think the Kiwi taxpayer would be happy with that arrangement! but then Blair and co. also did a lot of engine development work for Yamaha and (indirectly for Toyota,) because Yamaha did four and five valve cylinder heads for Toyota!
That's my understanding of how it was anyway.

The MNZ sponsored Britten to race in NZ that caused a stir for sure. they even changed the rules to suit. I thought it was great others did not.
NZ tax payers have spent plenty on yachts.
The QUB stuck mainly to Irish races close to home without the works bikes.
they later sponsored and helped with a Harris Yamaha team with Jerremy McWilliams
They also did a lot of other work with manufactures including Jaguar.

I posted this ages ago
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130225567

[J.A.W.]

Italian taxpayers paid for Seeley to design `70s Ducati frames..

& later Ducati copied ( & even admitted it!) the F-750 J-P Norton Commando space frame for their later 'trellis' chassis..

[Grumph]

The MNZ sponsored Britten to race in NZ that caused a stir for sure. they even changed the rules to suit. I thought it was great others did not.
NZ tax payers have spent plenty on yachts.

NZ taxpayers gave Britten a Development Finance grant too...never paid back to my knowledge. MNZ sponsored to the tune of $1000 per meeting that one season. Never found out if they thought it was good value....

[husaberg]

Italian taxpayers paid for Seeley to design `70s Ducati frames..

& later Ducati copied ( & even admitted it!) the F-750 J-P Norton Commando space frame for their later 'trellis' chassis..

They even used his chain adjusters.
Yip all those are in the Chassis thread.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...chassis+thread

[husaberg]

NZ taxpayers gave Britten a Development Finance grant too...never paid back to my knowledge. MNZ sponsored to the tune of $1000 per meeting that one season. Never found out if they thought it was good value....

The John Shand days. They at the time said it was great value. The Kawaski importers were pretty livid about it as they had spent some pretty big coin themselves. I think the Ducati boys were a bit miffed as well but not sure.
there was a fair bit of bitching and counter responses from the MNZ in Kiwirider at the time I could likely dig them up if I delve into that pile of mags at some stage.
they said the boost to the spectators and the media coverage was actually good value for money. I thought the same. They were getting non bike people interested.
In my opinion Its a bloody shame we never really capitalised on the Malboro series stuff from the 70's.

The Britten at 1000 dollars per race meeting was likely cheaper than the Irish riders bar tab from the similar time period.
Who was it we had out here
Joey Dunlop
Ian Lounger
Who else?

[J.A.W.]

& yet I did enjoy seeing the BSL 500 GP waste the Britten V1000 - in a classic speed showdown - down Puke's back straight..

[WilDun]

NZ taxpayers sponsored Britten to the tune of $1000 per meeting that one season. Never found out if they thought it was good value....

If they had checked it all out, then they would have to check out every grant they gave to anyone and that would really open a can of worms!

[WilDun]

[QUOTE=husaberg;1130896521

The Britten at 1000 dollars per race meeting was likely cheaper than the Irish riders bar tab from the similar time period.
Who was it we had out here
Joey Dunlop
Ian Lounger
Who else?[/QUOTE]

Joey was an Ulsterman, Ian Lougher is Welsh!! Joey certainly was good at handling a bike but not the type to "lair it up" and most definitely not a pisshead, (even though he owned a pub)!
- get it right Husa!

[husaberg]

Joey was an Ulsterman, Ian Lougher is Welsh!! Joey certainly was good at handling a bike but not the type to "lair it up" and most definitely not a pisshead, (even though he owned a pub)!
- get it right Husa!

Who were the rest come own does anyone remember I don't.
I remember one riding an Aprilia 125

PS I also know the stuff Joey did for charity.
I also know he liked a beer. Plus a fag and his family
He was also far beyond good on a bike
I have a TT programme here somewhere I think came from them.