Top Gear - Ariel Atom V8 vs BMW1000R

MD · 25th January 2011, 21:38

Originally Posted by AllanB

I thought I read an article months back that Atom was making a V8 out of 2 R1 engines. Is this it?

Just checked out MCNews and they were present in Oct 10 when this was filmed. They state the Atom V8 used two Hayabusa heads. MCN claim it was fair test. Although they then say the Rider was only given a few laps AS A CAR PASSENGER, to learn the course, then jumped straight on to the bike with no ride time around the track. So how was that fair. Car driver got in practice laps and Bike tires would have been cold.

**cromagnon** · 25th January 2011, 21:39

Originally Posted by AllanB

I thought I read an article months back that Atom was making a V8 out of 2 R1 engines. Is this it?

Said that the v8 was two motorcycle engines put together so I guess so, 150k pounds is alot compared to 30k for old Atom, mostly motor and engine costs but what else is there.

Top gear isnt real and all the "races" are fixed, the presenters are more actors than anything else

**\m/** · 25th January 2011, 21:51

This is the website for the Atom v8 engine http://www.h1v8.com/ its based on the Hayabusa engine, they make a 2.8 litre "base model" and a 3.0 stroker version. Powertec also make v8s based on the Busa engine, theirs are 2.6l and 2.8. Synergy racing here in NZ make a 2.4 v8 based on the ZX12 engine which they use in speedway racing.

**racefactory** · 25th January 2011, 22:03

Originally Posted by MD

Just checked out MCNews and they were present in Oct 10 when this was filmed. They state the Atom V8 used two Hayabusa heads. MCN claim it was fair test. Although they then say the Rider was only given a few laps AS A CAR PASSENGER, to learn the course, then jumped straight on to the bike with no ride time around the track. So how was that fair. Car driver got in practice laps and Bike tires would have been cold.

I also read that one on MCN and thought it was FUCKING impressive of that rider to ride to that extent on the video. Definitely not fully into the groove but flying still. Probably could have got the fastest time on the entire board and beat the atom aye.

In a nutshell, without extreme down-force modifications (under-tray with air vortex splitters and venturis, advanced air flow management both in and outside car), rider and driver of equal ability... production road cars (including purpose built road legal track cars) will have an extremely hard time reliably beating a ''jump on and ride'' stock sports motorcycle around a circuit.

If anyone is interested I can dig out some issues of the quality car mag ''Speed'' , one in particular which was tested on Willow springs full circuit and took a stock 2005 ZX6R that whooped the XS engineering 589HP R34 (slicks etc etc) and a 500HP Z06 (You don't want to know what the ZX10R did). It's an extremely interesting and methodical article and they even performed SKID PAD lateral G tests with the bikes which not even the avereage biking magazine would dream of.

Stock ZX6R on Michelin pilot power tyres did 1.04G!!! (Pilot power sticky as shit to a blanket eh?) The vette did just over 0.9 on normal road tyres from memory and the ZX10R lightly modded with suspension did above that. Skyline on HOOSIER slick tyres did over 1.1... again, without significant aero aids the difference in mid corner speed is negligible.

The only real drawback they found for the bikes was that they had the wheel lifting off ground under braking thus not able to use full braking ability of the tyre. ZX6R was actually slightly worse than vette on braking distance.

**george formby** · 26th January 2011, 10:20

Originally Posted by Flip

Yes but saying that I haven't seen a BMW1000R in the flesh yet but I know of two Atoms around my side of Christchurch city probably not the new V8.

I wonder if that V8 is the same as the one in the Caterum 5000 which is two busa motors on a common crank.

Brilliant car, 1000hp per tonne. The car looked to be on road tires also.

Thinking about it logically, the bike did very well. The bike and the car had similar power to weight but almost any car can out brake any bike.

All said & done the car has better brakes ( a lot ) & more corner grip. Putting them on the track together is not a race because the bike has to take a safe line so the car does not drive over it on the brakes. Individual lap times would be the only honest measure.

**imdying** · 26th January 2011, 10:34

Originally Posted by pritch

By the time the car got going the bike was gone.

I'd take off too if you lent me one

**Kookie** · 26th January 2011, 12:13

awesome lil blatter, but, aside from cos you can, why would you? Unless you like having your face flap behind you at high speeds.

**onearmedbandit** · 26th January 2011, 12:23

Imagine the threads about this on S1000RR forums, there must be much gnashing of teeth.

**racefactory** · 26th January 2011, 12:29

Originally Posted by george formby

All said & done the car has better brakes ( a lot ) & more corner grip. Putting them on the track together is not a race because the bike has to take a safe line so the car does not drive over it on the brakes. Individual lap times would be the only honest measure.

Individual lap was timed at 1.16.1 making it the second fastest vehicle just behind the atom and ahead of the Bugatti Veyron.

Suspension was bottoming out all over the track apparently.

**george formby** · 26th January 2011, 12:49

Originally Posted by racefactory

Individual lap was timed at 1.16.1 making it the second fastest vehicle just behind the Atom and ahead of the Bugatti Veyron.

Suspension was bottoming out all over the track apparently.

Your typing digit got a stutter today?

If I won the lottery the Ariel atom would be at the top of my 4 wheel wish list, not the V8, a 1.6 honda engine would do me.

I do not have the cajones to do the S 1000 justice.

I'm off to do a few songs from "fiddler on the roof".

**ducatilover** · 26th January 2011, 12:55

Originally Posted by george formby

Your typing digit got a stutter today?

If I won the lottery the Ariel atom would be at the top of my 4 wheel wish list, not the V8, a 1.6 honda engine would do me.

I do not have the cajones to do the S 1000 justice.

I'm off to do a few songs from "fiddler on the roof".

I do believe the early Atom was the 2.0 Honda K20A from the DC5 integra/EP3 Civic Type R.

**george formby** · 26th January 2011, 13:01

Originally Posted by ducatilover

I do believe the early Atom was the 2.0 Honda K20A from the DC5 integra/EP3 Civic Type R.

I am happy to stand corrected, thank you.

That would do nicely with my bonus ball suprise.

**ducatilover** · 26th January 2011, 13:19

Originally Posted by george formby

I am happy to stand corrected, thank you.

That would do nicely with my bonus ball suprise.

I think I could do with one too, imagine the commute over rural roads I do....

**Flip** · 26th January 2011, 17:34

Even the standard Atom's are blindingly fast cars. I can't see $300-400K worth in one however fast they are, especially given the standard one is only $70K.