Britten (motor bike)

Britten Motorcycle Company Ltd is a mark of New Zealand Motocyclette, created by John Britten.

History

John Britten is born on August 1st 1950 with Christchurch. At 13 years, it finds in a ditch a Indian Scout which it repairs. After having followed studies of mechanical engineering to the the United States, it begins again enters it taken family BTP which it gives on the rails. But there remains impassioned by the competition motor bike.

In 1986, John begins in a championship from New Zealand on a Ducati Darmah. But John is a perfectionist and he seeks has to improve his machine. He adds a more aerodynamic careenage to him. Later, it replaces the engine completely, going until creating its own machine, V1000. V1000 constitutes a prize list impressing with the wire of the races, in the whole world.

John Britten dies of a Cancer on September 5th 1995, his company remains managed by his close relations. A project of one-cylinder 600 cm, which held particularly in the middle of John, is continued, but will never be born.

Production

Aero

The first prototype, Aero-D-Zero, is designed for a friend of John, Mike Brosnan. It appears in 1986. It is Ducati Darmah on which John installs a careenage more aérodynamique.

The second model, Aero-D-One, is born only in 1987. It is an improvement of Aero-D-Zero. The careenage is replaced by a careenage monoshell manufactured out of carbon kevlar. The Ducati engine is replaced by a bicyclindre out of V open to 60°, cooled by air, with cylinder heads with double four valve and camshaft. It cubes 999 cm ³ (87 X 84 mm). It is given for 120 ch to 9.000 tr/min. This engine is created in partnership with the Denco.
company The brakes are signed Brembo, the reversed fork and the monoamortissor come from in White Power.

V1000

V1000 takes again the architecture of the engine of Aero-D-One, but the coasts are modified. The cubic capacity remains of 999 cm ³, but boring passes to 98,9 mm and the race with 65 Misters It is given for 166 ch to 11.800 tr/min.
Another version will be born: 1108 cm ³ (99 X 72 mm) and 171 ch.
The front suspension, imagined by John Britten, leaves side the traditional telescopic fork. They are two superimposed triangles coupled to a monoamortisseur.
The back is also worked. The oscillating carbon arm is fixed on the engine and a system of rod actuates the monoamortissor placed in front of the moteur.
The shock absorbers before and back are adjustable in prestressing, relaxation and compression. They are drawn from the Öhlins.
catalog The discs of 320 and 210 mm are gripped by clamps Brembo Or.

Only 10 models of Britten V1000 were produite.
Number 1 belongs to the companies Cardinal Network and Britten Motorcycle Company. It is equipped with the engine of 1108 cm ³.
Number 2 belongs to the museum of New Zealand, Te Papa.
Number 3 belongs to Italian, Roberto Crepaldi, owner of the factory Cafè Racers & Superbikes.
Number 4 belongs to American, Jim Hunter. It lent it for the road show The Art off the Motorcycle.
Number 5 belongs to American, Mark Stewart.
Number 6 belongs to the New Zealander, Kevin Grant, to owner of the company of material of irrigation Water Dynamics.
Number 7 belongs to George Barber, and is exposed in its museum, To bore it Vintage Motorcycle Museum of Birmingham.
Number 8 belongs to Californian, Michael Canepa.
Number 9 belongs to South-African, Gary Turner, but remains stationed with the Netherlands.
Number 10 belongs to American, Michael Iannuccilli.

External bond

The official site of Britten

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