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Difference between revisions of "Super sport motorcycle"
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The | The '''Super sport motorcycle''' is grouped into three separate classes by The Motorcycle Safety Foundation. These are: ''street'', ''off-road'', and ''dual-sport''. A '''sport bike''' is a [[types of motorcycle|type of motorcycle]] under the street classification and is generally designed for optimised performance at the expense of motorcycle rider comfort, passenger/load capacity, and other features. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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Until the late 1960s motorcycles came in three basic formats: | Until the late 1960s motorcycles came in three basic formats: | ||
* Working bikes: Generally below 250cc and low-powered for commuting and utility | * Working bikes: Generally below 250cc and low-powered for commuting and utility traveling. | ||
* General bikes: Generally below 500cc/650cc for use as a working bike, but with a higher power output so it could also be used for fun on the weekends. | * General bikes: Generally below 500cc/650cc for use as a working bike, but with a higher power output so it could also be used for fun on the weekends. | ||
* Touring bikes: Anything above working/general bike sizes and built mainly for touring. | * Touring bikes: Anything above working/general bike sizes and built mainly for touring. | ||
The first company to crack this mold was arguably [[Vincent | The first company to crack this mold was arguably [[Vincent]]. Designed as a gentleman's touring bike, their model's speed was astounding for days when motorways and freeways didn't exist. However, its handling was basic, and its shortcomings became clear when faced by a motorway - girder forks. | ||
In the 1960s two bikes were developed which could be both daily commuter as well as weekend racer. These were the first sport bikes. The first was the [[BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident]], closely followed by the [[Honda CB750K]]. | In the 1960s two bikes were developed which could be both daily commuter as well as weekend racer. These were the first sport bikes. The first was the [[BSA Rocket 3]]/[[Triumph Trident T150]]/[[Triumph Trident T160]], closely followed by the [[Honda CB750K]]. | ||
The 1971 [[Kawasaki Z900/Z1|Kawasaki Z1]], however, with its 900cc [[DOHC]] engine finally started the era of the modern sport bike. The Z1 sold so well that by the end of that decade the Japanese manufacturers were all building competing machines similar to the Z1 with its DOHC inline-4 engine configuration. The resulting "bike war" among the Japanese manufacturers and required investment in modern engine manufacturing contributed to the demise of the flagging British motorcycle industry. | The 1971 [[Kawasaki Z900/Z1|Kawasaki Z1]], however, with its 900cc [[DOHC]] engine finally started the era of the modern sport bike. The Z1 sold so well that by the end of that decade the Japanese manufacturers were all building competing machines similar to the Z1 with its DOHC inline-4 engine configuration. The resulting "bike war" among the Japanese manufacturers and required investment in modern engine manufacturing contributed to the demise of the flagging British motorcycle industry. | ||