How fast do speedway motorbikes go?
With a top speed of around 80mph, speedway bikes have no brakes, just one fixed gear, a clutch and 500cc engines which run on methanol fuel.
What engines do speedway bikes use?
Speedway bikes use a methanol fuelled 500cc engines which produce around 85 BHP. The major manufacturers are Jawa of the Czech Republic and GM of Italy. Modern bikes must adhere to strict weight limits, and use a ‘lay down’ configuration that helps produce a low centre of gravity.
How much does a new speedway bike cost?
Purchase prices can be as low as $2-3,000 with a brand new machine costing $5,500. Pinjar Park speedway stadium is ideal for 50cc class bikes, especially newer riders.
How much does a speedway bike weigh?
FIM regulations state that the motorcycles must have no brakes, are fueled by pure methanol, use only one gear and weigh a minimum of 77 kilograms (170 lb). By using engine and rear wheel sprockets the gear ratio can be adjusted as required for track conditions.
Why do speedway bikes have no brakes?
That’s right, they have no brakes. The bikes use methanol as fuel and although they only have one gear, that gear accelerates the bikes from 0-60mph as fast as an F1 car!
Do speedway motorcycles have brakes?
Speedway bikes have acceleration on par with a Formula One race car (0 – 100km/h in under 3 seconds) but rather surprisingly have no brakes or rear suspension and there is only one fixed gear (modified by changing the sprocket).
How do speedway bikes stop?
To stop the bike, you shut the throttle and the engine does the braking. But if you need to stop the bike in a hurry, say if a rider falls off in front of you, you have to do a controlled crash – you go into an overslide and slide off the bike.
What oil do speedway bikes use?
Fuels & Oils Only pure methanol is used to fuel the bikes, because methanol makes it possible to use a higher compression ratio than with other fuels, resulting in high engine power outputs. The typical speedway smell doesn’t come from the methanol but from the castor oil (vegetable oil) based engine oil.
How do you stop a speedway bike?
How do you slide on a speedway bike?
Woffinden says: “You start by leaning off the bike to tip it sideways and turning the bars to the left. You’ve got your left foot down on the steel shoe and because there’s some weight off the bike it’s freer underneath you. Then you roll off the throttle and nail it again to get the wheelspin that makes the bike turn.
Why do speedway bikes not have brakes?
One of the biggest factors that distinguishes speedway from other forms of motorcycle racing is the fact that riders have no brakes to stop their bike. To go around a corner, the rider will lean in and accelerate, forcing the back wheel to step out and allow the rider to slide the bike around the curve.
What is the smell at speedway?
Fuels & Oils The typical speedway smell doesn’t come from the methanol but from the castor oil (vegetable oil) based engine oil. Some of the latest synthetic racing oils also give this irresistible racing atmosphere.