Lightning Bolt (motorcycle)
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Lightning Bolt (motorcycle)
Lightning Bolt is an American-built streamliner motorcycle that held the motorcycle land-speed record from 1978, when Don Vesco rode it to , until 1990. It was also the fastest vehicle participating in the 1978 Bonneville Speed Week with a one-way run. It was powered by twin turbocharged inline-4 engines sourced from a Kawasaki Kz1000, with a combined displacement of 2,032 cc. The near-stock engines were linked at both ends of their cranks by two Gilmer belts and utilized the rear engine's gearbox. Lightning Bolt was apparently succeeded by another streamliner based on two turbocharged six-cylinder Kawasaki motors (probably from the early-1980s Kawasaki Z1300) that did not set records. Vesco turned his attention to automobile land speed racing in the 1990s with a six-wheel car called "Skytracker" that Vesco described as a "cross between a car and a motorcycle", then his final vehicle, the land speed record-setting #111 Turbinator. Notes References * * * * * * * * * See ...
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Don Vesco
Don Vesco (April 8, 1939 – December 16, 2002) was an American businessman and motorcycle racer who held multiple motorcycle land-speed and wheel-driven land speed records. In his lifetime, he set 18 motorcycle and 6 automobile speed records. His accomplishments recognized by the American Motorcyclist Association include winning the United States motorcycle Grand Prix 500 cc class in 1963, operating a California motorcycle dealership that sponsored up to 60 racers at a time, and setting a number of motorcycle and automobile land speed records. Speed records His motorcycle land speed records were set in 1970 at in a twin-engined streamliner " Big Red", becoming the first person to ride faster than 250 mph; in 1975, when he pushed past the milestone for the first time with " Silver Bird"; and in 1978 at in a twin-turbo powered streamliner " Lightning Bolt", a record that stood for 12 years. In 2001, he set the FIA wheel-driven land speed record of in a turbosha ...
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Kawasaki Z1300
The Kawasaki Z1300 is a standard motorcycle unusual for its large-displacement ''1,300 cc'' straight-six engine made by Kawasaki from 1979 to 1989. Performance Kawasaki Z1300's length is 89.1 inches, and its width is 30.9 inches, its height: 49.8 inches, the wheelbase is 62.2 inches, seat height is 31.2 inches, ground clearance is 5.5 inches, weight is 314 kg. The Z1300 had six cylinders, water cooling, and shaft drive. The undersquare stroke of and bore of kept the engine width acceptable, but the high piston speed limited the maximum rpm figure. During its ten-year production run, fuelling was switched from carburetors to electronic fuel injection and suspension was upgraded to air systems front and rear. Fuel injection system was adopted primarily to improve fuel consumption, but as a bonus were increased power and torque. When released, its output was in excess of , which prompted France to introduce a limit on new motorcycles. However, no other EU country ...
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Feet Forwards Motorcycles
The foot ( : feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws or nails. Etymology The word "foot", in the sense of meaning the "terminal part of the leg of a vertebrate animal" comes from "Old English fot "foot," from Proto-Germanic *fot (source also of Old Frisian fot, Old Saxon fot, Old Norse fotr, Danish fod, Swedish fot, Dutch voet, Old High German fuoz, German Fuß, Gothic fotus "foot"), from PIE root *ped- "foot". The "plural form feet is an instance of i-mutation." Structure The human foot is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments.Podiatry Channel, ''Anatomy of the foot and ankle'' The joints of the ...
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Land Speed Record Motorcycles
Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of the planet Earth that is not submerged by the ocean or other bodies of water. It makes up 29% of Earth's surface and includes the continents and various islands. Earth's land surface is almost entirely covered by regolith, a layer of rock, soil, and minerals that forms the outer part of the crust. Land plays important roles in Earth's climate system and is involved in the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and water cycle. One-third of land is covered in trees, 15% is used for crops, and 10% is covered in permanent snow and glaciers. Land terrain varies greatly and consists of mountains, deserts, plains, plateaus, glaciers, and other landforms. In physical geology, the land is divided into two major categories: mountain ranges and relatively flat interiors called cratons. Both are formed over millions of years through plate tectonics. A major part of Earth's water cycle, streams shape the lan ...
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Motorcycles Of The United States
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport (including racing), and off-road riding. Motorcycling is riding a motorcycle and being involved in other related social activity such as joining a motorcycle club and attending motorcycle rallies. The 1885 Daimler Reitwagen made by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Germany was the first internal combustion, petroleum-fueled motorcycle. In 1894, Hildebrand & Wolfmüller became the first series production motorcycle. Globally, motorcycles are comparably popular to cars as a method of transport. In 2021, approximately 58.6 million new motorcycles were sold around the world, fewer than the 66.7 million cars sold over the same period. In 2014, the three top motorcycle producers globally by volume were Honda (28%), Yamaha (17 ...
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Motorcycle Land-speed Record
The motorcycle land-speed record is the fastest speed achieved by a motorcycle on land. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions. AMA National Land Speed Records requires 2 passes the same calendar day in opposite directions over a timed mile/kilo while FIM Land Speed World Records require two passes in opposite directions to be over a timed mile/kilo completed within 2 hours. These are special or modified motorcycles, distinct from the fastest production motorcycles. The first official Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) record was set in 1920, when Gene Walker rode an Indian on Daytona Beach at . Since late 2010, the Ack Attack team has held the motorcycle land speed record at . History The first generally recognized motorcycle speed records were set unofficially by Glenn Curtiss, using aircraft engines of his own manufacture, first in 1903, when he achieved at Yonkers, New York using a V-twin, a ...
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American Motorcyclist
''American Motorcyclist'' is an American magazine published monthly by the American Motorcyclist Association, covering issues of importance to its members, including legislation and regulations, touring, trail riding, motocross, enduros, road racing, cruisers and dirt track. Since April 2013, the magazine has published a second version that focuses on off-highway riding and competition. Circulation The magazine is sent free of charge to members of the American Motorcyclist Association, and the current issue is available to members free online. The magazine is not sold on news stands. Members can access a complete catalog of back issues in PDF format for free on the website www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Contributors ''American Motorcyclist'' has many freelance contributors, including Tom Mehren ''Sound RIDER!'' began as a monthly online magazine about motorcycling in the Pacific Northwest. It was founded by publisher Tom Mehren in 1999.AMA 2012 The magazine features editorial a ...
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Fédération Internationale De Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM; en, International Motorcycling Federation) is the global governing/sanctioning body of motorcycle racing. It represents 116 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions. There are seven motorcycle-racing disciplines that FIM covers, encompassing 82 world championships as well as hundreds of secondary championships: enduro, trial, circuit racing, motocross and supermoto, cross-country, e-bike, and track racing. FIM is also involved in many non-racing activities that promote the sport, its safety, and support relevant public policy. The FIM is also the first international sporting federation to publish an Environmental Code, in 1994. In 2007, a Commission for Women in Motorcycling was created by the FIM in order to promote the use of powered two-wheelers and the motorcycle sport among women. History The FIM was born from the ''Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes'' (FI ...
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Gilmer Belt
A toothed belt; timing belt; cogged belt; cog belt; or synchronous belt is a flexible belt with teeth moulded onto its inner surface. Toothed belts are usually designed to run over matching toothed pulleys or sprockets. Toothed belts are used in a wide array of mechanical devices where high power transmission is desired. Design and application ''Timing belts'', ''toothed belts'', ''cogged'' or ''cog belts'', and ''synchronous belts'' are non-slipping mechanical drive belts. They are made as flexible belts with teeth moulded onto their inner surface. The belts run over matching toothed pulleys or sprockets. When correctly tensioned, these type of belts have no slippage, and are often used to transfer motion for indexing or timing purposes (hence their name). They are often used in lieu of chains or gears, so there is less noise and a lubrication bath is not necessary. Toothed belts are used widely in mechanical devices, including sewing machines, photocopiers and many others. A ...
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Silver Bird (streamliner)
Silver Bird was a motorcycle land-speed record setting streamliner motorcycle. It was powered by two motors delivering . It was the first motorcycle to set a speed record over , when ridden by Don Vesco at the Bonneville Speedway in 1975. Construction The motorcycle was built by Don Vesco and sponsored by Yamaha. It had two four-cylinder, 694.9 cc reed-valve two-stroke engines from the Yamaha TZ750 The Yamaha TZ750 is a Production vehicle, series production two-stroke race motorcycle built by Yamaha Motor Company, Yamaha to compete in the Formula 750 class in the 1970s. ''Motorcyclist (magazine), Motorcyclist'' called it "the most notorious a ... racebike. Specifications *Displacement: 1,389.8 cc total *Engine bore and stroke: 64mm×54mm *Dimensions: 21 feet long, 32 inches high *Weight: c. References Notes Sources * * * * * * * * Further reading * External links * Motorcycles of the United States Land speed record motorcycles Feet forwards motorcycles Str ...
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Kawasaki Kz1000
The Kawasaki Kz1000 or Z1000 is a motorcycle made in Japan by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine, Kawasaki, manufacturing commenced in September 1976 for the 1977 model year. The Z1000A1 was an upgraded model to replace the 1976 Kawasaki KZ900 (Z900), which in turn replaced the Kawasaki Z1, Z1 launched in 1972 in the Kawasaki Z series, Z series. It has an Inline-four engine, inline-four cylinder engine and a 5-speed transmission, in a 'one down and four up' configuration. Producing about 90 hp, it was one of the fastest production motorcycles of the era. The police model continued in production until 2005. Model differences Some of the significant differences between the KZ900 and the KZ1000 include that the 1000 has a heavier crankshaft for less engine vibration, smoother acceleration and a larger displacement as a result of increasing the cylinder bore from 66mm to 70mm. The 1000 received a rear disc brake. There were various configurations of specifications an ...
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