Three of the best bikes from Brighton Speed Trials
Our pick of some of the nicest bikes at the 2018 Brighton Speed Trials at the weekend...
PICS: JOHN GOODMAN
OUR MAN John Goodman had a top day out at the Brighton Speed Trials - here's some of his favourite machines from the day...
Kenny Roberts replica Yamaha LC500.
Catching plenty of admiring glances in the paddock was Des Lindsey's eyeball-blistering road legal Kenny Roberts rep Yam LC500. Plenty of time and no little skill has gone into that GP bike look. The petrol tank is made up from sections on LC500,FZR600 and R6 painstakingly welded together covered in glorious Yammy Yellow and to top it all, literally, the autograph of the King himself which was signed at Goodwood giving the bike the ultimate seal of approval. An R6 front end is matched to a rear hoop suspended in a much-modified R1 swinging arm and Bill Lomas exhausts add to your ocular damage by taking your ears out too. Not a bike for a shy rider!
Jeff Dowsett's Suzuki GSX1100
This long and low Suzuki GSX1100 is a veteran survivor of the much-missed Ultimate Streetbike Series drag race world of the late 1980s and early 90s. It's now fitted with an ex-Paul Giddings 1,428cc big block motor stuffed with all the usual goodies, a nice long swingarm and a Vance&Hines race pipe giving 170bhp, increased to 240 ponies with a good dose of nitrous. Jeff's best time on the day was a creditable 10.06 secs giving him fifth place.
Colin Stannard's turbo Suzuki Bandit
Exuding an air of brutal menace was Colin Stannard's Spondon-framed Suzuki Bandit. The GSX-R1100 motor is punched out to 1340cc, and has a TTS flowed head plus Yoshi Stage 1 Cams, with the obligatory Carillo rods keeping everything inside the cases. A GSX-R lock up clutch takes care of power transfer which is boosted by the addition of Colin's beautifully crafted self-made blow-through turbo system.
Running at a conservative 10psi produces about 250+ gee-gees, which then make their way to the rear SuperCorsa. Ohlins forks and a gorgeous Spondon swinging arm do their best to keep both wheels pointing in the same direction - and of course the Spondon frame works a treat and looks fabulous. Colin's best time on the day was an 11.24 - nicely done...
