Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials 2021

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Just curious....
Are any of you guys planning on attending BMST this year?

I have spectated a few times and have always wanted to run a bike on the salt,
so I built myself a 76 Goldwing to race and just paid my entry.

It's been a long time coming.... but I'm getting pretty excited as the event draws near.
 
Just curious....
Are any of you guys planning on attending BMST this year?

I have spectated a few times and have always wanted to run a bike on the salt,
so I built myself a 76 Goldwing to race and just paid my entry.

It's been a long time coming.... but I'm getting pretty excited as the event draws near.
I WISH!!!!

I ran ONE PASS in 2008, and set my AHRMA class record on a scratch-built, basically bone stock '60s Triumph Bonneville.

One of the top 10 days in my life.
 
I WISH!!!!

I ran ONE PASS in 2008, and set my AHRMA class record on a scratch-built, basically bone stock '60s Triumph Bonneville.

One of the top 10 days in my life.
Nigel told me that 60s Triumph Bonnevilles were not fast. I still think many guys do not know what to do with 48 horsepower, let alone with over 100. A good Manx only turns out about 50 BHP. and one of those would sort most guys out, in the right sort of race.
 
Nigel told me that 60s Triumph Bonnevilles were not fast. I still think many guys do not know what to do with 48 horsepower, let alone with over 100. A good Manx only turns out about 50 BHP. and one of those would sort most guys out, in the right sort of race.
As GP said, all relative… 48 bhp is PLENTY Al… in a race class with other 48bhp machines….!

You were talking about comparing a 60s Bonnie to a modern bike. All that proves is you haven’t ridden a modern bike in a very long time…
 
Comparing a 1960s Bonneville street bike with a modern street bike, where is the advantage in either one when you cannot fang them ? - 100 BHP in a street bike - you have to be joking. All it is, is bragging rights. Around the back of Winton Raceway, a 650 Bonneville would be as fast as any other bike, except an RS125 Honda.
 
76 was a good year for Goldwings.... Mine is 79 and still going strong. Stock she should putter out maybe 125 or a tad more.... The brake system..... Oh well, can't have everything.
 
the record in the class is 127 and change.
the plan is to tune it the best I can, hold it wide open, and hope for a tailwind.
 
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Comparing a 1960s Bonneville street bike with a modern street bike, where is the advantage in either one when you cannot fang them ? - 100 BHP in a street bike - you have to be joking. All it is, is bragging rights. Around the back of Winton Raceway, a 650 Bonneville would be as fast as any other bike, except an RS125 Honda.
Al you are simply wrong.

Up hills, through the canyons, on the straights, on the brakes… a 60s Bonnie is just no match for a half decent big modern bike.

Al, I’m a life long Triumph fan, I’ve got a ‘68 T120 and a ‘80 T140 so I’m not just talking through my rose tinted glasses!

I sometimes ride my T140 with my mates on modern bikes and it does surprise them it’s true, it’s certainly not as slow as they think. So long as they’re not ‘going for it’ it’s fine. But if they decide to turn it up, there’s not a lot I can do to keep up, and if I tried the bike wouldn‘t oblige for very long!

Actually, 100bhp is a really nice and sensible output for a modern street bike. At that you’ve probably got a sweet, torquey, easy going engine with plenty of go (like the Africa twin with its lovely 1100cc parallel twin, or the ubiquitous 1200 Thruxton).

The outrageous street bikes are over 200bhp these days Al. At that kinda output I’m with your argument 100%.
 
So...
48 hp. = too slow
100 hp. = sensible
200 hp. = outrageous

But wait,
how about that little buddfab streamlined bike?
49cc.
145 mph.
but only 21 hp.

some people can do a lot with just a little.
 
are you going to Bonneville next month?
If so... stop by my pits and say hello.
 
Good luck, Mark. I last ran my Norton there at the 2019 BMST event, but can't make it this year. I've heard that the salt condition is very good this year.

Ken
 
Update:
well... I did it.
My bike set a AMA National Land Speed Record on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

I made 7 passes with my top speed being 133.826 mph.
The two way average for the record was 130.629 mph.


Congratulations, Mark. Enjoy it while you can. The records I set with my Norton some years back only lasted one year before someone came along and went a little faster. But that can give you the motivation to go back to the salt and take your record back. Does it feel like an addiction yet?

Ken
 
Well I knew the world had gone mad with Covid and all sorts, but a Goldwing Landspeed record breaker !? That takes the biscuit !

But seriously Mark, well done, that must feel great !
 
So...
48 hp. = too slow
100 hp. = sensible
200 hp. = outrageous

But wait,
how about that little buddfab streamlined bike?
49cc.
145 mph.
but only 21 hp.

some people can do a lot with just a little.
i keep telling my wife that
 
Way to go! Very capable motors.... I'm partial to the older ones since I still ride one.
 
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