Two-strokes and Four-strokes.

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It has never made sense to race two-strokes in the same races as four-strokes. I have been reading about Paul Lewis and the development of the Honda RS750D road racer for the Pro-twins race class. It is what could have arrived in the 70s, if we'd never had the stupidity of running two-strokes in the same classes as four-strokes. I like two-strokes, but I made a conscious decision to only ever race a four-stroke. If all race classes only ever ran the two types of bikes together, I would probably be forced to ride two-strokes. Race organisers need to get as many entries as possible, so they usually run both types of bikes in the same classes, but they don't seem to know why the owners of four-stroke race bikes choose to stay away.

 
It is difficult to know which bike Lewis is riding in this race, and I cannot find any other.

 
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It is difficult to know which bike Lewis is riding in this race, and I cannot find any other.

You do know Andrew was playing with these guys?
He was so much faster he agreed to race with them until the last few laps, (to make it look like a real race,) and then he put in his fastest laps and left them.
He said later he would never do that again as the press commented that these guys were just as good as he was, since they stayed with him for so long.
 
It is difficult to know which bike Lewis is riding in this race, and I cannot find any other.


Thanks for the video Al - pity it's been spoiled with the dubbed shit music.
The original track would have been so much better.
 
Yep, playing with 'em. Looking around, pulling wheelies, leaving door open, making a good show.
 
What a great video.

The ‘what might have been’ with Britten has to be one of the most tantalising in motorcycle history...
 
The story about the Honda RS750D was in an old Classic Racer magazine. It is a very interesting read. Originally the motor was being used on flat track, but the fitted it into an RS500 frame and Honda supplied them with a 5 speed close box to replace the original 4 speed. It had a very low first gear with 4th gear close up to 5th. The Ant used to get bliistering starts, and with the great torque of the 750 motor was able to out-ride. The crankshaft in the V twin motor had staggered journals which made it similar to a Ducati. It sounded like half an RC45. Also interesting was it's tendency to understeer as it accelerated out of corners. It had 27.5 degree rake on the steering head. The proposed cure was to be to fit a shorter swing arm, but I think that would have made the steering quicker and more dangerous. Apparently the RS750D has never been replicated. Bubba Showa use the RS750D on dirt. I think the guy who built the road race bike was Ray Plumer and he was not interested in building any more.
 
What a great video.

The ‘what might have been’ with Britten has to be one of the most tantalising in motorcycle history...

I think in that video The Ant was on number 6, and that was the RS750D. It's a pity there is no commentary. Late in the video, it shows The Ant retiring on a Guzzi, so it's a bit confusing. I actually knew Paul Lewis, was a member of the same motorcycle club. He was on excellent rider. I think he is now deceased. I never knew what he achieved overseas. Apparently he won a lot on the RS750D in Pro-twins.
 
I don't object to racing against two-strokes - to me they are irrelevant, so I just ignore them. In the classes in which I race, it is legal to use methanol, but none of the young guys know how to use it in a two-stroke. My methanol-fuelled T250 Suzuki would make any Commando look stupid around Winton. With me, it has never been about winning races. I like the competition to be a level playing field. Then if you win, you have actually achieved.
I am surprised that Peter Williams ever got anywhere near a TZ750 with his Commando. With two-strokes, it is a different ball-game.
 
In 1989 our TZ250 made just over 80HP, in a very short power band. It weighted about 210 lbs

Lap times at Daytona by a top rider were within .3 of a second for the entire race, if you had a 1 second lead, you had already won the race.

The RS750 motors Martin Adams used (Commonwealth Racing), built by Ray Plumb, were bored out to 850cc, the 750 version made over 100HP, and a wide flat torque curve.
 
 
Is there still a Pro Twins race category in international road racing ? Or even BEARS ? Seems to me, it might be a lost opportunity to have some real fun. When you think about it, a converted Virago engine with two four valve MX top ends, might do something.

 
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