Author Topic: The Britten returns  (Read 8332 times)

Offline johnr

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 4343
  • Location: Invercargill NZ
New Zealand
2002 Ev tourer (Stalled again...)

Offline Zoom Zoom

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 10519
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2015, 05:43:42 AM »
WOW. Fantastic! Thanks John. ;-T

John Henry

andrewdonald1

  • Guest
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2015, 06:33:22 AM »
An amazing part of motorcycling history.

I am pleased to see them returning for an event.

Offline boatdetective

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2985
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2015, 07:27:10 AM »
"not a gasket in the motor"
How rare is it to have a piece of engineering that is so unique and fresh? 
What a wonderful story.  Fantastic that the bikes will be out there racing.
Jonathan K
Marblehead, MA

1981 V50III "Gina"
2007 Griso 1100 "Bluto" (departed but not forgotten)
2003 EV "Lola" gone to the "Ridin' Realtor" in Peoria
2007 1200 Sport "Ginger"

"Who's the cat who won't cop out, when there's danger all about?"  -Isaac Hayes

Wildguzzi.com

Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2015, 07:27:10 AM »

Offline Curtis Harper

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1342
    • Harpers Moto Guzzi
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2015, 12:09:17 PM »
Makes me want the head south for that. I got to see it run at Daytona and man was that cool!
More Moto Guzzi parts than anywhere.
www.harpermoto.com
1-816-697-3411
curtis@harpermotocom

Offline roadscum

  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 602
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2015, 12:31:18 PM »
Thanks John . Britten is another Kiwi icon  ;-T

  Dusty

Indeed..... an engineering genius taken from us way too early in his life. One can only imagine what influence he might have had on the sport.

Paul
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing " - Socrates

Paul M. in SW Florida: 318 miles, 11 curves and not a Guzzi dealer in sight!

Offline jdgretz

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 1149
  • Proud Owner of a Red Norge
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2015, 12:41:08 PM »
Britten Number 10 resides at the Solvang Motorcycle Museum

Britten by jdgretz, on Flickr

jdg
2007 Norge Sophia The Fast Red One
1999 Honda Helix - Zippy
2008 Honda Goldwing


Offline Tobit

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2504
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2015, 01:21:37 PM »
Thanks for posting.  I saw the Britten run at Daytona when Joost was active on another Guzzi board.  Still have my Britten Racing T shirt.  I believe a cracked cylinder sleeve took them out of that race if I remember correctly.

Tobit
Roman, '86 LM IV

I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol

Offline Dean Rose

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 12224
    • Twin Valley Riders
  • Location: Claytor Lake Virginia
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2015, 01:31:39 PM »
Magnolia '02 EV
Sophia '06 Breva 1100 
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

Offline cruzziguzzi

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 6149
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2015, 01:32:20 PM »
Britten Number 10 resides at the Solvang Motorcycle Museum

Britten by jdgretz, on Flickr

jdg

I've made a point of seeing this one several times. Hope it's still there.

For my money excluding missing the "spaghetti bowl" of powder blue exhaust - it is unquestionably the most beautiful motorcycle ever made... aesthetically or technologically.

Thanks for the heads-up JohnR. I'd love to hear/see these running with the odd MGS-01 and VR1000. Love those exhaust notes.

On a weider note. That Solvang piece is the center of my own private - till now - fantasy of a "Thomas Crown Affair" scenario. Pinch it and just enjoy looking at it behind a faux-wall in my study. I don't need to ride it, I'll just look at it with one of the many internet soundtracks in the background.

Todd.
Todd
07 Calvin            77 TT500
95 Sport 1100      04 Breva 750
82 Katana           79 GS850G
72 "Crud"dorado
03 Barely Davidson 883 Huggy
Civilization ends at the waterline. Beyond that, we all enter the food chain, and not always right at the top.

Offline johnr

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 4343
  • Location: Invercargill NZ
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2015, 05:11:33 PM »
An international court had declared that Britten had the best claim to the *Indian* name . Wonder what that would have produced ?

  Dusty

I seem to remember some talk about that. I have a suspicion that plans were afoot prior to John Brittens death.

Frankly I have no idea what has happened the the brand since Johns death. I suspect it was sold off to some conglomerate and killed.  It might have just faded away having lost it's driving force, but I would have thought it had gained too much momentum for that.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2015, 05:14:23 PM by johnr »
New Zealand
2002 Ev tourer (Stalled again...)

Offline rboe

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 5086
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2015, 07:57:40 AM »
Phoenix, AZ
2000 Quota 1100 ES Black (sold & gone)
2008 Honda XR650L
2012 Griso SE
2013 Honda CB1100

Offline Spuddy

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 1108
  • Best Thing About A Mind Is Being Able To Change It
  • Location: Clancy, Montana
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2015, 10:04:57 AM »
And he cooled engine castings in his swimming pool... "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt must have been a Kiwi.
'13 Stelvio NTX
'07 California Vintage
'01 W650
'00 Quota 1100ES + Ural

Offline Steph

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 2219
  • Cali Stone/ LM3
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2015, 04:49:11 PM »
"In Switzerland they had brotherly love, they had 500 years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The coo coo clock" (Orson Welles)

New Zealand should be well proud of the Britten  ;-T


Offline johnr

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 4343
  • Location: Invercargill NZ
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2015, 03:38:40 PM »
New Zealand
2002 Ev tourer (Stalled again...)

oldbike54

  • Guest
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #15 on: January 15, 2015, 03:58:41 PM »
Here is Guy Martin having a crack on one.

http://www.3news.co.nz/sport/guy-martin-rides-britten-motorbike-at-manfield-2015011118#axzz3OVfzRP4v

Brilliant ! Now ... will someone translate what Guy said  ??? :D "Goes like buggery"  ;D

  Dusty

Offline rboe

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 5086
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2015, 04:12:16 PM »
Ron , something tells me that an Indian produced by Britten would have been a bit different .

  Dusty

I would hope so! I do like what Polaris has done; but frankly, lone genius's typically do a better job on projects like that than corporate types that have shareholders to behold to. Too bad we'll never know.
Phoenix, AZ
2000 Quota 1100 ES Black (sold & gone)
2008 Honda XR650L
2012 Griso SE
2013 Honda CB1100

Offline johnr

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 4343
  • Location: Invercargill NZ
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #17 on: January 15, 2015, 05:55:59 PM »
Brilliant ! Now ... will someone translate what Guy said  ??? :D "Goes like buggery"  ;D

  Dusty

Means he thinks it's fast Dusty.
New Zealand
2002 Ev tourer (Stalled again...)

oldbike54

  • Guest
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #18 on: January 15, 2015, 06:41:27 PM »
Means he thinks it's fast Dusty.

Hmm , thought buggery meant something else  ;D Have watched several Guy Martin videos over the years , not sure even his mates understand him  ::)

  Dusty

Offline AH Fan

  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 873
  • small stable of Italian stuff
  • Location: B.C Canada
Re: The Britten returns
« Reply #19 on: January 15, 2015, 07:39:41 PM »

 

20 Ounce Stainless Steel Double Insulated Tumbler
Buy a quality tumbler and support the forum at the same time!
Better than a YETI! BPA and Lead free.
Advertise Here