Featured In The August 2023 Issue:
The 1970s and 1980s were a great time to observe lots of interesting experiments in Grand Prix motorcycle chassis design. There were pro-squat and anti-squat suspension systems; fully floating caliper mounts; parallelogram swingarms; bell-crank rear shock linkages; pneumatic shocks; mono-shocks; twin shocks; conical disc/drum brakes; 16-inch wheels; steel-tube frames; aluminum square- tube frames; and sheet aluminum frames.
Engine power and tire grip were increasing, putting extra demands on frames and suspension to make the bike perform as its rider intended. Austrian manufacturer Rotax launched an inline twin-cylinder 250cc two-stroke engine in 1980, making it available to chassis manufacturers as an alternative to the popular Yamaha engines…
“Historic Racebike Illustrations: 1984 Kobas 250cc Grand Prix,” by Mick Ofield
Spanish chassis designer Antonio Cobas realized the slim Rotax engine design, similar to the Kawasaki KR250 (see the January 2015 issue of Roadracing World) would enable him to create a racebike with a narrow profile and better mass centralization. His unique twin-spar frame weighed in at less than eight pounds, and formed the basis of a Championship-winning machine. Read the details in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
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