The Honda CX series motorcycles, including the GL500 and GL650 Silver Wing variants, were developed and released by Honda in the late 1970s, with production ending in most markets by the mid 1980s. The design included innovative features and technologies that were uncommon or unused at the time such as liquid cooling, electric-only starting, low-maintenance shaft drive, modular wheels, and dual CV-type carburetors that were tuned for reduced emissions. The electronic ignition system was separate from the rest of the electrical system, but the motorcycle could only be started via the start button.
The rim is the "outer edge of a wheel, holding the tire". It makes up the outer circular design of the wheel on which the inside edge of the tire is mounted on vehicles such as automobiles. For example, on a bicycle wheel the rim is a large hoop attached to the outer ends of the spokes of the wheel that holds the tire and tube. In cross-section, the rim is deep in the center and shallow at the outer edges, thus forming a "U" shape that supports the bead of the tire casing.
Rostyle wheels are a notable design of automobile wheels of American origin but made under licence by the British firm of Rubery Owen. The Rostyle wheel was especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s.
The Honda VTX series is a line of V-twin Honda cruiser motorcycles inspired by the Zodia concept shown at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show. The Honda VTX 1800 was launched in 1999 as a 2000 model. At the time this bike was introduced the Honda VTX engine was the largest displacement production V-twin in the world, but that distinction would be short-lived as the VTX1800 was superseded in 2004 by the 2.0-liter Kawasaki Vulcan 2000. Nevertheless, the VTX 1800 still produced better 0-60 mph and 1/4 mile times.
Magnesium wheels are wheels manufactured from alloys which contain mostly magnesium. Magnesium wheels are produced either by casting (metalworking), or by forging. Magnesium has several key properties that make it an attractive base metal for wheels: lightness; a high damping capacity; and a high specific strength. Magnesium is the lightest metallic structural material available. It is 1.5 times less dense than aluminium, so magnesium wheels can be designed to be significantly lighter than aluminium alloy wheels, while exhibiting comparable strength. Many competitive racing wheels are made of magnesium alloy.
The Honda CB1100F is a standard motorcycle that was made only in 1983 by Honda, based on their line of DOHC air-cooled inline four engines. Honda introduced the similar CB1100 in 2010.
The Kawasaki KZ400/Z400 is a street motorcycle that was produced by Kawasaki between 1974 and 1984. The 398cc displacement of the twin cylinder engine was increased to 443cc for the KZ440/Z440. The later KZ400-J used a 399cc four cylinder engine.
The Honda CB450SC is a motorcycle produced by Honda between 1982 and 1986. It utilised a two-cylinder engine operating with two carburetors.
The Yamaha FZR1000 is a motorcycle produced by Yamaha from 1987 to 1995. Classed as a sports motorcycle.
Rudge Whitworth Cycles was a British bicycle, bicycle saddle, motorcycle and sports car wheel manufacturer that resulted from the merger of two bicycle manufacturers in 1894, Whitworth Cycle Co. of Birmingham, founded by Charles Henry Pugh and his two sons Charles Vernon and John, and Rudge Cycle Co. of Coventry.
The VT250 or Spada MC20 is a Honda motorcycle built between late 1988 and the end of 1989.
The BSA C15 was a 250 cc single-cylinder ohv motorcycle manufactured by the British company BSA from September 1958 until 1967, and was BSA's first four-stroke unit-construction bike. For most of that period, after the introduction of 'Learner Laws' in 1961, a 250 cc was the largest capacity solo machine that a learner could ride unaccompanied when displaying L-plates in the United Kingdom. A road-going Sports derivative was added in 1961, and off-road versions, for Trials and Scrambles, were also available in the range.
The Honda XBR 500 is a 500cc Japanese sports motorcycle launched by Honda in 1985 and in response to the Yamaha SR500. It is powered by a single-cylinder four-valve engine with the valves arranged radially relative to the geometric centre of the hemispherical combustion chamber - and actuated via intermediate sub-rockers. Displacing 498 cc (30.4 cu in) and producing 27 or 44 hp, the engine, having its origins in the Honda XR series off-road models, features a dry sump, the oil being stored in a separate tank below the seat. The steel-braided hoses connecting the oil tank to the engine are a strong visual element.
The Honda CM250 is a 234 cc (14.3 cu in) parallel twin cylinder air-cooled OHC four-stroke cruiser motorcycle produced by the Honda corporation from 1981–1983 with a top speed of 85 mph and delivering 70mpg. The 234cc North American market variant was coded as the CM250C and was the precursor to the current Honda CMX250C, also known as the Honda Rebel 250. The European market variant was identified as the CM250TB.
The Honda RC116 was a race motorcycle built by Honda Japan for the 50 cc class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the 1966 season. The motorcycle was a development of the previous RC115 version.
The Honda CB400T is a range of motorcycles built by Honda. In the United Kingdom it was known as the Dream, whereas in the United States it was known as the Hawk. A Honda CB250T version was also available for UK licensing reasons.
Motorcyclewheels are made to cope with radial and axial forces. They also provide a way of mounting other critical components such as the brakes, final drive and suspension. Wheels, and anything directly connected to them, are considered to be unsprung mass. Traditionally motorcycles used wire-spoked wheels with inner tubes and pneumatic tyres. Although cast wheels were first used on a motorcycle in 1927, it would not be until the 1970s that mainstream manufacturers would start to introduce cast wheels on their roadgoing motorcycles. Spoked wheels are usually made using steel spokes with steel or aluminium rims. Cast wheels are predominantly made from an aluminium-alloy, but can also be made from more-exotic materials, such as magnesium content alloy or carbon fibre.
Motorcycle braking systems have varied throughout time, as motorcycles evolved from bicycles with an engine attached, to the 220 mph (350 km/h) prototype motorcycles seen racing in MotoGP. Most systems work by converting kinetic energy into thermal energy (heat) by friction. On motorcycles, approximately 70% of the braking effort is performed by the front brake. This however can vary for individual motorcycles; longer-wheelbase types having more weight biased rearward, such as cruisers and tourers, can have a`greater effort applied by the rear brake. In contrast, sports bikes with a shorter wheelbase and more vertical fork geometry can tolerate higher front braking loads. For these reasons, motorcycles tend to have a vastly more powerful front brake compared to the rear.
The Fuchs wheel, or 'Fuchs felge', is a specialty wheel made for the first Porsche 911 model in the early 1960s. Designed in conjunction with Otto Fuchs KG, Porsche modeler Heinrich Klie and Ferdinand Porsche Jr for the 1967 model year Porsche 911S, the Fuchs wheel was the first light-weight forged wheels to be fitted to a production automotive vehicle. They provided the rear-engined sports car with a reduction in unsprung mass, through a strong and lightweight alloy wheel.
Magni is an Italian company that builds specialist motorcycles. The company is based in the city of Samarate in the province of Varese. Magni, in addition to building the bikes that bear its name, is also active in the construction of specials to order and a supplier of special parts for the restoration of MV Agusta classic motorcycles.
