2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Bert Monroe's speed record, which is still relevant in motorsports today. In honor of the occasion, his nephew Lee Monroe, also a professional motorcycle racer, recreated his uncle's historic Bonneville run of the Indian Scout trimliner. Bert Monroe was a purposeful man who can be understood not only by an enthusiastic motorcyclist who does not hesitate to smear his hands in motor oil. Leaving his mark on the history of mankind, it was he who said the words that became an aphorism and motto for many: “If you give up your dream, you turn into a vegetable.”
Bert Monroe: biography in numbers
1915 - first motorcycle - English Douglas.
1916 - crashed on it and remained unconscious for a whole day.
1917 – Began racing the Clyno motorcycle.
1920 – acquired the legendary Indian Scout.
1921 – unconscious for a whole day after riding a motorcycle while standing.
1927 – concussion and multiple bruises after flying off the race track.
1932 – concussion and deep wounds on the head after another accident.
1937 – Lost all his teeth and broke his collarbone after racing on the beach.
1940 – New Zealand speed record – 194.4 km/h.
1959 - almost all the skin was torn off and a new concussion was the result of a new accident.
1962 and 1967 - two world speed records.
MV Agusta F4 R 312 (320 km/h)
The unsurpassed leader in our ranking of the fastest motorcycles in the world is the model of the famous Italian, which has long established itself as one of the world's leading manufacturers in this field. The relatively light model of this bike carries 183 horsepower under the seat, which allows it to reach a truly incredible speed of 320 kilometers per hour. Indications of the developed speed have been officially confirmed by numerous publications, the latest of which dates back to 2010.
Bold engineering solutions and attention to even the smallest details allowed the Italian manufacturers to achieve their desired goals and produce the fastest motorcycle in the world today. However, time and technology do not stand still and perhaps in the near future this list will be able to be replenished with another, more “fleet-footed” participant.
Motorcycles Equipment
Childhood and youth
On March 25, 1899, twins were born into a family of New Zealand farmers. The girl died immediately after giving birth. Despite the doctor's predictions, the boy - future motorcycle racer Bert Monroe - survived. From an early age he loved speed - the fastest horses were his best friends. The 20th century was on the threshold - the century of scientific and technological progress and the development of technology with internal combustion engines. Planes, trains, cars and motorcycles - it was technology that attracted him to the army. Bert returned from it after the end of World War I. By this time, the farm had been sold by his parents and the young man went to work on the construction site of the Otira Tunnel. Soon the father bought land and returned to farming, and Monroe Jr. with him.
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 (272 km/h)
Another Japanese “ninja” has successfully placed in fourth place in our ranking of the fastest motorcycles in the world. It is noteworthy that under the name indicated above, this model can only be recognized in a number of countries in North America, and this bike is known to the world community as the Ninja ZZ-R1100. Engine power – 145 hp. From the moment the first tests were carried out, it became clear that the Japanese brand had produced the fastest motorcycle in the world. The ZX-11 held this proud title for six years, until it was displaced by the next members of our top.
Bert Monroe Motorcycles
The future inventor and racer bought his first motorcycle when he was 16 years old. It was an English Douglas with an engine in the form of an opposed twin, located transversely to the frame. It was the first time he seriously crashed on it.
In 1919 he purchased a Clyno motorcycle. He took the stroller off him and took part in the races.
On his twenty-first birthday in 1920, Bert Monroe bought an early model Indian Scout motorcycle. It has a serial number of 5OR627 which will become a legend. It is he who will be the object of his modifications throughout his life and will bring Bert Monroe worldwide fame. This bike at that time had very good characteristics - a 600 cc engine, a rear hardtail, a chain drive and a three-speed gearbox. But this was not enough for Bert.
MV Agusta 832 Monza (231 km/h)
Quite famous, despite the limited production of most models, the motorcycle manufacturer presented this model to the general public in 1978. Interestingly, the motorcycle has a five-speed gearbox, disc brake, and a camshaft. The engine of this high-speed bike was not very large: only 837 cubic centimeters. However, its power performance could be the envy of many competitors: 105 horses of the engine located across the supporting frame accelerated the bike to 231 kilometers per hour, which automatically made the Monza one of the fastest motorcycles in the world at that time.
"Munro Special" - the first reboot
He began modernizing his Indian in 1926. Bert did everything himself and in very unconventional ways. He converted old water pipes into cylinders, and cast pistons in tin cans from “pieces of Chevrolet and Ford.” And these parts withstood compression of 143 tons! He adapted the tractor axle to create connecting rods, and replaced the spring fork with a springer fork from an Indian Prince motorcycle. He invented his own lubricant and made his own clutch, flywheel, valves, pushrods, rocker bars and slick tires. So, his bike got its own name, and he became a speedway racer.
Its upgrades increased speed by an average of 5.2 km/h per year over the next 44 years. This corresponds to the increase in power of production motorcycles over the same period. He independently and with his own hands walked the path that the largest bike manufacturers around the world have traveled for half a century with the efforts of many designers!
Laverda Jota 1000cc (225 km/h)
This bike is one of the first produced by the company, and also belongs to Italian motorcycles. For a long time, the Laverda Jota 1000cc was the flagship of the enterprise. Having an engine with a power of 90 “mares” and design parts specially designed for high-speed modes, the model already showed a speed of 225 km/h in the first tests, meeting all the expectations of its manufacturers.
A salesman by day, a racer by night
The racing driver's professional career was put on hold by the years of the Great Depression. Bert works in a store as a motorcycle salesman because he has a family to support. He married Florence Beryl Martin in 1927, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. But the speed did not let him go - he races in Melbourne and Oreti Beach. At night, in the garage, Bert improves his bike.
At the same time, he acquired another bike, the Velocette MSS, the weight of which he managed to reduce and the engine capacity to increase to 650 cc/cm. The racer used it for races in a straight line. He spends more and more time in the garage and his wife leaves him. But his path to his dream is still illegal.
Kawasaki Ninja GPZ900R (255 km/h)
The Kawasaki brand, well known among fans of good motorcycle equipment, produced this model until 2003. The Ninja was one of the first sports bikes produced by this Japanese manufacturer, and was certainly one of the best-made and fastest motorcycles of its time. The daring sporty design, innovative for that period of time, gave the bike aerodynamics, but it was not thanks to air streamlining alone that the Ninja reached speeds of up to 255 kilometers per hour: the superbly executed sixteen-valve engine with a liquid cooling system, as well as the fairly high reliability of all components, played a role and motorcycle components. The model was recognized as one of the highest quality and reliable, and became widespread throughout the world.
New Zealand is getting small
In the 40s, Bert Monroe quit his job and devoted himself entirely to cars. He experiments with materials for motorcycles, invents a plastic fairing, and finalizes the suspension. Ten years later, in his homeland there were no bikes left that could match the speed of his developments. During this period he sets several records:
- On a Munro Special Indian bike in a half-mile road race in the unlimited class - a speed of 99.45 mph.
- On the same bike, on the open road and in the open class - 120.8 mph.
- In the 750cc class – road speed is 143.6 mph.
- On the open beach at a distance of half a mile - a speed of 131.38 mph.
- With his Velocette MSS, he sets beach records in the half-mile class in the 750cc-129 mph class.
- In the open class, he finishes the quarter mile in 12.31 seconds.
But this is not enough for Bert Monroe.
Honda VF1000R (240 km/h)
And finally, the first representative of the Japanese motorcycle industry appears in our selection. Honda began producing one of the fastest motorcycles in the world back in 1984, but this model was sold exclusively on the European market, as it was initially aimed at sales in European countries, but circumstances soon changed.
Over time, sales of the bike grew, the model became very popular not only in European countries, but also abroad, and the management of the manufacturing company decided to start sales in the USA. What was it that attracted Western buyers so much? Of course, first of all, it was the speed developed by this iron beast, which reached 240 km/h, which at that time was an absolutely unprecedented value.
Blessed Utah
In 1957, Bert decided to participate in the race, which since 1910 has been held on the Bonneville salt lake (Utah, USA). In 1962, he loaded his Indian onto a cargo ship and set off to conquer the vastness of America. Not everything went smoothly - at first he was almost excluded from the race. However, luck and American friends did not leave him. And in the same year, a miracle happened and Bert Monroe’s cherished dream came true - a speed record of 178, 971 mph (295, 44 km/h) on his legendary “Munro Special Indian” bike in the first race. The engine capacity of his bike at that time was 850 cc. He would visit Utah ten more times and set new records: 168 mph in 1966 and 183 mph in 1967.
But it was his first race that made him famous; photos of Bert Monroe and his bike were published in all the newspapers. His popularity was compared to that of his contemporary and namesake, Marilyn Monroe, and his “Indian” was the envy of all motorcycle racers of that time. During the preliminary race before the record, Bert accelerated his bike to 332 km/h - it’s a pity that the result is not considered official. With the standard speed of such a motorcycle being 90 km/h, his Indian is still the fastest today!
Ducati 900SS (221 km/h)
This Italian speed monster was first presented to the public back in 1988, and it was produced unchanged until 2003. The abbreviation of two letters S means “super sport”, which perfectly characterizes this motorcycle as a high-speed one. The designers of the Ducati 900SS had two design goals in mind: to create a lightweight design with a narrow chassis while maintaining ease of handling. As can be concluded from the above, they were able to achieve these goals completely successfully, and this model during testing reached speeds of up to 221 kilometers per hour, which allowed this motorcycle to easily outperform many global competitors from a variety of manufacturers.
The engine type of this high-speed beast is two-valve, four-stroke. The engine has an excellent air cooling system, and its displacement is estimated at 904 cubic meters. cm. With this volume, the motorcycle has 80 “horses” of engine power and has fairly fast acceleration. However, the parameters described above did not allow her to beat the next participant in our selection.
In the saddle until the end
When Bert set his record on the famed Utah lake, he was 68 years old and his bike was 47 years old. He did not calm down and continued to participate in races and qualifying races. Numerous injuries undermined the racer's health; since 1975, doctors forbade him to participate in speed competitions. But could he part with his passion - his Indians and Velocettes?
In 1977, Burt Monroe fell ill with a sore throat, which led to heart complications. And a stroke followed. At the age of 78, the motorcycle racing legend's heart stopped beating. On January 6, 1978, Bert Monroe was buried in the Eastern Cemetery in Portland (Maine, USA). His legendary bikes are now owned by the New Zealand Motorcycle Enthusiasts Club.
Aprilia RSV4 RF
The sportbike won the world championship five times. The engine has 4 cylinders and a power of 201 horsepower, a maximum torque of 115 Nm at 10,600 rpm, and a total weight of 186 kg.
Racers who tested it on the highway accelerated without difficulty, with speeds reaching 299 km/h and potentially higher.
Made Invercargill famous
Bert Monroe brought worldwide fame to his hometown - the southernmost and westernmost town in New Zealand. And he did not remain in debt. Today here, at the Bert Monroe Museum, you can see that very fast Indian and get acquainted with the exhibition dedicated to the legendary racer and inventor. The museum has become especially popular since 2005, when the film starring Anthony Hopkins was released. By the way, the actor starred in the film for a ridiculous fee. This is the second film about the legendary racer, and the first, “Offerings to the God of Speed,” was released in 1971.
Suzuki Hayabusa (305 km/h)
The very name of the Suzuki brand is already associated with motorcycles, so this collection could not do without a model from this manufacturer. The motorcycle was mass produced for only one year - 1999. The non-standard design, excellent handling and stability even at high speeds very quickly made the Suzuki Hayabusa popular.
The Hayabusa engine had a power of 176 horsepower and a sophisticated liquid cooling system. The actual ideal balance between weight and power gave this model the ability to reach speeds of up to three hundred and five kilometers per hour, and at the moment only one motorcycle has higher speed characteristics, and it will be discussed below.
MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K
The motorcycle's performance is exceptional; it has an aviation gas turbine engine (like a helicopter) and is not prohibited from traveling on roads. In addition to the manual transmission, there is also an automatic one. The engine weighs 61.2 kg and develops a speed of 320 hp. Capable of accelerating to 100 km/h in 1.5 seconds
The exhaust temperature of the engine rises to 600 degrees; it is risky to start it in a garage.
The cost is 200 thousand dollars, only 5 copies are produced per year, so buying it is a rare success. This model twice achieved Guinness Book records as the “most expensive production motorcycle”, and later as the “most powerful motorcycle”.
BMW S 1000RR HP4
The golden mean of this rating. The superbike became famous for its leadership in motorcycle racing. Capable of amazing acceleration thanks to its low weight and 199 hp power.
The standard version has an electronic speed limiter of 305 km/h. The improved suspension design makes it easy to maintain control over the motorcycle, and amazing cornering speed is not reduced.
In 2011, at a competition in the suburbs of Milan, a motorbike was accelerated to 315 km/h. In 2014, V. Thompson set a record of 336 km/h. The last achievement was three years ago and the speed was set at 350 km/h.
Honda CBR 1100XX Super Blackbird
The motorcycle covers 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and is stable on the roads. According to the analog speedometer, the mark is up to 320 km/h, but there is no information that anyone managed to accelerate to such a mark. The model has a low front glass and a fan that drives hot air into the legs.
These shortcomings are compensated by increased reliability and power of 164 hp; problems with the engine rarely arose. The Blackbird was discontinued in 2007 and can only be purchased used.
Ninja H2R
The Kawasaki Corporation model was the first to install rapid gear shifting. It combines sporty power, futuristic design and impressive performance. Maximum power reaches 310 hp, acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 2.5 seconds.
The suspension was built on KYB components, oil and air in the fork separately, such a system was first used for motocross types.
The brave racer K. Sofuoglu in 2021 overcame the 400 km/h mark in 26 seconds. According to the manufacturer, the modification was not used.
YZF R1m
The pride of Japanese manufacturers, the best representative of its class. It has excellent qualities: a 185 hp engine, a speed of 300 km/h and a weight of 205 kg. In the history of the brand, Yamaha is considered the best because the cross-shaped crankshaft became a huge sensation.
The developers added a launch control system and a traction control system to the vehicle. The latest version was presented in Milan.
When you press the gas pedal from a standstill, the bike will not slow down to 299 km/h for a second and the electronic lock will engage.
