How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

So fast that some have been sanctioned as illegal, the current

generation of superbikes are changing the nature of two-wheeled

transport. We take a look at some of the most notable and the

advanced technologies they employ

O

ptimised for extreme acceleration, braking

and cornering, superbikes are aggressive,

mass-centred machines designed with one

thing in mind – pure speed. A nd it is a mission that

nothing can stand in the way of; there is no

compromise. Comfort? Forgotten. Fuel economy?

Laughable. Legality? Somewhat questionable.

Superbikes are completely transforming the

levels of speed at which a human being is capable of

travelling on t wo wheels, pushing the boundaries of

performance that few hy percars can better and for a

fraction of the cost. Driven by the blurring of the lines

between professional MotoGP superbikes and those

available to the public – as well as the collapse of a

gentleman’s agreement bet ween bike

manufacturers to limit their vehicles to maximum

top speeds of 200mph – superbikes are breaking

loose from traditional constraints with the help of

next-generation technolog y.

Superbike basics work by adopting the traditional

design elements of motorcycles and refi ning and

evolving them to maximise speed and performance.

First, engine power is increased – often well over one

litre (1,000cc) – and encased w ithin an aluminium

alloy frame to reduce weight. The engine is also

rebuilt from scratch from light weight composite

materials (see ‘Inside a superbike engine’ boxout)

and repositioned to maximise weight distribution,

structural integrit y and crucially, chassis rigidit y.

The latter is important as it affects dynamism and

stability when accelerating, braking and cornering.

The motorc ycle’s geometr y is also completely

rewritten in order to ensure correct front-to-rear

weight distribution and rider positioning for high

speed riding.

These design alterations include a smoothing of

the bike’s chassis to increase aerodynamic

performance and to reduce the amount of drag, as

well as the repositioning of instrumentation and

Superbikes

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