How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

Yamaha YZF-R1

Length: 2,070mm

Width: 714mm

Height: 1,130mm

Wheelbase: 1,415mm

Mass: 205kg

Engine:

Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC,

forward inclined

Power: 133.9 kW @ 12,500rpm

Torque:

115.5 Nm @ 10,000rpm

Clutch:

Wet, multiple-disc coil spring

Transmission:

Six-speed, constant mesh

Gearshift: One-down, fi ve-up

The statistics...

Yamaha YZF-R1

Engine

The YZF-R1’s engine is a four-stroke, liquid-cooled

variant. It delivers a maximum power output of

133.9 kW at 12,500 rpm.

Wheelbase

Imported directly from Yahama’s MotoGP

bikes, the YZF-R1 sports a short wheelbase

and long swingarm frame which helps

deliver maximum traction and control.

Electronics

Yamaha’s YCC-I (Yamaha Chip-

Controlled Intake) adjusts the length of

the four intake funnels of the YZF-R1 for

accurate and balanced performance

across the rpm range.

© Yamaha

Suspension

The YZF-R1 features multi-

adjustable front and rear

suspension that can be

varied depending on

riding style and

road conditions.

Crankshaft

The YZF-R1 is the first production

bike with a crossplane

crankshaft. This grants the rider

extra control and feel as the

crossplane produces combustion

rather than inertial torque.

The wheelbase on the YZF-R1 offers

extreme control

© Yamaha

Costing over $500 million and sporting

the 500bhp, 8.3-litre V10 that can be found

in the Dodge Viper supercar, the Dodge

Tomahawk is the world’s fastest superbike.

Indeed, it is so powerf ul – think 0-60 in 2.5

seconds and a top speed of over 400mph –

that it has been banned for legal use on

public roads. Despite this, however, Dodge

has sold more than ten Tomahawks for

private collectors for use on racetracks and

private estates.

The Tomahawk is constructed from a 356-

T6 aluminium alloy block with cast-iron

liners and a series of aluminium alloy

c ylinder heads. The bike is cooled by twin

aluminium radiators mounted atop its

engine intake manifolds as well as a force-

fed belt-driven turbine fan. Braking is

handled by 20-inch perimeter-mounted

drilled and machined stainless rotors,

partnered with multiple four piston fi xed

aluminium callipers.

Dodge Tomahawk

When $500 million

meets 500bhp

Clearly Bruce

Way ne is a fan

How It Works

fantasy race

How long will it take these two-wheelers

to get from A laska to A rgentina, assuming

they travel at top speed all the way?

Scooter

Top speed: 50mph

Bike images © Khaosaming, Falcon Motorc ycles. Suzuki

21

days

7

days

Motorbike

Top speed: 120mph

Superbike

Top speed: 186mph

Tomahawk

Top speed: 400mph

1

day

Push bike

Top speed: 20mph

3.3

days

2.2

days

START (Alaska)

FINISH (Argentina)

Distance:

9,681 miles

DID YOU KNOW? The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R superbike has a liquid-cooled engine