Themotorcycle land-speed record is the fastest speed achieved by amotorcycle on land. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions.AMA National Land Speed Records requires two passes the same calendar day in opposite directions over a timed mile/kilometre whileFIM Land Speed World Records require two passes in opposite directions to be over a timed mile/kilometre completed within two hours.[1] These are special or modified motorcycles, distinct from thefastest production motorcycles. The first official FIM record was set in 1920, when Gene Walker rode anIndian onDaytona Beach at 104.12 mph (167.56 km/h). Since late 2010, theAck Attack team has held the motorcycle land speed record at 376.36 mph (605.69 km/h).
The first generally recognized motorcycle speed records were set unofficially byGlenn Curtiss, using aircraft engines of his own manufacture, first in 1903, when he achieved 64 mph (103 km/h) atYonkers, New York using aV-twin, and then on January 24, 1907, onOrmond Beach,Florida, when he achieved 136.27 mph (219.31 km/h) using aV8 housed in a spindly tube chassis with direct shaft drive to the rear wheel.[2] An attempted return run was foiled when his drive shaft came loose at speed, yet he was able to wrestle the machine to a stop without injury. Curtiss's V8 motorcycle is currently in the Transportation collection of theSmithsonian Institution.
Curtiss's 1907 record was the fastest any person had ever travelled under power: therail record stood at 210.2 km/h (131 mph) (electric powered in Germany); themotor car record was 127.66 mph (205.45 km/h) (steam powered); while in the air, where weight considerations made the internal combustion engine dominant, theair speed record was still held by theWright Brothers at a mere 37.85 mph (60.91 km/h).
The first officially sanctionedFédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) record was set in 1920, when Gene Walker rode anIndian onDaytona Beach at 104.12 mph (167.56 km/h). The first FIM-sanctioned record to exceed Curtiss's 1907 speed did not occur until 1930, atArpajon in France, when anOEC special with a 1,000cc superchargedJAP V-twin engine averaged 137 mph (220 km/h) over the required two-way runs. The 1930s saw an international battle between theBMWs ridden byErnst Henne and various JAP-powered British motorcycles, with the penultimate pre-World War II record being taken in 1937 by Italy'sGilera, shortly before BMW set a final pre-war record of 173.68 mph (279.51 km/h) that stood for 14 years.
After World War II, the GermanNSU factory battled Britain'sVincent HRD andTriumph for top speed honors during the 1950s, with British-engined machines dominating the 1960s. New Zealand'sBurt Munro (of the filmThe World's Fastest Indian), set a speed record at Bonneville in 1967 of 183 mph (295 km/h) for a motorcycle with an engine under 1000cc.[3]
A Japanese-enginedstreamliner motorcycle first took the record in 1970, and alternated withHarley-Davidson-engined machines as record-holders until 1990, whenDave Campos's streamliner powered by twin Harley-Davidson engines averaged 322.15 mph (518.45 km/h). That record stood for 16 years before being surpassed in 2006 by theAck Attack team's twinSuzuki engined machine at an average of 342.8 mph (551.7 km/h). TheBUB team, using a custom-built V4 engine, then alternated as record holders with Ack Attack over the next four years. As of November 2022, the Ack Attack team has held the motorcycle land speed record at 376.36 mph (605.69 km/h) since late 2010.
The fastest record certified by the FIM is that set in 1964 by thejet-propelledtricycle,Spirit of America. It set threeabsolute land speed records, the last at 526.277 miles per hour (846.961 km/h). While such records are usually validated by theFédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the FIA only certifies vehicles with at least four wheels, while the FIM certifies two- and three-wheelers. Breedlove never intendedSpirit of America to be classified as a motorcycle, despite its tricycle layout, and only approached the FIM after being rejected for record status by the FIA.Spirit of America's FIM-ratified record prompted the FIA to add the new category ofthrust-powered vehicles to its world record listings. Furthermore, most people think of the tricycleSpirit of America, now part of the permanent collection of Chicago'sGriffin Museum of Science and Industry, as a car and not a motorcycle.[4]
Link to Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials AMA National and FIM World Records
| Date | Location | Rider | Make | Engine displacement cc (cu in) | Speed | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||
| 1903 | Yonkers, New York, US | Glenn Curtiss | Curtiss V-2 | 1,000 cc (61 cu in) | 64 | 103 | over the mile, first (unofficial) World Speed Record, Hercules V-twin[5] |
| 1905 | Blackpool, UK - Average Speed over 1,000m on 27 July 1905. | Henri Cissac | Peugeot 1,489cc V twin | 1,489cc | 87 | 140 | Blackpool Speed Trials |
| 24 January 1907 | Ormond Beach, Florida, US | Glenn Curtiss | Curtiss V-8 | 4,000 cc (240 cu in) | 136.27 | 219.31 | Unofficial record stood over 20 years[6][7] |
| 14 April 1920 | Daytona Beach, Florida, US | Gene Walker | Indian | 994 cc (60.7 cu in) | 103.56 | 166.66 | [8][9] |
| 6 November 1923 | Brooklands, UK | Claude Temple | Anzani | 108.48 | 174.58 | [8] | |
| 8 June 1924 | Arpajon, France | Tommy Turner | AJS Special-AJ Stevens | 799 cc (48.8 cu in) | 110.66 | 178.08 | [8] |
| 6 July 1924 | Arpajon, France | Bert le Vack | Brough Superior-JAP] | 867 cc (52.9 cu in) | 118.99 | 191.50 | [8] |
| 5 September 1926 | Arpajon, France | Claude F. Temple | OEC-Temple | 996 cc (60.8 cu in) | 121.44 | 195.44 | [8] |
| 25 August 1928 | Arpajon, France | Owen M. Baldwin | Zenith-JAP | 996 cc (60.8 cu in) | 124.27 | 199.99 | [8] |
| 25 August 1929 | Arpajon, France | Bert Le Vack | Brough-Superior | 995 cc (60.7 cu in) | 129.00 | 207.6 | [9] |
| 19 September 1929 | Ingolstadt, Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW WR 750 | 735 cc (44.9 cu in) | 134.67 | 216.75 | [8] The first successful use of a supercharger for a World Record. |
| 31 August 1930 | Arpajon, France | Joseph S. Wright | OEC-Temple JAP | 994 cc (60.7 cu in) | 137.23 | 220.99 | [9] First official record to exceed Curtiss' pioneering effort. |
| 21 September 1930 | Ingolstadt, Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW WR 750 | 735 cc (44.9 cu in) | 137.74 | 221.67 | [9] |
| 6 November 1930 | Cork, Ireland | Joseph S. Wright | Zenith JAP | 995 cc (60.7 cu in) | 150.74 | 242.59 | [8] |
| 2 November 1932 | Tát, Hungary | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 736 cc (44.9 cu in)[10][11][12] | 151.86 | 244.40 | [8] |
| 30 October 1934 | Gyon, Hungary | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 736 cc (44.9 cu in)[10][11][12] | 153.00 | 246.23 | [8] |
| 27 September 1935 | A3autobahn (Frankfurt-München route), Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 736 cc (44.9 cu in)[10][11][12] | 159.10 | 256.04[10][11][13] | [8] First record over 250 km/h (160 mph) |
| 12 October 1936 | A3, Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW Type 255 | 493 cc (30.1 cu in)[10][11][14] | 169.08 | 272.11 | [8] |
| 19 April 1937 | Gyon, Hungary | Eric Fernihough | Brough Superior-JAP | 995 cc (60.7 cu in) | 169.72 | 273.14 | [8] JAPsupercharged[15] Fernihough was killed in a 1938 attempt[15] |
| 21 October 1937 | Autostrada A4 (Italy) (Brescia-Bergamo route) | Piero Taruffi | Gilera | 492 cc (30.0 cu in) | 170.37 | 274.18 | [8] Supercharged four-cylinder. Taruffi famous asGrand Prix driver.[9] |
| 28 November 1937 | A3, Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 495 cc (30.2 cu in) | 173.68 | 279.50 | [8] Last pre-World War II record |
| 1951 | A9autobahn (Ingolstadt-München route), Germany | Wilhelm Herz | NSU Delphin I streamliner | 499 cc (30.5 cu in) | 180.29 | 290.322 | [9] First post-World War II record |
| 1955 | Swannanoa, New Zealand | Russell Wright | Vincent-HRD | 998 cc (60.9 cu in) | 184.83 | 297.640 | [9] |
| 25 September 1955 | Bonneville, US | John Allen | Triumph | 649 cc (39.6 cu in) | 192.719 | 310.151 | [16] Unratified by FIM[17][a] |
| 2 August 1956 | Bonneville, US | Wilhelm Herz | NSU Delphin III streamliner | 499 cc (30.5 cu in) | 189.5 | 304.97 | [18] |
| 4 August 1956 | Bonneville, US | Wilhelm Herz | NSU Delphin III streamliner | 499 cc (30.5 cu in) | 210.64 | 338.992 | First record over 200 mph (320 km/h)[18] |
| 6 September 1956 | Bonneville, US | Johnny Allen | Triumph Tiger T110 | 649 cc (39.6 cu in) | 214.4 | 345.188 | [19] Unratified by FIM[20][b] |
| 5 September 1962 | Bonneville, US | William A. Johnson | Triumph | 650 cc (40 cu in) | 224.57 | 361.41 | [21] |
| 1966 | Bonneville, US | Robert Leppan | Triumph Special[9]Gyronaut X-1 streamliner[20] | 1,298 cc (79.2 cu in) | 245.667 | 395.36 | Triumph Special twin-engined[9] |
| 1970 | Bonneville, US | Don Vesco | Yamaha "Big Red" streamliner | 700 cc (43 cu in) | 251.66 | 405.25 | [9] Two-stroke twin-engined[22] First record over 250 mph (402 km/h) |
| 1970 | Bonneville, US | Cal Rayborn | Harley-Davidson streamliner | 1,480 cc (90 cu in) | 265.492 | 410.37 | [9] single nitro-fueled Sportster engine nicknamed 'Godzilla' built by Warner Riley. |
| 28 September 1975 | Bonneville, US | Don Vesco | Yamaha "Silver Bird" streamliner | 1,480 cc (90 cu in) | 302.92 | 487.515 | [9] First record over 300 mph (483 km/h) |
| 28 August 1978 | Bonneville, US | Don Vesco | Lightning Bolt streamliner | 2,030 cc (124 cu in) | 318.598 | 509.757 | Turbocharged twinKawasaki Kz1000 engines. First record over 500 km/h (311 mph)[23] |
| 14 July 1990 | Bonneville, US | Dave Campos | Easyriders streamliner | 3,000 cc (180 cu in) | 322.150 | 518.450 | Twin Harley-Davidson engines. Longest held official record, 16 years (see Curtiss' 20 year unofficial record)[24] |
| 3 September 2006 | Bonneville, US | Rocky Robinson | TOP 1 Oil-Ack Attack streamliner | 2,600 cc (160 cu in) | 342.797 | 551.678 | TwinSuzuki engines[25] |
| 5 September 2006 | Bonneville, US | Chris Carr | BUB Seven Streamliner | 2,997 cc (182.9 cu in) | 350.884 | 564.693 | BUB/Sierra Design V4[25] |
| 26 September 2008 | Bonneville, US | Rocky Robinson | TOP 1 Oil-Ack Attack streamliner | 2,600 cc (160 cu in) | 360.913 | 580.833 | Twin Suzuki engines[26] |
| 24 September 2009 | Bonneville, US | Chris Carr | BUB Seven Streamliner | 2,997 cc (182.9 cu in) | 367.382 | 591.244 | BUB/Sierra Design V4[27] |
| 25 September 2010 | Bonneville, US | Rocky Robinson | TOP 1 Oil-Ack Attack streamliner | 2,600 cc (160 cu in) | 376.363 | 605.697 | Twin Suzuki engines[28] First record over 600 km/h (373 mph) |
a.^ At the time, it had been the accepted practice that the FIM would require theAmerican Automobile Association to carry out official timing for any run in the USA. However shortly before the record attempt the A.A.A. had withdrawn from controlling motor sport, leaving no official body representing the FIM. Although every effort had been made to show the impartiality of the officials and the accuracy of the equipment, after several months the claimed record was not accepted by the FIA as the timing was "not carried out by an official certified by the FIM.".[1]
b.^ The issues with official FIM timing of runs in the US were still not resolved at this time. NSU had solved the problem for their runs in August by including accredited timekeepers and officials in the team that they bought over with them from Europe. TheBritish Motor Corporation had also been attempting record runs that year, and the FIA arranged for a British timekeeper to go to America for these. The equipment he had used for timing the runs was tested and approved by the FIA. However he had to leave America before Allen could make his run, and so the same equipment was used by two Americans who had been given written authority to act as timekeepers on behalf of the FIM. At the FIM meeting in Paris in October, the FIM postponed approval of the record, alleging that the timekeeper was not recognised by the FIM and that no official FIM observer had been present. After further deliberation and investigation, the FIM announced in April 1957 that they were unable to ratify the record claimed as the equipment used had not been approved by them.[2][1][3]