Sportsbikes II Trivia Quiz

Answer: NR500

It's the legendary NR500, since the other bikes do not exist. Two-stroke engines were the standard in racing, but Honda decided to compete using four-stroke technology. Since four-stroke is not as powerful as two-stroke, Honda designed a 32 valve V8 (!) with a monocoque body which helped reduce weight. The bike also used 16-inch wheels (instead of 18-inch in that era) to diminish wind resistance. The street version used the same technology, but was not very successful. It was too expensive especially as cheaper more regular bikes were faster. But, the NR500 remains a legend.

Answer: Suzuki Ram Air Direct

The answer is Suzuki Ram Air Direct. This technology is being used on all sports bikes, but the Japanese used it as a marketing term. The SRAD bikes were probably not famous for its ram air intake, but more for their characteristic tails.

A ram air intake is an intake which uses the dynamic air pressure created by speed to increase the static air pressure inside the engine. This creates a greater massflow through the engine and results in more power. This effect is increased as the motor cycle will accelerate. At low speeds increases in power are limited.

Answer: RS125 & RS250

It's the RS-range. The RS250 is no longer sold in most countries due to emission regulations. The RS125 is still going strong however, but is not quite suitable for people above 6ft. (1,80m).

The Mille (or 1000) is the 1000cc goliath from the Italians. The Junior does not exist and fly and welter are boxing terms not in use in the motorcycle industry.

Answer: Buell

The answer is Buell. Eric Buell is the founder of this rather eccentric brand. The bikes are not as fearsome as Japanese and Italian bikes, but still do pretty well on track days. Really, you will be surprised.

Indian is a manufacturer of the motor cycle equivalent of the truck. These choppers are so heavy they are equipped with a reverse gear. Triumph is a British manufacturer of racers. Bakker is a Dutch manufacturer of Suzuki based sports bikes.

Answer: R1100S

I'm talking about the R1100S Boxercup Replica. In BMW terms, this bike is a true racer. In reality this motorcycle is not the first choice of the race troupe.

The HP2 is more of an enduro bike. The K1200S is a comfortable touring bike. The R37 is a race bike from BMW, but this 500cc legend dates from 1925.

Answer: 250-1200

The correct answer is 250cc to 1200cc. Kawasaki recently launched a ZX-R250 and produced the ultrafast ZX-12R in the recent past. The ZX-12R is in fact more a sports tourer though, trying to compete with Suzuki's Hayabusa. Racers usually favour the lighter (and even more powerful) ZX-10R with 1000 cc's.

Answer: Massimo Tamburini

Massimo Tamburini is The Creator. He also designed the successor of the 916 series: the 999. This bike was technically good, but was being criticized for its design. The successor of the 999, the 1098, was therefore designed by the younger Giandrea Fabbro and comes close to the beauty of the 916.

Pininfarina and Bertone are designers of cars. Toto Schilacci was an Italian football (soccer) player in the nineties and became the big star of the 1990 world cup. As far as I know, this man never designed a bike ;-).

Answer: A bike with a 1:1 kilo : brake horsepower ratio

A one bike is a bike with a 1:1 kilo : brake horsepower ratio. The big four Japanese brands all have models with a one bike (Kawasaki ZX-10R, Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Suzuki GSX-R 1000 & Yamaha YZF-R1). The Agusta F4-1000 is a one bike as well. All these bikes are 1000cc models, but the Suzuki GSX-R 750 is on its way to become a one bike as well.

In practise, a one bike is also a bike that does over 300 km/h. There is a gentlemen's agreement between the manufacturers to limit the bikes to 299 km/h. In real-life this limit only applies to the meter as these bikes still accelerate after reaching 299 on the meter.

Bikes that accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under one second do not exist. Approximately 2,5 seconds is the fastest you can go (I think it will never be possible to accelerate this fast without being rocketed into outer space).

Doing the 'Nordschleife' under one minute has also never been done. The track is more than 22 kilometres long, so about seven minutes is the best one can do.

Answer: Giacomo Agostini

It's Giacomo Agostini. This 60's and 70's racing motorcyclist is regarded as one of the best ever with 122 victories and 15 world championships (350 & 500 cc) in his career. Most of these victories were a result of 'Ago' (as the F4 S.E. is named) on an MV Agusta. Agostini also raced for Moto Morini and Yamaha.

Mike Hailwoord and Carlo Ubbiali successfully raced for MV Agusta as well, but did not have the honour so far of a motorcycle being named after them. Graziano Rossi is a legendary racer as well, but is probably more famous for conceiving his son Valentino who is - in my opinion - the best motor racer ever.

Answer: Valtermoto

The answer is Valtermoto. The other brands are manufacturers of exhausts.