Modèles cultes
The Ariel Square Four: four cylinders in a square, English eccentricity turned cult classic
From 1931 to 1959, the Ariel Square Four lined up four cylinders in a square around two crankshafts geared together: 497 cc then close to 1,000 cc, a unique smoothness, a famous cooling flaw, and a creator — Edward Turner — who would go on to invent the Triumph twin.
The rotary Nortons: when the Wankel engine won the Tourist Trophy
From the British police's Interpol 2 to the black and gold F1, the story of Norton's Wankel twin-rotor, right up to the 1992 Senior TT won by Steve Hislop ahead of Carl Fogarty.
The Yamaha TZ750: the two-stroke nobody really dared to tame
Born in 1974 from two TZ350 engines bolted together, the Yamaha TZ750 crushed the Daytona 200 and Formula 750 — before a certain Kenny Roberts dared to take it onto the dirt at Indianapolis.
The Suzuki RG500 Gamma (1985): the Grand Prix bike sold in dealerships
In 1985, Suzuki put a 498.5 cc square-four two-stroke with rotary disc valves into its dealerships: 95 hp for 156 kg dry in an aluminium frame. Portrait of a road-legal Grand Prix machine, and of its rivalry with the Yamaha RD500LC.
The Honda RC166: six cylinders for 250 cm³, the acoustic masterpiece of Grand Prix racing
Six cylinders, 24 valves and 18,000 rpm in 245.6 cm³: Mike Hailwood's Honda RC166 remains the most excessive Grand Prix 250 ever built.