Title / object name  Britten V1000 motorcycle

Maker	Role	Date
Britten Motorcycle Company Ltd	manufacturer(s)	1992

Materials  synthetic fibre, carbon fibre, rubber, steel, aluminium

Dimensions
Overall	1170 (Height) x 2000 (Length) x 820 (Width/Depth) mm

Classification  motorcycles
Registration Number  T000649
Credit Line
Purchased 1995 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds

Built in 1992, the Britten V1000 motorbike is regarded as a contemporary classic of motorbike design. Te Papa's motorbike is the second of only ten in the world.

The motorbike is the brainchild of John Britten (1950-1995), a New Zealander who had a dream to make the fastest four-stroke motorbike in the world. Britten began designing and building in his garage-workshop, initially trying to remodel the bodywork of his Ducati racer. Twelve years later, assisted by a small group of racing bike enthusiasts, he produced an entirely new motorbike - one that demonstrated a leap forward in motorbike engineering and aesthetics.

Built for speed
The Britten motorbike was built for speed. Carbon fibre, Kevlar, and modern technical features made the wheels, and the bodywork very light. The motorbike has no frame - the engine is a fully stressed unit that all the components are attached to. A sophisticated aerodynamic shape also increased speed.

Britten even designed his own engine from scratch. Some specialist parts from other motorbike manufactures were used but most of engine was made locally. He also installed a computer on board that could monitor and record six different mechanical functions.

Award winner
When the motorbike first appeared on international racetracks in 1990, it turned heads. Although visually stunning, the power and flexibility of the motorbike's performance drew the most comment. It went on to become the only motorbike designed and built in New Zealand to have won both the National Championships and the New Zealand Grand Prix. It also holds four official world speed records, all gained in 1993.

See the documentary Britten: Backyard Visionary at NZ On Screen http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/britten-backyard-visionary-1993