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Posted November 29, 2007
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Gary Coleman and Museum Executive Director Mark Mederski (right) discuss
details of the Grand Prix racer Coleman donated to the Museum.
Grand Prix bike joins the Museum's permanent collection
By Bill Kresnak
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has a remarkable new addition to its permanent collection that is sure to attract a lot of attention from Museum visitors: a Grand Prix race bike from the 500cc two-stroke era.
This Yamaha YZR500 battled in the FIM 500cc World Motorcycle Championship in 1992 through 1996. Simon Buckmaster rode the racer in 1992 for Padgett's Motorcycles, and it was campaigned in subsequent years by Terry Rymer, John Reynolds, and Toshiyuki Arakaki. The bike earned three ninth-place finishes and five tenth-place finishes over its racing career.
Following its Grand Prix career, the Yamaha was raced in the Isle of Man TT. It still carries the same livery it wore in that race, including the number 6, which shows it qualified sixth in its class for the TT.
"The roadracing technology that is part of our permanent collection
currently includes Dick Hammer's late '60s Triumph Daytona, Don Emde's
1972 Daytona-winning machine, Cal Rayborn's KRTT and Wayne Rainey's 1983
GPZ 750 Kawasaki," said Museum Executive Director Mark Mederski, shown
above right wheeling the motorcycling into the Museum. "This Yamaha GP bike,
with technology like its power valves and carbon-fiber brakes and
chassis parts is a great addition. Its pedigree as a contender at the
Isle of Man is an important detail, too."
Gary Coleman of Atlanta, Georgia, bought the bike from Padgett's Motorcycles in 1998 and this year decided to donate it to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum for other enthusiasts to enjoy.
"The frame on this bike is only 30/1000th of an inch thick," Coleman says, pointing out just one of the many exotic aspects of the motorcycle. "And that was the first year they used a carbon-fiber tail section, so there is no subframe."
Built by Harris Performance Productions of Hertford, England, the bike
is one of only 11 or 12 built from 1991 through 1993. It has Ohlins
front and rear suspension and an Ohlins steering damper, Brembo front
brakes, a Nissin rear brake, and Dymag wheels. Other exotica included
with the bike are the carbon and steel brake disc and pads, and carbon
brake disc covers (shown above right) with cooling scoops.
This bike has a dry weight of 287 pounds and the V-four, twin-crank, two-stroke 499cc motor pumps out 170 horsepower at 12,500 rpm. Four 35mm Mikuni power jet flat-slide carbs provide the fuel-air mixture. The frame is aluminum and the front suspension is a 45mm Ohlins inverted fork. Top speed: 181 mph.
Because of their rarity, motorcycles like this one rarely come up for sale. But a similar machine recently sold in Britain for nearly $100,000.