Simply the greatest motorcycle ever built. Created by one of the most inspirational Men ( and his team) this fine country has ever produced. John Britten has always been my personal hero. What he achieved with the limited resources he had was simply mind-blowing. It was utterly gutting to see his life cut short- to leave a beautiful family without a father and husband. And to see only 10 V1000 bikes built..... To think what he would of achieved by now if he was still alive. I went to TePapa a couple of years ago.... Literally spent hours just staring at his bike there.Total work of art. They were arguably was better than factory Ducatis of the day. One mans Dream. RIP JB.
I took the bike to John Brittens memorial in Pukekohe after he died , for security purposes it was hidden in my mother’s garage the night before . As I drove my falcon ute to the pukekohe race track , bike on back , I had 100s of cars and bikes follow me in , one of my proudest moments of my life . RIP John , still greatly missed
John Britten is one of my top 5 inspirators in this world. I used to visit the factory a number of times and talked with him. He inspired to understand there are others ways to achieve challengers in life and to always think outside of the box. We lost such a great inventor and I am always saddened knowing how much the world has lost in engineering design for things from motorcycles to life saving medical implements. He will always be remembered in my mind. Would love to see a John Britten Annual Inventers Competition in New Zealand schools to help children understand that you do not need to be in schooling. John used his mind to create the Britten Motorcycle, not pen and paper. That and the fact that a Kiwi designed and built the fastest bike in his home garage, when millions of dollars are wasted with large manufactures around the world who are stuck in their mental square box. RIP John Britten.
Wonderful. Matching tyre warmers 🥰 … someone mentioned how light it was. Yes it is. I used to have a TZR250 and at the time I got to have (too short) a ride on Nick Jefferies TT Britten in 1994. I remember comparing the weight to the TZR yet it felt even slimmer due to the configuration of the engine and tank shape. It was a ridiculous experience. I didn’t really realise just how lucky I was at the time although I knew it was special. I’ve lived my life hearing my mum always say it’s better to be born lucky than rich. Yep. I’m still not rich financially but definitely have that as a rich experience.
Not many people can say they have ridden a Britten. A rare treat indeed. I was a marshall at Glen Helen during TT 1994. Getting up before dawn to ride out there on my TZR 125 before the roads closed. Flask of tea and a sandwich in my rucksack that mum had made for me. I was 16 at the time. I'll never forget hearing and then seeing the Brittens coming through on that morning practice. John was a true visionary and an absolute genius. I was devastated to learn of his passing the following year.
Never got to ride one, but I did get to meet John Britten and he was so generous with his time. Me is just a spectator. I asked about some of the suspension in the rear so he bounces the bike on the front end and basically it stood up and he’s holding it with one hand, explaining how the suspension setup worked on the rear end, so yeah obviously pretty light.
@malcolmwhite6588 wow that's incredible... no wonder they could mono on demand with that combo of power to weight.... From memory 163kg ?? P.s. I checked that weight, it's actually only 138kg superlight.
Always struck me as a ball-buster given the total absence of any seat cushion, and yet still remains what I consider to be the most beautiful motorbike in the world. From the colours to the lines to the innovative engineering, it's simply a masterpiece.
I saw John and the boys run it at South Eyre Rd years ago on timed speed runs. It was awesome to hear it cranked out with rider standing it up on one wheel as he took off from the start...unforgettable to watch
Saw a Britten on display at Barber Motorsports Museum. The man was a genius. There were so many trick designs and parts that went in building the bike. Nothing else like it! Thanks for posting!
There is/was one at Tepapa museum in Wellington,not sure if its still there,and his eldest Daughter has on on display in the refurbished homestead that John built by himself,used to be a stable i believe she,and her husband's had redone up,after the Christchurch earthquake,back to its original condition,with some minor changes,so beautiful, RIP John, you're missed by us Kiwi's as well,and I'm sure,the World as well
I remember one of these being shown off at my highschool in the early 2000s. They started it up in our performing arts center and i remember the vice principal and a caretaker rushing to open the doors to release any exhaust fumes. Thing was absolutely awesome and loud. R.I.P John Britten
Wonderful to see one of Johns Bikes still being ridden and not a showpiece. £1 million worth of Bike being held up by 3 pieces of wood, love it. R.I.P. John, you were a Genius.
These were awesome to watch at Bathurst races in 1994 , On Mountain Straight McEwen and Stroud were on the back wheel most of the straight on some laps , There 8 valve ducati's trying to keep up with them and just got smashed , at the end of the straight the Ducati's were 1/3 of the length of the straight behind the Brittens. Pity one Britten was retired due to big end bearing wear but it was like nothing else existed on the track while they were racing.
My memory might be off but I'm pretty sure I saw Gary Goodfellow ride one of the Brittens at Westwood in the late 80s or early 90s at some point. Possibly hopeful memories, too far back to be sure! Amazing bike!
Yeh they only took one in 1993 I think. Two in 94, I was there 94 supporting Nick Jefferies (who was my then boss) it was a bitter sweet experience, watching Nick race it was ace but the team lost Mark Farmer the same event riding the other one.
@@stevenbailey1863 he did indeed, actually I think it was called the ‘Formula 1’ back then. It was classed as the main race of the TT I think, a bit like the Senior is now. He was Joey’s team mate, both riding the Castrol Honda RC30. He’s an incredible knowledge on the event and circuit.
I actually met nick in a cellar bar /club in Douglas can’t remember the name of the place but remember we had to go down stairs to get in on the Saturday evening @@TheRiderGuider
Was 100k usd I believe when they were made. Whatever that equates to in today's money it is huge. The cost could have dropped significantly if there was a production line and maybe some taxpayer investment to get it started. Such a shame John Britten died and the nz govt has always lacked any vision.
@@9.5to1 excellent I recognise where it’s filmed from now. The big marquee kind of folded me a wee, but I wondered whether it was at cemetery circuit with Suzuki building in the background but it didn’t look right and it also didn’t look like man field to me but now you say I can hundred percent visualise that the angle that you’re filming from sort of towards the front straight from the dummy grid area
Not the most expensive to build, but possibly the most expensive to buy. John was surrounded by professionals in every aspect of making this motorcycle. most were kiwis and most were passionate about making this dream come true and did not charge huge rate for works taken. Mike Brosnan was the main engineer from start to finish.
i reckon that if you're starting John Britten's mechanical masterpiece, you should have a less shitty starter ;-) a guy i know went to EnZed for a holiday and posted a picture of himself in a motorcycle museum,, next to a Britten. he didn't even know what it was. probably was a good thing it wasn't me. i would have had about 500 photos and a mini meltdown trying to explain to my wife how cool it is
@9.5to1 so we New Zealanders have the world's fastest indian, the best race bike for that time, and the F1 McLaren to add to an already impressive list of achievements. Excellent.
What do you want me to do instead? Whip it out and start humping it? If you are smart enough to read a title of the video then you won't have been disappointed
Everything was weird ! Like the little fat guy in black leathers ? The old lady who decided to start a conversation as soon as the bike was ready to go, then after all that, it didn’t go.
@@WhiskeyGulf71 somebody had crashed on the track so they had to postpone it coming out. Not sure about the guy in leathers haha. Probably just wanted to watch like me. I just thought people might want to see the start up procedure of the legendary bike
Simply the greatest motorcycle ever built. Created by one of the most inspirational Men ( and his team) this fine country has ever produced.
John Britten has always been my personal hero. What he achieved with the limited resources he had was simply mind-blowing.
It was utterly gutting to see his life cut short- to leave a beautiful family without a father and husband. And to see only 10 V1000 bikes built..... To think what he would of achieved by now if he was still alive.
I went to TePapa a couple of years ago.... Literally spent hours just staring at his bike there.Total work of art. They were arguably was better than factory Ducatis of the day.
One mans Dream.
RIP JB.
I took the bike to John Brittens memorial in Pukekohe after he died , for security purposes it was hidden in my mother’s garage the night before . As I drove my falcon ute to the pukekohe race track , bike on back , I had 100s of cars and bikes follow me in , one of my proudest moments of my life . RIP John , still greatly missed
That's a very cool story, thanks for sharing
Built over 30 years ago and still manages to look like something from the future!
Yes, Miranda, part of the great handling was due to the horizontally mounted hot spring mounted low in the rear. See what I did there.!?😂👍
@@malcolmwhite6588 🤮🤮🤮
Such a brilliant man, died way too young. Bike was ahead of its time for sure, gorgeous
John Britten is one of my top 5 inspirators in this world. I used to visit the factory a number of times and talked with him. He inspired to understand there are others ways to achieve challengers in life and to always think outside of the box.
We lost such a great inventor and I am always saddened knowing how much the world has lost in engineering design for things from motorcycles to life saving medical implements. He will always be remembered in my mind.
Would love to see a John Britten Annual Inventers Competition in New Zealand schools to help children understand that you do not need to be in schooling. John used his mind to create the Britten Motorcycle, not pen and paper.
That and the fact that a Kiwi designed and built the fastest bike in his home garage, when millions of dollars are wasted with large manufactures around the world who are stuck in their mental square box. RIP John Britten.
Wonderful. Matching tyre warmers 🥰 … someone mentioned how light it was. Yes it is. I used to have a TZR250 and at the time I got to have (too short) a ride on Nick Jefferies TT Britten in 1994. I remember comparing the weight to the TZR yet it felt even slimmer due to the configuration of the engine and tank shape. It was a ridiculous experience. I didn’t really realise just how lucky I was at the time although I knew it was special. I’ve lived my life hearing my mum always say it’s better to be born lucky than rich. Yep. I’m still not rich financially but definitely have that as a rich experience.
Not many people can say they have ridden a Britten. A rare treat indeed.
I was a marshall at Glen Helen during TT 1994. Getting up before dawn to ride out there on my TZR 125 before the roads closed. Flask of tea and a sandwich in my rucksack that mum had made for me.
I was 16 at the time. I'll never forget hearing and then seeing the Brittens coming through on that morning practice. John was a true visionary and an absolute genius. I was devastated to learn of his passing the following year.
Never got to ride one, but I did get to meet John Britten and he was so generous with his time. Me is just a spectator. I asked about some of the suspension in the rear so he bounces the bike on the front end and basically it stood up and he’s holding it with one hand, explaining how the suspension setup worked on the rear end, so yeah obviously pretty light.
You should not wash your ass after riding a Britten
@@cowarddonnie-ji5yz😂
@malcolmwhite6588 wow that's incredible... no wonder they could mono on demand with that combo of power to weight.... From memory 163kg ?? P.s. I checked that weight, it's actually only 138kg superlight.
Always struck me as a ball-buster given the total absence of any seat cushion, and yet still remains what I consider to be the most beautiful motorbike in the world. From the colours to the lines to the innovative engineering, it's simply a masterpiece.
I saw John and the boys run it at South Eyre Rd years ago on timed speed runs. It was awesome to hear it cranked out with rider standing it up on one wheel as he took off from the start...unforgettable to watch
Saw a Britten on display at Barber Motorsports Museum. The man was a genius. There were so many trick designs and parts that went in building the bike. Nothing else like it! Thanks for posting!
That ks for watching. The barber motorcycle museum sounds amazing.
The museum is fabulous! The bikes are fabulous. The cars displayed are as well.
Totally worth the price of admission.
There is/was one at Tepapa museum in Wellington,not sure if its still there,and his eldest Daughter has on on display in the refurbished homestead that John built by himself,used to be a stable i believe she,and her husband's had redone up,after the Christchurch earthquake,back to its original condition,with some minor changes,so beautiful,
RIP John, you're missed by us Kiwi's as well,and I'm sure,the World as well
Use to watch these bikes back in the day behind the train station in CHCH, awesome machines
Very cool!
I remember one of these being shown off at my highschool in the early 2000s. They started it up in our performing arts center and i remember the vice principal and a caretaker rushing to open the doors to release any exhaust fumes. Thing was absolutely awesome and loud. R.I.P John Britten
Wonderful to see one of Johns Bikes still being ridden and not a showpiece. £1 million worth of Bike being held up by 3 pieces of wood, love it. R.I.P. John, you were a Genius.
What a beautiful specimen absolutely stunning! 🏍💖💙💫
Kiwi enginuity at its finest! 🇳🇿 💪🏼😝
#No.8 wire enginuity incarnate.
These were awesome to watch at Bathurst races in 1994 , On Mountain Straight McEwen and Stroud were on the back wheel most of the straight on some laps , There 8 valve ducati's trying to keep up with them and just got smashed , at the end of the straight the Ducati's were 1/3 of the length of the straight behind the Brittens.
Pity one Britten was retired due to big end bearing wear but it was like nothing else existed on the track while they were racing.
They were such a weapon, I would have loved to see that. I heard the big end bearings worked hard due to the sharp v angle.
And its still stunning. If money was no object, I'd love too own a britten.
That thing is still bloody amazing...
Wow it looks and sounds every bit as cool as it did the last time I saw one in Vancouver over 30 years ago.
I like that, brilliant bike beautifully prepared with pink tyre warmers and held up by 3 wooden blocks.
Classic..😅
Pretty kiwi sight, very appropriate to the legacy of the v1000 being made by a bunch of friends in a big shed with lots of kiwi ingenuity
@@9.5to1 correct, l know the incredible history. 👍
@@9.5to1 imagine how well you could go if you could raise your compression from @9.5 to 1 to 12 to 1.😂👍
@@malcolmwhite6588 or even 12.7:1
I saw a doco about this guy, what an imaginative, intelligent and resilient person, to do everything in a shed with mates legendary
That fabulous bike is part of the Kiwi ethos as much as the All Blacks or the intelligent Huntaway high energy working dog.All winners.
John would be so proud!❤
This and the RC30 were my poster dream bikes
There is a movie on the life of John Britten somewhere on the web. Well worth watching.
its called”one mans dream"
My memory might be off but I'm pretty sure I saw Gary Goodfellow ride one of the Brittens at Westwood in the late 80s or early 90s at some point. Possibly hopeful memories, too far back to be sure! Amazing bike!
No, your memory is good. I used to stop by Goodfellow's shop as often as I could to admire it from close up.
@@a.t.f.7633 Much appreciated!
I saw the Britten racing in the Isle of Man in 1993
Yeh they only took one in 1993 I think. Two in 94, I was there 94 supporting Nick Jefferies (who was my then boss) it was a bitter sweet experience, watching Nick race it was ace but the team lost Mark Farmer the same event riding the other one.
Ime sure nick Jeffries won the senior race in 93 @@TheRiderGuider
@@stevenbailey1863 he did indeed, actually I think it was called the ‘Formula 1’ back then. It was classed as the main race of the TT I think, a bit like the Senior is now. He was Joey’s team mate, both riding the Castrol Honda RC30. He’s an incredible knowledge on the event and circuit.
I actually met nick in a cellar bar /club in Douglas can’t remember the name of the place but remember we had to go down stairs to get in on the Saturday evening @@TheRiderGuider
I saw the bike at the Te Papa museum when I was 17
I believe Alan Roberts and Alan Brown, from Roberts Engineering, in Christchurch, built some of this engine. Very capable machinists.
Definitely one of the best & most expensive Bikes ever created!
Was 100k usd I believe when they were made. Whatever that equates to in today's money it is huge. The cost could have dropped significantly if there was a production line and maybe some taxpayer investment to get it started. Such a shame John Britten died and the nz govt has always lacked any vision.
@@9.5to1 where is this filmed?
@@malcolmwhite6588 Manfield motorsports park. Feilding, New Zealand.
@@9.5to1 excellent I recognise where it’s filmed from now. The big marquee kind of folded me a wee, but I wondered whether it was at cemetery circuit with Suzuki building in the background but it didn’t look right and it also didn’t look like man field to me but now you say I can hundred percent visualise that the angle that you’re filming from sort of towards the front straight from the dummy grid area
Not the most expensive to build, but possibly the most expensive to buy. John was surrounded by professionals in every aspect of making this motorcycle. most were kiwis and most were passionate about making this dream come true and did not charge huge rate for works taken. Mike Brosnan was the main engineer from start to finish.
Just glorious. Thankyou f making my day.👍🇳🇿❤️
Legends never die
4:35 When you're ready to take it out for a fang.. ol cheesecutter taps you on the shoulder and tells ya to shut it down mate.. DENIED!!!
Yeah haha somebody had crashed on the track and they had to clean it up before he went out.
Wicked machine, nothing like it
Sounds beautiful and smooth! in Chch central there is an amazing mural of this master piece
Cos Kiwis CAN Fly!
...RIP John
Fantastic guys. I saw it on the track but not the start up procedure.
It made my day even seeing it. I sat at the table for about a hour just staring at it
Commitment is that. @@9.5to1
Oh this is too good
💗
You have to put on your helmet and leathers just to sit on .
Haha he took it for a spin minutes after and was doing monos up the straights
The Best
Seen one race at Paeroa awesome
I miss going to Paeroa every year, Stroudie's Britten hauling ass down the main drag was music in motion
i reckon that if you're starting John Britten's mechanical masterpiece, you should have a less shitty starter ;-) a guy i know went to EnZed for a holiday and posted a picture of himself in a motorcycle museum,, next to a Britten. he didn't even know what it was. probably was a good thing it wasn't me. i would have had about 500 photos and a mini meltdown trying to explain to my wife how cool it is
This bike was mean AF,
What. No electric start??
Yep no electric start this was designed to be light and powerful as possible.
Did they take the Bike from Te papa to do this?
I think it is a different bike
@9.5to1 so we New Zealanders have the world's fastest indian, the best race bike for that time, and the F1 McLaren to add to an already impressive list of achievements. Excellent.
Why aren't these in production (Even Limited) FFS !
If only they could have been, they would have needed a lot of capital and once John Britten died production came to a stop
How much does it weigh?
140 kgs approx
How many exist today ??
All 10
@@9.5to1 Do you know who owns them ?
Are they all together or were they sold off to various people ?
Should have been a two minute video ! Correction, should not have been a video at all !
No worries open up TikTok to satisfy your TikTok brain buddy.
All that money sitting on three 4x4's ....yikes
Hahah
That was a waste of time
Would not be if you knew how to read a video title. Thanks for watching.
It is very pretentious to put warmers on tires!! It is a symbol of Humanities Mind dominated Life experience!! We are slaves to our minds??
Wattiyatalkingabeet
Boring vid did no justice to the bike or brilliant man who built it,
What do you want me to do instead? Whip it out and start humping it? If you are smart enough to read a title of the video then you won't have been disappointed
Every single element of this video has me confused
They started up the v1000 as per the title. Not sure what is difficult to understand about that.
Everything was weird ! Like the little fat guy in black leathers ? The old lady who decided to start a conversation as soon as the bike was ready to go, then after all that, it didn’t go.
@@WhiskeyGulf71 somebody had crashed on the track so they had to postpone it coming out. Not sure about the guy in leathers haha. Probably just wanted to watch like me. I just thought people might want to see the start up procedure of the legendary bike
Terrible audio
❤