The Unrideables 1: The monstrous 500cc World Grand Prix motorcycles part 1

 

For a number of years, the dominant force in the top class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, were the super powerful, super fast, 500cc 2 stroke and 4 stroke World Grand Prix motorcycles.  They reigned supreme in international motorcycle racing for 50 years, between 1951 and 2001, although it used to be that there were also 500cc sidecar racers, that lasted from 1951 to 1972.  The 500cc class in and of itself lasted through 2001 when, the very next year, in 2002, the current MotoGP bikes began to race, and led to what we know today.  

At first, the 990cc four stroke bikes could race with the 500cc machines, before the great 500s were phased out altogether, and the 1000cc machines that are written about on this blog week in and week out, now reign supreme.  But, unlike the MotoGP machines, which are still amazing motorcycles in their own right, the 500cc machines, as explained by some of the riders in this documentary, were absolute beasts to ride.  Push it just a shade too far, and the bike would have none of it, sending it’s rider absolutely into orbit, should they fall off.

This is part one of a two part documentary on these fantastic machines.  Part two, immediately follows.