Exclusive: MCN ride the Britten V1000 | First Rides | Motorcyclenews.com

MCN exclusively ride the legendary Britten 1000, a triumph of cottage-industry race engineering built in a shed by New Zealander John Britten in the early '90s and raced at the Isle of Man TT.
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[@TXLorenzo]

The Britten is pushing almost 30 yrs and still looks like a bike from the future.

[@Carstuff111]

Watching this video now, 10 years roughly after this video was released. And I am pleased to say that the Britten V1000 is STILL an absolute marvel of technology. And is absolutely stunning, and I so hope to see one in person. I too, as a kid, remember hearing about this bike and seeing pictures and being mind blown. I know this may not be read, but hey, hopefully 10 more years into the future this video still exists, and it still boggles someone else's mind.

[@Edison73100]

One of the greatest engineering minds of all time and a total free thinker without borders. Greatly missed.

[@ramonjaxx4035]

You all probably dont give a damn but does anyone know a tool to get back into an instagram account? I was dumb forgot the account password. I love any help you can give me.

[@braylenjohnny1974]

@Ramon Jaxx instablaster ;)

[@ramonjaxx4035]

@Braylen Johnny thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site through google and im trying it out now. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@ramonjaxx4035]

@Braylen Johnny It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thanks so much, you really help me out!

[@braylenjohnny1974]

@Ramon Jaxx Happy to help =)

[@justsaying2000]

Gotta love the fact that the first Britten was designed and hand-built in John's back yard shed... and it took the racing world by storm. Blowing away all the factory builds with all their design and testing capabilities, and their far, far larger funds.... Way to go John Britten. You've definitely done NZ proud.

[@adrianaugustus2815]

He's done Briton I mean Britten proud ;)

[@filipborin555]

Sadly they produced only 10 not enought to reach every motorbike enthusiast

[@jackmiller8851]

Literally HAND CAST the alloy block .. Insane anybody would try. What a legend

[@grahamwallace4355]

I had the great fortune to meet John and he was an extremely pleasant person, he talked to me for some time about the Britten, after his death I meet his beautiful wife in Kirsteen in Tauranga New Zealand what a lovely couple RIP John.

[@nelsonvenezia1968]

I saw a Britten at a small museum in Solvang, Ca. I looked at and analyzed every single square inch of it. Unspeakable. The curator, after two hours of looking at the Britten, asked me when I was going to look at the other bikes. I replied, what other bikes? Nelson

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

I was lucky enough to get very close to it as well as Mr. Britten himself back when he was running the bike in California. A BMW bike shop, was CC Products, now San Jose BMW was letting him use the shop to work on it. He brought it to a BMW rally in Mariposa and was working on it there. I got to check out and talk to Him about the suspension and engine,and as I had been working on a couple Vincents before, was fascinated with his work. He told me there were a lot of things he didn't want to talk about as they were secrets in how he designed it. I was seriously impressed with all the work that went into that bike and how nice and friendly John was. Little did I know he wouldn't be around too much longer and the world is poorer for that.

[@gruntabro1]

Nelson Venezia theres one in the museum in.Wellington NZ

[@gruntabro1]

Haha nice one

[@gruntabro1]

@Laverne Johnson It's a long way from home !so good on Alabama they have something very special to admire

[@greensocks4507]

He used to test his prototype Bikes in the very early 90's at Ruapuna raceway in Christchurch about 5kms from where I lived back then. Often, whenever I heard some noise I'd jump in the car and go and have a look to see what was going on. I was even asked to help with a push start for some strange bike that looked very homebuilt, one of the pre prototypes I guess . He was just some goofy, nerdy guy who said thanks after we finally got it going. Who was he, I had no idea. It was all a bit surreal at the time. Must have been '90 or '91.

[@MrBigolnuts]

In places like England and particularly Italy, someone comes up with an amazing idea, they turn it into a business, sell it to the world, and it becomes a legacy......would have been have been amazing to seen Britten Motorbikes all over the world today.

[@barriegregory6606]

😅I was the pit crew at Road Atlanta where my son was riding in the 750 Suzuki championship, we traveled from Albert Canada & the Britton was there for testing, it was suffering a bad misfire but my son was on track with it, I marveled at the bike in the pit while the team were working on it, I was blown away by how perfect & tiny the 1000 cc Britton was, afterwards I realized it was the brainchild of one man, John was the equal to a m/cycle Einstein, it was tear jerkinly plyerfect, I feel so privileged to have been there in person.

[@HawkGT1988]

Watched them race at Daytona back in the day, what an amazing machine.

[@JETJOOBOY]

COOL!

[@Buddythunder1]

That exhaust, is art. Then you realise the whole bike is made of parts with that attention to detail.

[@jimmygell234]

Growing up on the isle of man the britten was allways a favourite just hearing it bellowing all the way down to quarter bridge and bellow off to braddan bridge stuff dreams are made of still hear it in my dreams 30 years later. RIP john

[@mae951]

I remember reading an article about this bike. At 180 mph it pulled so hard it was hard to hold onto.

[@mintpaul]

I just watched the Britten Doco and thought the exact same thing... John and his team were way beyond the time....

[@jeffreyperrault3792]

I am happy to say that I have seen and heard this bike running in competition.John Britten and his homemade VR1000 is just amazing.R.I.P.John and thank you.

[@OssieLad64]

Well done for the due respect of an absolute innovation hero. RIP John Britten. If he was still alive you could imagine what an empire he could have made. Instead of riding Bimota's; there would be Britten's at the very top of the evolutionary tree. Bikes would have moved forward another 10 or 20 years in their evolution. Thank you Motor Cycle News for reacquainting the more experienced viewer and giving generations to come a view of a piece of motorcycle history.

[@TheMickvee]

I met John Britten, and sat on that very same bike at the TT in '92 or '93. Still got the Tshirt and badge which I bought off him. Top bloke, top bike. RIP.

[@neocal1]

Wow, watching this put a huge smile on my face as if I were riding it myself. What a glorious machine, thank you John Britten

[@vinoveritas4921]

One of the most outstanding designed racing motorbike ever. John Britten was a genius. RIP buddy.

[@2wheels4life123]

so proud to be a New Zealander when you have John Britten and Burt Munro who both had amazing engineering skills who were both Top New Zealand Blokes

[@cecilwilson5442]

Sadly taken from us to soon but what we have is one of the most innovative and unique motorcycles ever made pure genius,, man is an absolute legend,, regards from Northern Ireland greatly appreciated,, ☘️☘️☘️😍😍

[@gixer1000live]

you lucky , lucky bastard. if there`s one bike i would like to ride before i left this life it is this one, seen it at the t.t. and it was something very special. built in a shed by a genius..and i still love it after all these years,

[@PSYCHOBABYLON1]

i think this is the actual bike that lead the funeral cortege at johns funeral... not many things truly amaze me, this bike is one of them

[@willytheekid]

Had the pleasure of meeting John and watching his team assemble the britten for a race at manfeild raceway many many years ago...Top bloke and that bike...O...M..G!!!, its a mechanics wet dream!...EVERYTHING is adjustable, and it truly was decades ahead of the compitition in some regards. Great post MCN...that smile and the hug at the end of the ride said it all!...a boy hood dream come true. Respect from NZ R.I.P (Ride In Paradise) John...taken from us to soon

[@bikezonly]

RIP John Britten. You're one of the best geniuses that ever lived. Hat's off to your determination too.

[@vulturnuszan]

when you see one in person you can just stare at it for hours.

[@hetzkerehi767]

Yeah hard out. Its fckn amazing!

[@stivi739]

Saw it at wellington museum nz last year still looks stunning

[@MartyH]

And I just did that 2 weeks ago... In total awe

[@scoot45123]

This is the top of my list of most desirable bike of all time.

[@jonthorstensen123]

A true Kiwi legend! What an inspirational man...John didnt have all the resources and money like the other countries/manufacturers, but a hell of a lot more heart and passion!

[@usat42]

he had daddy's money and some very smart mates

[@dawnr236]

@@usat42 fktart

[@normankeoghan5298]

@@usat42 please do your research as this comment is incorrect.

[@jasonmcveigh9399]

@@usat42 not true. I don't know if you are an underachiever but I do know that your comment is consistant with what one would say.

[@wogga8]

I feel lucky that i live in New Zealand and got to see this racing in the hands of Andrew Stroud and Jason McEwen quite a lot in the early 90's. The sound ..... THE SOUND!!!! What a machine it is. Im lucky enough to have a framed photo of the bike signed by John Britten and Andrew Stroud.

[@bremCZ]

I remember watching Stroud blow everyone away around Ruapuna.

[@lyndablair1449]

I was at Manfeild when they filmed this, so am delighted to see the finished footage. We get to see the Britten ridden in demonstration laps usually a couple of times a year here in NZ (Pukekohe Classic Festival, Paeroa street races) so we're very privileged - a big thanks to Kevin for his genorosity in making this happen. Plus Te Papa (the Museum in Wellington) has one on display. I sometimes forget how privilged we are to see the bike so often. Continued below

[@turboslag]

The Britten is my favourite bike of all time, I like to think of it as what Vincent would have made if they had continued in production. It reflects much of the same design philosophy as Vincent did back in the 50's but manifested in modern production technology. I tried VERY hard to find the funds to buy a Britten back in the day but just couldn't manage it. I did buy the model of it though, together with some other merchandise it was my first internet purchase direct from Britten back in 1996!! If anybody reading this hasn't seen the video on designing, making and racing the Britten, do it!! One of the most inspiring things I've ever seen. RIP John, very sadly missed.

[@NovaRedBaron]

What an amazing bike. It is the Holy Grail of motorcycles. It looks absolutely amazing and it sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing this video!!!

[@goldenmath4091]

A testament to engineers everywhere, and one of my greatest inspirations John lives on , so inspiring interdependence , each part is part of the whole, he will live forever RIP John

[@DJzSith]

As an engineer, I can only look up to great men like John Britten!

[@apodski]

@detroit nelson if that is your outlook on the world, I feel sorry for you.

[@davidelliott5843]

The front suspension looks a lot like Norman Hossack's design which of course BMW copied with the Duolever used on the big K bikes. the big benefit is no dive on the brakes or you can dial in some dive if you want it. you can brake to the limit into bends then get straight on the power. The fork geometry is unchanged under power or braking. There is no fork rebound that you get on "normal" forks. I'm not dissing John Britten he probably talked to Norman Hossack.

[@pete7kcu]

Great movie. I saw it at the '94 TT and it is still probably the most impressive two wheel project I have come across! RIP JB, you certainly left a legacy for the world to think about.

[@AlucardFeeds]

I got to see it in person at Barber, fantastic! This was the inspiration for my changing degrees from electrical to mechanical engineering. Love this bike

[@lllzooklll]

Like a few people have said below, us NZers probably dont realise how lucky we are to see this bike out and about as often as we do, the smile at 5:20 shows just how much it means to the biking world. Cant wait to see it wheelstanding up the front straight at Paeroa in a couple of months!!!

[@miurasvlamborghini]

This are the type of men who advance society. What an amazing fella.

[@barriegregory6606]

Absolutely correct.

[@kiwininja5810]

I was lucky enough to see one myself at a motorcycle show couple years back in my home town, it was bike 1 i think. I remember touching it's exhaust pipes, ignorant of it's legacy. Little of it is known funny enough even in it's little old home country. I will forever be grateful that the britten v1000 was probably the first bike i ever touched and what got me into 2 wheels.

[@RoyKarny]

wow, this is a dream bike and the fact it was built by a person and not the company GP style is a pearl! Thank you MCN!

[@EliteRock]

Occasionally revisit the Britten V1000 and I'm reminded every time that it's one of the most timelessly beautiful machines of any kind, not just motorcycles. This as a result of the purest design philosophy - form-following-function. Even the best Ducati's are in its shade.

[@DAVIDEPWDD]

I saw this bike many moons ago at mid ohio and here I am some years later in awe I really didn't comprehend what I was looking at and even now...... if you think about was so so far ahead I'm sure manufactures would be keen to steal bits and pieces of design and technology

[@sarahdell4042]

What an amazing treat for the rider! I couldn’t imagine the responsibility though!!

[@AbdulRa7eeM]

I have seen a documentry about this bike before. Really a unique motorcycle. RIP John Britten.

[@DICKTURPIN1976]

watched the documentry on this bike and its production. felt so sorry for the guy when it lead the daytona and began having problems and had to quit the race.. the passion the guy had is unbelievable... awesome bike

[@lyndablair1449]

Continued: Even a couple of decades on, it's still a stunning bike, and still goes and sounds so great. Adam, it was a pleasure to meet you - come back to NZ soon! Lynda Blair Wellington

[@desmo864]

there are no words to describe how much I appreciate John Britten !!

[@DailyDrivenBikes_1]

It's the most innovative motorcycle over the past 50 years.

[@brianroagers6894]

That’s amazing! What a great privilege to ride a bike like that! So awesome

[@dylanmiester6879]

what a stunning machine, well before its time

[@daveking650]

Saw the first two being raced at Daytona, March 1992 if I remember correctly just amazing performence.

[@steve8674]

Sounds amazing, I remember always looking at this bike in Te Papa.

[@katana258]

saw it run at daytona , was great, fast,sound, i was blessed

[@simonellis8249]

Beautiful beyond belief.... So happy to have seen them at the TT in 1994... Only downside was that Mark Farmer was killed at Black Dub. John Britten, you are a legend.

[@TyCetto]

Some other lucky bloke then managed to do a great deal. Still, don't spend time regretting - feel joy over giving someone else the chance of owning this AMAZING bike! Truly outstanding piece of mechanic!

[@arthuralford]

Seeing one of these at the Barber Museum made me appreciate how incredible these bikes are.

[@andrewtucker7990]

This bike is the reason I just got home from Barbers Motorcycle Museum. It's such a beautiful bike in person. Barbers has hundreds, probably into the thousands, of beautiful, historical motorcycles and a bunch of beautiful cars. Many historical lotuses, as well. It's in Birmingham, Alabama. If you're ever in Alabama, and you love bikes like this one, it's a must see. Every October they have a vintage bike festival, with swap meets, races, stunt riding and more. They have a track, also.

[@incognito8219]

I've had this poster bike on my wall all through my childhood too!

[@vtr1000kiwi]

I respect John Britten and his team for many reasons, for the "outside the box" advanced design concepts, because they had the nous to construct a "different" bike on a shoestring budget and because they had the guts to do take on the big boys of international motorcycle racing and beat them.....I sometimes wonder what Bert Munro would have thought of it all?......ride safe friends!

[@greenlineman82]

Thank you Mr.Grant and MCN that was just incredible! God bless John Britten.

[@maycrotch8576]

I absolutely adore this motorcycle, it takes me back to tt 1994 all over again #magic

[@kw4690]

I remember seeing this bike on a trailer in Hei Hei one early morning. I assume it was John Britten and another guy ,they were towing it behind a commodore station wagon heading towards Ruapuna racetrack. The squiggly exhaust is what caught my eye. I remember thinking it looks weird like intestines. This was around 87-89 sometime. Before they became famous i guess. Then when it started making waves on the tv i was like Hey thats that weird looking bike i saw.

[@sledgehammermessiah]

Thanks for the vid, great. Bet you had a tear in your eye there, I sure did when I sat on one. John, keeping your spirit alive.

[@michaelf2646]

Just came from TePapa museum where I admired it. This bike is a superb piece of modern art. An incredible blend of functional design, innovation, beauty and performance. And another thing. Can't believe that a lot of good guys are bothering to reply to trolls like Janusha, instead of voting the morons down. Don't feed the trolls!

[@jamesspinks716]

Sadly they have dismantled the bike and put it behind glass (I understand the glass after someone sat on it) I know it shows off the engineering better, but I don’t want to see them scrape off the paint on the Mona Lisa so we can see how it was painted. I won’t be back until they reassemble it and show the respect it deserves. I used to go to Tepapa just to look at the Britten.

[@Metal-Possum]

That's no Telelever suspension, it's Hossack suspension. Telelever still uses telescopic suspension components (hence the "tele") along with linkages (lever). Hossack is a modified girder fork, with steering forces applied through separate linkages to take the strain off parts that need to move freely.

[@danielkeel9265]

Done a little reading on the Britten fork setup, mindblowing stuff. Had an instant fantasy of adapting the design to fit a Vincent frame... want the best suspension, but putthing telescopic forks to a Vincent, apologies to Egli etc, but to keep the classic look with modern handling/brakes... It's a Lotto dream!

[@jmpicturefly]

thank you adam and mcn for getting this together. nz is a top place with top people. amazing man (britten), amazing bike.

[@ekp3ster]

Great video and excellent tribute to an often overlooked kiwi and. international designer. So ahead of his time.

[@nofallsnoballs21]

This is for me the best bike ever built.

[@attilassimcorner5277]

cheers good to see some one still hold up John Britten work R.I.P.

[@vijayam1]

I almost had tears after I heard that engine spool up. We miss you John!

[@olivertoeknuckleiii2093]

RIP John Britten. We can only imagine what he would be designing and building today. This is the greatest bike ever made for its time.

[@grimesyr]

Remember seeing for the first time working at the manx TT it blew my mind it was so loud and so faaast and a technical master piece awesome !

[@Masternater1000]

A giant killer. Such unreached potential, both for the man and the machine.

[@roblee540]

I miss watching them race on the Britten's home turf. What a sight when they had most of them together in 2015, was lucky enough to be standing next to Andrew and John's wife when they gave a speech. I really do think John and Burt Munro should posthumously both get a knighthood.

[@CadaverCo]

Legendary bike… absolutely unreal

[@popcornhead3479]

Unbelievable work of art! Wow

[@wiskunst]

that smile says it all! what a legendary bike! there's a good documentary about it: the britten bike story: one man's dream. more than worth it to look it up! thanks for this MCN!

[@lyndablair1449]

The video was filmed at Manfeild. I was there. The bike in Te Papa is not a replica. It is, according to the official Britten website, the # 2 bike. The bike featured in the video is # 6. The exhaust pipes are a different design on each of the 10 bikes - I'm not a technical expert but I understand it's because they were routed differently on each of the bikes, but needed to be exactly the same length/carry the same volume.

[@jeffmetaldemonz]

Such an awesome bike, a tale of triumph and tragedy RIP john Britten

[@KevZX-10RC1H]

This is the first time I've seen this bike up close and I ride and I'm always watching bike videos bloody KZbin algorithm👏 finally

[@MrSkid1970]

saw shaun harris ride this at the tt.people were cheering him on..just to finish the race,as john had just passed on.how many people could build a world beater in their shed?rip john

[@pancakecentral69]

saw this bike live in motomail in Auckland. truly stunning machine!

[@KingCast65]

I can't believe I have not see you doing this video before. It just never occurred to me to look for it but thanks!

[@NZsarge1]

Sweet video dude, nice work!

[@DICKTURPIN1976]

yeah spot on mate. i watched it back again yesterday. awesome guy..

[@steviesavage]

WTF - one of the best sounding bikes in the world and they put violin music right over it!!

[@SIMOPARAS]

Hmm.. Depents of taste. It's defenitely light and fastest for its time and hats off for that. But if you come here listen it after you hear Lexus LFA ..well, comparing its just sounds some random old motor

[@steveman1982]

@@SIMOPARAS Well, LFA is not a bike obivously... And it is cheating really, since the V10 is the most erotic sound... in the world ;) Still, I'd rather have one go on a Britten than drive an LFA for a year for free.

[@TonySMotorcyclePassion]

Amazing genius was John Britten. He changed the way motorcycle engineering was back in the 90,s. RIP John.

[@KeithHowells]

Amazing!!!! I Have to see if I have any pics of the bike - I went to Daytona every year from 89-94

[@TheGregg1969]

Brilliant video.

[@draggonhedd]

I would love like a 250cc tribute bike to one of these, they are my favorite bike of all time.

[@IBOO57]

I remember seeing one on track at Oran Park. Amazing.

[@cnealmartin]

I just realized John Britten died... man no wonder dealerships arnt' all over the world. What a shame, the man was freaking brilliant !!

[@JETJOOBOY]

Weird how no factory has straight ripped this off? I doubt it is out of respect... so it must be ... impossible?

[@spurgear4]

Thanks John

[@patrickbrown7491]

All cutting edge stuff really! 'the power of one' Mr Britten!

[@zander8752]

I've seen that bike in The Papa, was hooked on bikes since

[@robmarples1426]

0:58 ... "bit o pencil, and a paper"... God love you MCN!

[@andezbox]

The Britten is Priceless! Kiaora John!

[@KathrynLiz1]

A while back (10 years or so) I watched Andrew Stroud on the Britten at Manfield. It was in a class of its own on that "rider's track",,,, amazing. I think the circuit in this video is Manfield actually, I was there just a month or so back..... Such a shame that Cancer (melanoma) took John from us; who knows what his bikes would be like by now?......

[@HotForgeChaos]

+KathrynLiz1 He'd probably have made an H2R 10 or 15 years ago

[@stanleyknife1967]

Dreams do come true.

[@hicktownguy2]

Great New Zealand Inventors Bill Gallagher - The electric fence Bill Hamilton - Jet Boat John Britten - Britten V1000 Glenn Martin - The Jet Pack Bruce McLaren - McLaren Cars Allan Croad - Mountain Buggy AJ Hackett - Bungee Jumping

[@SenseiEpu]

Don't forget the Gibbs Aquada.

[@planpitz4190]

What about Burt Munro and the 200 MpH Land speed record on a 30 ties motorbike ?

[@davemckenna8591]

@Jeremy Robertson and Quade you can keep him too

[@sugirosie]

And taking Mondays off

[@mtselectrical]

Nice one Chad, I had the picture on my wall too, what a bike!