The Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner has become the fastest ever Triumph motorcycle, reaching a speed 274.2 mph (441.1 km/h) on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, US. Piloted by Guy Martin, the streamliner topped the previous Triumph record of 245.667 mph (395.4 km/h) in preparation for a tilt at the motorcycle land speed record.
The official Triumph record of 245.667 mph was set by Bob Leppan in the Gyronaut X-1 in 1966, but the recent Streamliner run is said to have topped the firm's unofficial record of 264 mph, also set by Leppan in the Gyronaut X-1 in 1970. It was unofficial because only one run was recorded, whereas official records require two runs to be made within 2 hours.
The 274.2 mph (441.1 km/h) speed was achieved on Monday (August 8), the final day of the team's land speed practice week. The run was the first of the day at 8.30 am and conditions are said to have been near perfect.
Triumph says a steady start allowed Martin to push on to the new record speed, before coming to a controlled stop just after the two-mile mark near the team's base.
The 25.5 x 2 x 3-ft (7.8 x 0.6 x 0.8-m) vehicle has two methanol-powered turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines, which produce a combined 1,000 bhp (746 kW) at 9,000 rpm. Martin is now looking to surpass the 376.363-mph (605.698-km/h) record set by Rocky Robinson riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack Streamliner in 2010.
The Triumph team has now packed up for the time being, with the Streamliner returning to its home in Portland, Oregon, where it will stripped down and checked thoroughly. The team will then reconvene in Bonneville on August 22 for a full attempt at the world land speed record, assuming the condition of the salt flats has not deteriorated.
Source: Triumph
