absolutely mental what these top riders can do
3 Likes
3 Likes
I strongly suspect that the actual bike lean angles havenāt changed much.
Maybe a few degrees here and there, maybe 5 or so.
Itās the style of the rider that makes it look more dramatic in my opinion.
1 Like
But the sticky rubber compound has improved out of all recognition!
At Uni in the 1960s we bikers were more interested than the others in Coefficients of Friction for the various rubber compounds, both wet and dry.
I was not directly involved in the tests, but a couple of the engineering students I knew well gained permitted access to suitable lab equipment (ooh! a Project!), and lots of us offered assorted rubber goods.
Bridgestone (On the new Hondas) was by far the worst, even cheapest of the cheap Blue Star was marginally better.
Avon SM MkII was best, so I bought those. Better in the wet than my old BS in the dry!
Dunlop was almost as good as the Avon.
2 Likes
Doohan had quite an odd riding style but obviously very effective. My old boss Paul Smart was one of the first riders to start the knee out style.
2 Likes
I had Avons on my last and final bike the Goldwing!
Lean angles not far away from above 
Handling was very good for a big bike, lovely for touring Europe mind.
Some say a Whale, but I said a ākiller Whaleā. 
1 Like
When I rode bikes until being wiped out by an errant, blind taxi driver in Leeds, I had perfected the handling on my Honda 250RS.
When new it came with Yokohama tyres, which in the dry felt like I was riding in heavy rain. As for riding in the rainā¦
Anyway, I saw an advert for Metzeler rubber showing a charging elephant cornering at speed, which seduced me into buying a pair.
I did not need any specialised tests to confirm what I felt from the seat of my pants. After grounding the bike on one corner going to work, I was shocked to find how far the bike was angled over, when with a friend we leaned the bike over until it was just off the ground (whilst stationary).
I rode with a little more discretion after that. Metzeler might even have saved me from damage 
3 Likes
I remember doing that aswell with my 250LC. Scarey stuff!! Canāt say as it slowed me down much though. 
2 Likes
Oh if only this were true!! 
1 Like
Ducati Paul Smart 1000LE at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Museum. I no longer own the bike but enjoyed it for 13 years+. Gorgeous to look at, fantastic to ride, but for no longer than 60 minutes without a stop!
7 Likes
Stunning! Fabulous bikes. I used to work for Paul back in the 80ās as a mechanic at his Kawasaki dealership in Kent. He had his original Imola race winning bike on a stand in the showroom. Lovely down to earth guy who would do anything for anyone. Very sadly missed.
3 Likes
I was fortunate enough to meet Paul on three separate occasions: the NEC Sport Classic launch in late 2005, Mallory Festival of 1000 bikes in 2011, where he signed the seat hump of my PS (I have a photo of him with Davide Tardozzi & my daughter between them) and at World Ducati week at Misano in 2018. As you say, a lovely friendly chap taken well before his time. I guess many on here might not know that his wife was Barry Sheeneās sister, Mags.
2 Likes
Mags used to pop in to the workshop every so often with the kids. One of which was Scott. They were quite young then and he would be standing at my ramp wanting to know what I was doing. Really lovely family. They lived in a beautiful house in Wateringbury just up the road from me. I was sometimes out in Paulās precious transit van with him picking up or delivering a bike and weād always pop in to his place for a coffee and a skive.
I remember one day, I was working away in the workshop when Paul came flying around the back in a Reliant 3 wheeler. Laughing his head off, he came in, threw me the keys and said ā thereās your new company carā. Heād taken it in part exchange for a bike and he wanted nothing to do with it. I hadnāt passed my car test at the time and was riding my bike through the snow to get to work. He told me to have it and when Iād done with it to sell it and give him what he paid for it and to keep any profit. That was Paul to a tee!
3 Likes
Paul Smart is a name from when I poured over the racing pages of the MCN in the early 1970ās - along with other big bike riders like Percy Tait, Ray Pickerel and John Cooper on their Norton Commandos, Triumph Bonnevilles and BSA Rocket 3ās.
They would take on the likes of Agostini in the post-TT meetings and the Easter Transatlantic Trophy meetings versus the USA.
4 Likes
I used to love the Transatlantic trophy meets. 3 days of racing in 4 days at 3 circuits. Brilliant! Steve Baker, Kenny Roberts etc. Made the brits look a bit silly really. Apart from Barry and Rocket Ron of course.
1 Like
Brilliant photo! Interesting that he was riding #9. Do you know what circuit or year? Was that before or after he won the Imola 200 in 1972 riding #16? The 750 Ducati looks identical to the Imola winning bike, currently in the Bologna Factory museum which is well worth a visit. Bologna is a brilliant city.
Apparently the photo was at Silverstone in 1972. He was contracted to Team Hanson in the US but had an agreement with them to race in Europe as and when he could. Looking at his helmet he was number 8 with them. Iām not sure whether this would have been before or after Imola but Iām thinking the bike heās on could be his Ducati team mate Spaggiaris bike which makes me wonder if he was doing a guest demonstration ride so it would make it post Imola. 
Maybe his winning bike went back to Bologna after he sold his business and retired or after he passed.
Yes, Spaggiari raced #9 and came second at Imola ā72.
Interesting auction notice from Bonhams here: Bonhams Cars : The ex-Bruno Spaggiari, Imola 200, works,1973 Ducati Formula 750 Racing Frame no. 02 Engine no. 01
I first visited the Ducati museum in 2006 (I think) and Smartyās Imola winning bike was in the museum then.
1 Like