Yes, I did a little more searching, and I'd have to say I'm impressed by their achievement. I'm not sure that anyone's build a faster single-engine streamliner bike yet. I guess one advantage they had going for them was the Harley engine's architecture, which allows for significant displacement increases. It looks like they set the record with an engine in the 1650-2000 cc class, which is possible for a Harley engine. Most of the Japanese inline engines, due to bore limitations, have real limitations on how far you can go with displacement. Here's a couple of relavent records:
2000CC S-F C. Rayborn H/D 8/70 265.492
2000CC S-G D. Vesco Yamaha 8/75 303.812
But tht Yamaha was a twin TZ-750 engined streamliner. And then this one:
3000CC S-BF Don Vesco Kawasaki 8/78 318.598
But I'm pretty sure that would have to be a multi-engine bike, too, as I'm pretty sure 2-3 litres is bigger than you can take any Japanese inline engine.
It does appear that development of full-streamliner bikes has slowed somewhat. Looks like most of the activity these days is in the more narrow classes. Unfaired bikes with gasoline burning engines and that sort of thing. I suspect the cost of developing all-out top speed streamliners and the dangers involved has dampened enthusiasm in this area somewhat.
I'd have to say I'm impressed by their achievement.I thought you would be. It's kind of a "Seabiscuit" story about motorcycles.
I'm not sure that anyone's build a faster single-engine streamliner bike yet.
I don't think so either. Perhaps that record still stands to this day. I'll try to find out. One has to plow through the So. Cal Timing Assn. achieves.
...one advantage...was the Harley engine's architecture, which allows for significant displacement increases.
Yes. "How big would you like your Harley engine, Sir?" The stroke has some limitations, but the bore can be a cave. It's a tugboat motor, to be sure. Designed and built for moving heavy things with torque. It may be an anachronism, but the Japanese have had to resort to imitating Harley styling in an effort to stay competitive in the motorcycle market. They can't make enough off the Cafe Racer crowd. Cafe Racers don't have the money that the Harley riders have and the Cafe Racers don't live long enough to pay off the Wonder Bikes".
Don't get me wrong, I am as impressed with mechanical sophistication as anyone, perhaps more, I'm a mechanical engineer. But for a speed record to stand for over 20 years while it is being assaulted every year, deserves respect.
Regards, Buck.