Exactweld Racing Motorcycle

[GORDON STREETER]

I have been mates with the guys from Exactweld since the 60s and always been amazed at the work that they do in a small industrial unit not far from where I live in the UK. The link is to show the story from the early days, however I was in their unit today to look at a new bike that they have built for some continental meetings this year and was told that they will be testing it at my local track in Almeria Spain soon.
https://riders.drivemag.com/features...ainst-all-odds

[chunder]

I have some articles form the 80's of the 2 stroke Rotax bike they made.

Think it ran 4 carbs or something and they made their own chassis, never really achieved a lot though.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by chunder

I have some articles form the 80's of the 2 stroke Rotax bike they made.

Think it ran 4 carbs or something and they made their own chassis, never really achieved a lot though.

Yes the new one has 4 carbs and is a 250cc twin and is a masterpiece in design. They also made the Cosworth Quantel twin (in the photo) with an engine made out of two cylinders of a DFV. The story makes interesting reading.

[justracing]

Remarkable story, talk about innovative engineering, thinking outside the box Colin Chapman style!

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by justracing

Remarkable story, talk about innovative engineering, thinking outside the box Colin Chapman style!

When they made the first bike they had a tiny workshop not on the ground floor (more like a flat) and had to use a lift to get all the stuff in and out or the stairs !
They moved to a bigger unit on an industrial estate that they then worked out of for about 30 years and then moved to the current premises but still in the same area.
Guy is such a good welder and is one of those people that some of the big named firms seek him out to work his magic on seemingly impossible jobs that their own workers have failed to sort out.
I did notice some early 1900s alloy engine blocks waiting for repairs and magnesium parts waiting to be welded.
John was repairing a part of an old Mercedes fuel injection system while I was there and always has an idea of how anything made of metal can be repaired or remanufactured

[chunder]

Had no idea Exaat made the Quantel, I thought that was made my erm Quantel!! Will ahve to read the articles I have.

I dont think the 4 carb bike did much, but they had some success with an Irish rider whose name escapes me in the European series in late 80's. Maybe Gary Cowan?

But I think the bike was fairly conventional.

Development was at an intense pitch back then the Heron Ciba Geigy bike, Fior, Aprilia ran a girder fork on a bike, Elf Honda bikes and the even weirder stuff they ran in Bol D'Or events.

And then at a higher level you has Cagiva trying carbon frames, Honda trying carbon forks, wheels etc.

Kawasaki, honda, Yamaha trying fuel injection

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by chunder

Had no idea Exaat made the Quantel, I thought that was made my erm Quantel!! Will ahve to read the articles I have.

I dont think the 4 carb bike did much, but they had some success with an Irish rider whose name escapes me in the European series in late 80's.

The one that has just been built is for a dedicated classic series and they made the frame for the Quantel

[chunder]

I recall articles in the late 80's probably in the building you are on about, blokes with beards made some sort of green wonderbike. but it never did much sadly!

[chunder]

Did some digging

The team at Exactweld was only three guys!

The Quantel guys farmed out the chassis design to Exactweld after trying their own, like the 250 it was a no chassis type thing.

Engine was very loosely based on an old Commando Norton twin! Very loosely!!

[GORDON STREETER]

August 19th. The 3 day test at Val de Vienne proved extremely positive for Exactweld Racing despite heavy rain prematurely ending our running on Sunday afternoon. Each session saw the lap times tumbling as rider Peter Branton became all the more familiar with the bike and track.

[GORDON STREETER]

I have just re-edited a video that was on YouTube showing the Exactweld 250cc race bike that is now being used in Classic GP racing. Guy was hoping to do the whole season this year and is all ready, It's an absolute disaster what's happened in the world at the moment for just about everything in the foreseeable future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-dcfNFxuQ

[justracing]

Fascinating, real skills.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by justracing

Fascinating, real skills.

Exactly, unfortunately those skills are disappearing and the numbers that can still do it are all getting older with very few to take their place