Silver Bird (streamliner)
{{Infobox motorcycle
|name = Silver Bird
|image = File:A PB Vesco-Kawasaki05.jpg
|caption = Don Vesco with Silver Bird at Bonneville Speedway
|aka =
|manufacturer = Don Vesco
|parent_company =
|production =
|assembly =
|predecessor = "Big Red" streamliner
|successor = "Lightning Bolt" streamliner
|class = Streamliner
|engine = 2× Yamaha Inline-4 {{convert|694.9|cc|abbr=on}} reed-valve two-stroke, {{convert|1389.8|cc|abbr=on}} total displacement
|bore_stroke = {{convert|64|x|54|mm|2|abbr=on}}
|compression =
|top_speed = {{convert|303.812|mph|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=126}}
|power = {{convert|240|hp|abbr=on}}
|torque =
|ignition =
|transmission =
|frame =
|suspension =
|brakes =
|tires =
|rake_trail =
|wheelbase =
|length = {{convert|21|ft|abbr=on}}
|width =
|height = {{convert|32|in|abbr=on}}
|seat_height =
|dry_weight =
|wet_weight = {{convert|900|lb|abbr=on}}
|fuel_capacity =
|oil_capacity =
|fuel_consumption =
|turning_radius =
|related =
|sp =
}}
Silver Bird was a motorcycle land-speed record setting streamliner motorcycle. It was powered by two motors delivering {{convert|240|hp}}.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=126}} It was the first motorcycle to set a speed record over {{convert|300|mph}}, when ridden by Don Vesco at the Bonneville Speedway in 1975.{{sfn|American Motorcyclist Association|1999}}{{sfn|New York Times|2002}}
Construction
File:Silver Bird streamliner 1974.jpg
The motorcycle was built by Don Vesco and sponsored by Yamaha.{{sfn|Woodruff|1982}} It had two four-cylinder, 694.9 cc reed-valve two-stroke engines from the Yamaha TZ750 racebike.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=126}}
=Specifications=
- Displacement: 1,389.8 cc total
- Engine bore and stroke: 64mm×54mm{{sfn|Cameron|2012}}{{sfn|Williams|2007}}
- Dimensions: 21 feet long, 32 inches high{{sfn|Hot Rod|2003}}
- Weight: c. {{convert|900|lb}}{{sfn|Phinizy|1975}}
References
=Notes=
{{reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{citation|publisher=American Motorcyclist Association|title=Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Don Vesco|year=1999|url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=288|ref={{harvid|American Motorcyclist Association|1999}}}}
- {{citation|title=Ask Kevin: Hard riding beasts – Yamaha TZ750|first=Kevin|last=Cameron|authorlink=Kevin Cameron (journalist)|journal=Cycle World|date=March 30, 2012|url=http://www.cycleworld.com/2012/03/30/ask-kevin-hard-riding-beasts-yamaha-tz750/}}
- {{citation|title=Yamaha's TZ750: Where Legends Began ...|first=Evan|last=Williams|publisher=Superbike Planet|year=c. 2007|url=http://www.superbikeplanet.com/evantz750.htm|ref={{harvid|Williams|2007}}|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221063501/http://superbikeplanet.com/evantz750.htm|archivedate=2010-12-21}}
- {{citation|title=Flat Out: The Race for the Motorcycle Land Speed Record|first=Rocky|last=Robinson|year=2007|publisher=Motorbooks|isbn=9781610609296|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kLmSoy1vB6cC&pg=PA126}}
- {{citation|title=Don Vesco, 63, Record-Setting Motorcyclist|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 20, 2002|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/20/sports/don-vesco-63-record-setting-motorcyclist.html|ref={{harvid|New York Times|2002}}}}
- {{citation|title=Don Vesco Turbinator Streamliner Land-Speed Racer—Vesco's 300-MPH Bike|url=http://www.hotrod.com/thehistoryof/hrdp_0307_vescos_turbinator_streamliner_land_speed_racer/ |journal=Hot Rod|date=July 2003|ref={{harvid|Hot Rod|2003}}}}
- {{cite journal|first=Dorde|last=Woodruff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QPsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA86|title=Record runs a family affair with Don and Rick Vesco|journal=American Motorcyclist|date=April 1982|page=86|publisher=American Motorcyclist Association|access-date=May 29, 2021|via=Google Books}}
- {{citation|title=Flat out on the flats|last=Phinizy|first=Coles|date=November 1975|magazine=Sports Illustrated|volume=43|issue=19|page=38|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1975/11/10/618927/flat-out-on-the-flats}}
Further reading
- {{citation|title=Motorcycles - The Silver Bird - Don Vesco's 300-mph Yamaha streamliner|journal=Hot Rod|date=December 1975}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{YouTube|Os4otXHqLc4|Don Vesco & The Silver Bird 1975}}
Category:Motorcycles of the United States
Category:Land speed record motorcycles
Category:Feet forwards motorcycles
Category:Streamliner motorcycles
Category:Motorcycles designed by Don Vesco
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