you have give some props to andrew stroud also it was like john made that bike for him he couldn't have chose a better rider for it a young up & coming rider from nz beating world class riders on international circuits that is another mean feat in its self .i miss those days .
Burt Munro, Sam Newcombe and John Britton all Legends. Shame all kiwis think they are th is great maybe they would get more done. The britton motorcycle changed a lot of things. John thought if I make a part it's got to serve more than one purpose or as the case was 4 purposes. Like his fellow countrymen before him he revolustionised bike building and he wasn't an arse hole about it like Burt was. RIP fellas who's the next kiwi legend to follow in their footsteps?
kiwis are the best... i hope we dont get over taken by nob foreingefors who are dum, thick and lazy.... well some of them anyway.... kiwi enginuity is so unique.. its something thats in us.. it cant realy be learnt or taught i believe.................... ....... its in our blood
@VIRALinflux Totally agree - but too many of us NZ'ers are dumb, thick, and lazy, just like you say. Moreso than foreigners. Just sittting around bitching but living on the benefit, while hard working kiwis like me an you pay for them to fuck around, bash their kids, drink, and do drugs, through our taxes.
Remember seeing this work of art at the nw200 road races in Ireland, normally when the races were on we watched the skies wating for the helicopter to appear in front of the bikes but not with the Britten, we knew it was there because we could hear the beast coming from 2 miles away, the Ducatis that ran in the same race looked and sounded like 125s in comparrison. This machine is the work of a genius.
I remember at the age of maybe fourteen seeing this bike debut at Pukekohe race track in Auckland New Zealand. With a new rider on it's seat after about three laps having beaten all track records at Pukekohe Britten announced he was happy with the way it handles so was going to now focus on some real power. WTF! I have never seen so many jaws drop at one time since. A truly amazing bike and a truly amazing man. Kiwi's rule.
Heartbreaking story. I remember that bike...there were several articles on Italian motorcycle magazines, everything was astonishing - design, engine, everything. Sure John Britten deserves a place near Tamburini among the Lords of Motorcycles.
It wasn't a faulty rectifier that failed at Daytona, when they rebuilt the engine, John got the three wires mixed up to the alternator and the battery went flat and the motor cut out. The Media were told it was a faultj rectifier to save face... True story..
I'm from Christchurch too, I have recently built up my first bike from parts - but to completely design and fabricate one from scratch? Now that's something else entirely. A true legend, RIP John.
God damn, this is incredible. Can someone point me to some more information on making carbon fiber parts with thread rather than cloth? I'm sure the methodology must be quite different...
i remember watching the britten racing in nz when i was at high school and then sitting on one about 13 or 14 years ago, and watching that clip is enough to bring a tear to the eye. JB was an absolute bloody genius. makes me truly proud to be a kiwi.
So cruel that such a genius was taken so young... I remember fondly seeing the V-1000 racing at Phillip Island many years back and it literally played with the other bikes down the long main straight... It could just pop the front wheel up whenever the rider chose and seemed to have limitless power...
We all lost out with the passing of this great man... We can now only wonder what incredible creations we have missed without his creativity.
I had the occasion to observe the black one (Crepaldi's)very close in Milan last year.
So,people from New Zeland should be proud of this man.This bike seems to come from another world compared to Italian or Japanese way to think and build.Britten showed to world that a man can use his brain and thinking radically creating a working idea by himself.I think that living so far from influences gave him a big help to do it.Great man and incredible bike.RIP.Ciao from Italy.
I saw this bike racing in Monza in 1992 when Roberto Crepaldi gave Jonh a support for races in Europe.It was incredible and still is.Today's Ducati motogp bike uses the same philosophy he used 20 years ago...I remember I met him in the boxe because at that time you could enter to visit it.But I can't forget the scream of his V2 engine in the straight of Monza against our factory Ducatis...Incredible.Roberto Crepaldi still shows his bike(the black one)in every Milano bike exhibitions.
I had the great privelege of meeting and talking to John Britten, at the TT in the mid '90's. He was a top bloke and will be sadly missed. I'll never forget the sight of the Britten, during practice, wheelying from the Creg, all the way down to Brandish. Awesome!
John Britten was not only a genius but was also a visionary. If he were alive today I would be writing pleading mails to him asking to be involved in this project.
At 6:13 you can see that his health condition was getting worse. The cancer was already killing him. Too bad for his family and friends to loose a man with a big hart and character, humanity to loose the chance of evolving more with his technology and his dreams he never reached. But this had a positive effect - he became a legend and everyone regrets him more. A legend for the connoisseur of this industry.
From the very first time that I saw the Britten on TV, it and John Britten had me hooked. What a man, what a machine, what an inspiration and what a very tragic end to life. I'd love to have a tenth of John Brittens talent, and put him way up on the pedestal sitting next to Joey Dunlop. Both masters of their craft, and both sadly missed.
@fordv8man britten was a very talented kiwi, the britten V1000 is one of my favourite motorcycles of all time. But aussies have had their own innovators in motoring. Phil Irving's design of the vincent black shadow comes to mind, and the recent Irving Vincent, a redesign of Irving's original design, by KHE also sticks out. Awesome machines..And dont be a wanker, you can have russell back
great bike, even greater man to fight the norms of motorcycling. its men like this that make motorcycling great. anyone can sit back and wait for change, few will ever be the one that makes it happen. to all that have a desire to make a defference, do it. dont expect succeed at first, just never quite and success will come in time.
This has got to be one of the most annoying accents I've ever heard. No offense if you're from that region, but damn. Normally I like European accents, including the sort of British accent you hear on Top Gear today. But this particular one is like nails on a chalkboard to me.
Awesome bike, though, and an incredible underdog story!
Love it. We used to have a bit of that spirit over here in Aus, when Jack Brabham designed, built, and drove his own car to the 1966 Formula1 championship, but I feel we've lost more of this "can do" attitude than the Kiwi's. Good onya NZ, and much respect to John Britten.
I saw Andrew Stroud riding his gixxa at the cemetery circuit on tele this weekend. Fuck he is an incredible rider, i've never been so glued to a track race in my life. back wheel locked at every odd corner, tail squirming, yet so smooth through the turns. words can't describe how awesome he is to watch.
An absolute legend.. .I'll never forget seeing you and your bike at I think was the 94 Wanaka airshow. The Britten was up against a helicopter and Pitts Special and whipped them both. RIP you died too young. Great to see Andrew Stroud down this way with one of your bikes and ride around Wyndham circuit.
I'm reading Tim Hanna's biography of John at the moment, he was a genuine genius, and the bikes he made were as much artworks as functional machinery. This is the first time I've seen footage of the bikes in action, or of John himself.
Thank you 71bsab50 for posting this up.
RIP John Britten, you were taken from us too soon.....
This reminds of Monroe the other kiwi who had the worlds fastest Indian. This bike sounded nice and worked unlike other homemade attemps. RIP Britten your a legend indeed!
You would think he was the inspiration for Silver Dream Racer, even though that was a good ten years before he really did make a bike that rewrote the book on building motor cycles.
Sad to hear John passed not long after this Top Gear clip was made (I remember watching it the first time round on TV), truly inspiring guy.
Glad Berry did the segment about Britten, what better way of documenting a mans passion for bikes than a guy who is a motorcycle nut himself?
Yeah I have seen it, a sad shame John died of cancer, I just wonder what he may have made next and what ever it would have been, whould have been something ahead of his time.
Britten was a genius,if he was still alive i`m sure i`d be riding a bike with some part he had designed,he`s a greatt loss to biking and engineering in general,when will the factory`s give us something this good?????
This is a great story, thank you very much for uploading. vicpik is on the money, this should be a movie. It would be right up there with "worlds fastest indian".
It did all start with a Ducati you know. his idea was to four valve a bevel drive after aero d zero(ducati) then came aero d one (denco),then he built the engines for the britten's. He did have a hand putting the whole thing together, you just never hear anything about them.
For anyone interested go to NZ On Screen and do a search for Britten - Backyard Visionary. It is a documentary that screened in NZ in the early 90's that followed the building of the second bike he took to Daytona. The documentary is in 5 parts and is 45 minutes long and is well worth a look at. For some reason, I can't post the URL here.
Mr.Britten was a mechanical genius. I talked to his rider at New Hampshire International. I asked him if it was a handful. He had this maniacal smile as he said no. Then he said "It takes 2 handfuls." 'nuff said.
i read about this bike and John Britten in german bike magazines, but never saw the bike or the man in moving pictures..thank u so much 4 posting , i didnt know he passed away :-( what a loss 4 NZ and the world!
You can see a full length documentary about Britten - for free on NZ On Screen. Take a look! (can't post the address here, but search for it and you'll find it easily)
"One Man's Dream" is a MUST WATCH for anyone with even a passing interest in motorcycles. It's an incredibly compelling and poignant story. John's genius was simply staggering and the world is a poorer place after his death. R.I.P.
One of these bikes resides in the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama. If you go, plan on having at least 4 hours to look around. It's worth it.
Awesome, i was lucky enough to see this bike race at the lady wigram trophy against other 1000cc racing bikes who were given a 1 lap advantage and it still came through to beat them all by a country mile
I was like you, lucky to watch this bike race in its hey at Wanganui boxing day races. The had it do a few laps at last years boxing races 2008. Andrew Stroud rode it round the track a few times. Oh the memories.
Definitly agree, if anyone wants to find out more about the Britten V1000 then the film "One Mans Dream" is the way to go. This is a very well done montage of the film that was done for the BBC's Top Gear program that showcased John Brittens remarkably achievements to a wider audience. It also happens to fit within YouTubes 10 minute rule.
Total inspiration, he was a wonderful man, all who worked with him or just read about him have been enriched by the experience, not many will leave such a mark on the world. (what is it about Kiwi sheds?)
RIP to a kiwi legend. What a great post..... thanks
ringburners 4 days ago
I meant john britten.....
redrocker72 6 days ago
norman britten = gifted genius !!!
redrocker72 6 days ago
you have give some props to andrew stroud also it was like john made that bike for him he couldn't have chose a better rider for it a young up & coming rider from nz beating world class riders on international circuits that is another mean feat in its self .i miss those days .
hellbentonmma 3 weeks ago
Sucks that he died of cancer =/ He should've at least have died while riding.
I love people with dreams that manage to make them a reality.
tgseason12 3 weeks ago 3
Comment removed
MrScracha 1 month ago
Awsome. Thanks.
PrevailerProject 1 month ago
I'm from Christchurch!
kiwipk121 1 month ago
13 aussies disliked this
ScreamX2 1 month ago 4
What a bike.....What a man,,,,,, thanxs john RIP
Gwynfzr4 1 month ago 2
Burt Munro, Sam Newcombe and John Britton all Legends. Shame all kiwis think they are th is great maybe they would get more done. The britton motorcycle changed a lot of things. John thought if I make a part it's got to serve more than one purpose or as the case was 4 purposes. Like his fellow countrymen before him he revolustionised bike building and he wasn't an arse hole about it like Burt was. RIP fellas who's the next kiwi legend to follow in their footsteps?
hotestspur 2 months ago
come on kiwis build some more of these bikes or at least those motors so we can build some kiwi bears cruisers
reeceagodwin 3 months ago
@reeceagodwin I think the knowledge for the britton died with John but there are others of his ilk out there. Hopefully.
hotestspur 2 months ago 2
kiwis are the best... i hope we dont get over taken by nob foreingefors who are dum, thick and lazy.... well some of them anyway.... kiwi enginuity is so unique.. its something thats in us.. it cant realy be learnt or taught i believe.................... ....... its in our blood
VIRALinflux 3 months ago
@VIRALinflux Totally agree - but too many of us NZ'ers are dumb, thick, and lazy, just like you say. Moreso than foreigners. Just sittting around bitching but living on the benefit, while hard working kiwis like me an you pay for them to fuck around, bash their kids, drink, and do drugs, through our taxes.
ThrottleStuckOpen 4 weeks ago
Comment removed
VIRALinflux 3 months ago
Remember seeing this work of art at the nw200 road races in Ireland, normally when the races were on we watched the skies wating for the helicopter to appear in front of the bikes but not with the Britten, we knew it was there because we could hear the beast coming from 2 miles away, the Ducatis that ran in the same race looked and sounded like 125s in comparrison. This machine is the work of a genius.
Flamorgan 3 months ago
I remember at the age of maybe fourteen seeing this bike debut at Pukekohe race track in Auckland New Zealand. With a new rider on it's seat after about three laps having beaten all track records at Pukekohe Britten announced he was happy with the way it handles so was going to now focus on some real power. WTF! I have never seen so many jaws drop at one time since. A truly amazing bike and a truly amazing man. Kiwi's rule.
zappafile 4 months ago
Lovely man RIP John we all love you
sidewaysid 4 months ago
So when are they gonna make a movie about this man? They did for burt and he was as eccentric as they come. This man was no different.
petnzme01 4 months ago 2
13 manufacterers dislike this bike,because they couldnt build it!
OHNGAI 4 months ago 25
How many creative genius-dudes were ever that humble and LIKABLE?
mowrman100 5 months ago 2
Heartbreaking story. I remember that bike...there were several articles on Italian motorcycle magazines, everything was astonishing - design, engine, everything. Sure John Britten deserves a place near Tamburini among the Lords of Motorcycles.
cuoccimix 5 months ago
simplesmente fantastico a historia desse homem
anegatrikes 7 months ago
Great vid!
gverrilli 7 months ago
It wasn't a faulty rectifier that failed at Daytona, when they rebuilt the engine, John got the three wires mixed up to the alternator and the battery went flat and the motor cut out. The Media were told it was a faultj rectifier to save face... True story..
2000bda 7 months ago
Good to see Stroudy still doing weel on the track to this day too
2000bda 7 months ago
What a talent!, A real Kiwi Hero. RIP John.
SEMIAUTOMAN 8 months ago
beautifull mind and a beautifull bike
mad4tarmac 8 months ago
the greatest,most beutifull,perfect looking bike ever....no other has ever come as close to the cardinal britten.....thanks john for the best....RIP
OHNGAI 8 months ago
I'm from Christchurch too, I have recently built up my first bike from parts - but to completely design and fabricate one from scratch? Now that's something else entirely. A true legend, RIP John.
ThrashNZ 8 months ago
That house is just round the road from me.
Grunzaa 8 months ago
britten is real intelligence, some people learn, copy ,redo and people call them genius.
but to design actually your whole life, your house, and a motorcycle that beats market leaders is genius!
rzu82 8 months ago
Who would dislike this?
Samsonblp 9 months ago 23
@Samsonblp the guy that owns ducati?
fatdrood 6 months ago
@Samsonblp (i totally agree with you)only the ones who dont know anything bout bikes... and the other motorcycle companies it OWNED in the tracks...
waxdclxvi 5 months ago
God damn, this is incredible. Can someone point me to some more information on making carbon fiber parts with thread rather than cloth? I'm sure the methodology must be quite different...
dtmbcorp 9 months ago
i remember watching the britten racing in nz when i was at high school and then sitting on one about 13 or 14 years ago, and watching that clip is enough to bring a tear to the eye. JB was an absolute bloody genius. makes me truly proud to be a kiwi.
xxxklian06xxx 9 months ago
This Man Was A Motorcycle GOD.!
Jo3yB7 9 months ago
his bike was so advanced for its time what would he be making if he was still alive now
paulbudford 9 months ago
So cruel that such a genius was taken so young... I remember fondly seeing the V-1000 racing at Phillip Island many years back and it literally played with the other bikes down the long main straight... It could just pop the front wheel up whenever the rider chose and seemed to have limitless power...
We all lost out with the passing of this great man... We can now only wonder what incredible creations we have missed without his creativity.
Rest peacefully Mr Britten...
parkaoz 10 months ago 3
My uncle's sat on a Britten. Yeah we're New Zealanders.
youreadingmyusername 10 months ago
he accomplished single handedly, the most amazing feat immaginalbe. One of the greatest minds this world could ever know.
toddiskingofearth 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
wow! Raw talent! to build your motorcycle and every part. Amazing!
TonyODonnell01 10 months ago
wow! Raw talent! to build your motorcycle and every part.
TonyODonnell01 10 months ago
A Great Man....he is missed
angryscowl 10 months ago
The DVD/Video is available on the Britten website in NZ
trubritbiker 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
There is a DVD available about the Britten called "One man's dream"
trubritbiker 11 months ago
Comment removed
trubritbiker 11 months ago
I had the occasion to observe the black one (Crepaldi's)very close in Milan last year.
So,people from New Zeland should be proud of this man.This bike seems to come from another world compared to Italian or Japanese way to think and build.Britten showed to world that a man can use his brain and thinking radically creating a working idea by himself.I think that living so far from influences gave him a big help to do it.Great man and incredible bike.RIP.Ciao from Italy.
tesi1973 11 months ago
This is Officially My Dream Bike:) cause you can't buy one, only dream of one
John Britten is the definition of kiwi ingenuity - the power of creativity
D8Guy 11 months ago
I saw this bike racing in Monza in 1992 when Roberto Crepaldi gave Jonh a support for races in Europe.It was incredible and still is.Today's Ducati motogp bike uses the same philosophy he used 20 years ago...I remember I met him in the boxe because at that time you could enter to visit it.But I can't forget the scream of his V2 engine in the straight of Monza against our factory Ducatis...Incredible.Roberto Crepaldi still shows his bike(the black one)in every Milano bike exhibitions.
ciurlandon 11 months ago
Quality. miss the picture I had on my wall of this bike as a kid .glad I found this video. thanks for sharing
pctriple 11 months ago
HERO !!!!!!!!!!!!
jablowska 11 months ago
thanks for posting the vid boss.
rip john and mark,i always think of you at black dub.
schwantz3434 1 year ago
Thank you very much for sharing, I never knew this tape existed, now I gotta get a copy!
jc9ball 1 year ago
This makes me feel proud to have met john Britten. I have a print of the bike signed by John Britten on my wall.
wogga8 1 year ago
@wogga8 I will buy that if the price is right.
darrylsh 1 year ago
@darrylsh Cheers .... but its kind of priceless to me. I dont think i could part with it sorry
wogga8 1 year ago
@wogga8 Thats cool. Just so you know, you own a piece of awesome.
darrylsh 1 year ago
I know it wouldn't be nice to build replicas but I would buy one. I bet it would hold its own against modern repli-racers too! Awesome machine!
darrylsh 1 year ago
un verdadero genio,gracias por compartir el video.
Pineforest65 1 year ago
1:25 who wears short shorts??
RIP Britten, you made cool shit
toxicblu 1 year ago
One of the few men in this world I look up to. He took on the world and excelled.
What a true hero. RIP John Britten
1morpork 1 year ago
wow this is just amazing what this guy did!
hinesdeal82291 1 year ago
what kind of morons dislike videos like this?..
MABELtheINFERNAL 1 year ago
John Britten is a hero of mine. He was a brilliant man... a true genius. He is someone all young boys should learn about and look up to.
fallingwatersnz 1 year ago
John Britten always a genius..thanks John....
paragons 1 year ago
I had the great privelege of meeting and talking to John Britten, at the TT in the mid '90's. He was a top bloke and will be sadly missed. I'll never forget the sight of the Britten, during practice, wheelying from the Creg, all the way down to Brandish. Awesome!
mguyvig 1 year ago
no.8 wire. true kiwi ingenuity
keebaman 1 year ago
John Britten was not only a genius but was also a visionary. If he were alive today I would be writing pleading mails to him asking to be involved in this project.
MrWotsisname 1 year ago
great video clip .....well what a guy .....what a bike .....amazing ......enjoyed very much ....thanks
schmebley 1 year ago
such a great story this
robaxx 1 year ago
John Britten was a true Kiwi genius
Sentowon 1 year ago
At 6:13 you can see that his health condition was getting worse. The cancer was already killing him. Too bad for his family and friends to loose a man with a big hart and character, humanity to loose the chance of evolving more with his technology and his dreams he never reached. But this had a positive effect - he became a legend and everyone regrets him more. A legend for the connoisseur of this industry.
silverblackss 1 year ago
From the very first time that I saw the Britten on TV, it and John Britten had me hooked. What a man, what a machine, what an inspiration and what a very tragic end to life. I'd love to have a tenth of John Brittens talent, and put him way up on the pedestal sitting next to Joey Dunlop. Both masters of their craft, and both sadly missed.
onthefence1966 1 year ago
NEW ZEALAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Surprised those aussie mongrels havnt tried to claim it! Kiwis know what I mean haha
fordv8man 1 year ago
@fordv8man britten was a very talented kiwi, the britten V1000 is one of my favourite motorcycles of all time. But aussies have had their own innovators in motoring. Phil Irving's design of the vincent black shadow comes to mind, and the recent Irving Vincent, a redesign of Irving's original design, by KHE also sticks out. Awesome machines..And dont be a wanker, you can have russell back
qontroller4 1 year ago
Comment removed
qontroller4 1 year ago
i was named after this guy john britten i knew his wife but i never knew him he died before i was born or when i was rlly rlly young idr but RIP John
Waffenssman 1 year ago
thankyou for sharing this
BestBikesArmagh 1 year ago
" I only bought one roll of it and I've built three motorbikes out of it..."
Simply breath-taking. What a man.
What could have he and Mark Farmer have achieved together...
BestBikesArmagh 1 year ago
can you get this on dvd
TeganJM 1 year ago
legend
wileyx666 1 year ago
A New Zealand hero.
keebaman 1 year ago
wicked that was awesome thankyou so much for the opourtunity. All respect to john and his family. love kiwiana!
alexpukeko 1 year ago
thanks
eyewired2000 1 year ago
great bike, even greater man to fight the norms of motorcycling. its men like this that make motorcycling great. anyone can sit back and wait for change, few will ever be the one that makes it happen. to all that have a desire to make a defference, do it. dont expect succeed at first, just never quite and success will come in time.
fastcheetah69 1 year ago 2
This has got to be one of the most annoying accents I've ever heard. No offense if you're from that region, but damn. Normally I like European accents, including the sort of British accent you hear on Top Gear today. But this particular one is like nails on a chalkboard to me.
Awesome bike, though, and an incredible underdog story!
JETZcorp 1 year ago
a stunning bike , shame about the crash at the isle of man TT , inspiring man , it sounded fantastic going round the mountain , top bloke , ,
manxcats59 1 year ago
Great bike!!
sxtraildanny 1 year ago
Thanks for uploading this.
828cc 1 year ago
I touched one at the Guggenheim when it was in Vegas as well as Mike the Bikes 250-6.
Truly great machines.
jeffuryca 1 year ago
my uncle worked on this bike doing carbon fiber..its a great bike...thankyou very much for uploading this.
vctrsone 1 year ago
john britten was the man rip cuzzy
nails212 1 year ago
This is not top gear jackass but good video sad story
krk1211 1 year ago
FOR EVER JOHN!!
ovalspecial 1 year ago
wow its too bad no company is offering to try and pick up where the legend left off
phatcow27 1 year ago
Love it. We used to have a bit of that spirit over here in Aus, when Jack Brabham designed, built, and drove his own car to the 1966 Formula1 championship, but I feel we've lost more of this "can do" attitude than the Kiwi's. Good onya NZ, and much respect to John Britten.
tosgem 1 year ago 3
John britten, a man who made every bikers dream come true: build your own superbike! Much love fr sweden
unstplmadman 1 year ago 2
KIWIS DO FLY
se7en98 1 year ago 2
BRITTEN's bike- INGENIOUS & INNOVATIVE
zeppiafy 1 year ago 2
so much genius and patience involved in the production of a great motorcycle
Metalfest44 1 year ago 2
this brings tears to my eyes
rabidnz 1 year ago 3
Should be #1
xzistpo 1 year ago 2
John is truely one of lifes gifts to us all,a pioneer in so many ways.makes me proud to be a NewZealander.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0100 1 year ago 3
I saw Andrew Stroud riding his gixxa at the cemetery circuit on tele this weekend. Fuck he is an incredible rider, i've never been so glued to a track race in my life. back wheel locked at every odd corner, tail squirming, yet so smooth through the turns. words can't describe how awesome he is to watch.
MrKsizzle 2 years ago
An absolute legend.. .I'll never forget seeing you and your bike at I think was the 94 Wanaka airshow. The Britten was up against a helicopter and Pitts Special and whipped them both. RIP you died too young. Great to see Andrew Stroud down this way with one of your bikes and ride around Wyndham circuit.
jerandra1 2 years ago 7
Truly amaizing and inspiring!
purple9lemur321 2 years ago
I'm reading Tim Hanna's biography of John at the moment, he was a genuine genius, and the bikes he made were as much artworks as functional machinery. This is the first time I've seen footage of the bikes in action, or of John himself.
Thank you 71bsab50 for posting this up.
RIP John Britten, you were taken from us too soon.....
Schmeeky455 2 years ago 2
Great video of John's work. Thanks for sharing!
desmobabe 2 years ago
This reminds of Monroe the other kiwi who had the worlds fastest Indian. This bike sounded nice and worked unlike other homemade attemps. RIP Britten your a legend indeed!
Thermoman69691 2 years ago
What an amazing guy. Sad to hear he died so young
maxwellbetts 2 years ago
Awesome. Thanks very much 71bsab50!
Cotdail 2 years ago
damn, how much problem did he face.
hks071 2 years ago
How to download that video ? or is it available somewhere else ? Cheers.
VdeV2000 2 years ago
You would think he was the inspiration for Silver Dream Racer, even though that was a good ten years before he really did make a bike that rewrote the book on building motor cycles.
Sad to hear John passed not long after this Top Gear clip was made (I remember watching it the first time round on TV), truly inspiring guy.
Glad Berry did the segment about Britten, what better way of documenting a mans passion for bikes than a guy who is a motorcycle nut himself?
Outamyhead 2 years ago
very nice,thanks for sharing
FlamingTightyWhiteis 2 years ago
This guy is definitely a genius, and obviously way ahead his time!
Oregu7 2 years ago 3
Kiwi ingenuity boys and girls.
tyrebusters 2 years ago
how can i see the bike face to face? where the bike waas exhibit?
mamatgemok 2 years ago
Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham Al
ganer13 2 years ago
amazing guy shame his life ended so early imagine what he would of made next
jazzen69 2 years ago
One of his bikes is on display at the Te Papa museum in Wellington NZ.
NZWolf2 2 years ago
Yeah I have seen it, a sad shame John died of cancer, I just wonder what he may have made next and what ever it would have been, whould have been something ahead of his time.
kiwismx5 2 years ago 3
You can download the full story from torrent reactor,its never had a dvd release,its the best thing you'll ever see.
5RXP 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
thanks for putting this up, even though he's a kiwi, he's a genius :P
tedthemoose 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing this.
John Britten was a genius.
RIP John.
Teuthida46 2 years ago 66
Britten...great,great,great!!!
Harno3 2 years ago 6
Britten was a genius,if he was still alive i`m sure i`d be riding a bike with some part he had designed,he`s a greatt loss to biking and engineering in general,when will the factory`s give us something this good?????
lennonpx200 2 years ago 11
Thanks for sharing with us...
stonkol 2 years ago
This is a great story, thank you very much for uploading. vicpik is on the money, this should be a movie. It would be right up there with "worlds fastest indian".
addys 2 years ago 2
someone should do a movie of this...such a great history
vicpik 2 years ago
Sort of like what they did for Burt Monro...I agree they should make a movie
togo002 2 years ago 3
It did all start with a Ducati you know. his idea was to four valve a bevel drive after aero d zero(ducati) then came aero d one (denco),then he built the engines for the britten's. He did have a hand putting the whole thing together, you just never hear anything about them.
capirossi65 2 years ago
fact.
capirossi65 2 years ago
legend
xuaxace 2 years ago 4
For anyone interested go to NZ On Screen and do a search for Britten - Backyard Visionary. It is a documentary that screened in NZ in the early 90's that followed the building of the second bike he took to Daytona. The documentary is in 5 parts and is 45 minutes long and is well worth a look at. For some reason, I can't post the URL here.
loscochinosdelmar 2 years ago
Mr.Britten was a mechanical genius. I talked to his rider at New Hampshire International. I asked him if it was a handful. He had this maniacal smile as he said no. Then he said "It takes 2 handfuls." 'nuff said.
fool4Jesus52 2 years ago 2
What a man! He will always live in the hearts and minds of all us bikers, worldwide.
doomantia 2 years ago 23
Would you be able to email me this i'm going to make a collection on videos about and off the bike? Thanks
Ollie4t2 2 years ago
thanks a ton for posting this...we woudnt have ever seen this otherwise..a very inspirational story
sobby36 2 years ago 3
Totally inspirational! Thanks for posting!
contactjg3d 2 years ago
Simply the best motorcycle project in modern history.
Thank you again John for making us dream even today.
xXxXzADeXxXx 2 years ago 5
i read about this bike and John Britten in german bike magazines, but never saw the bike or the man in moving pictures..thank u so much 4 posting , i didnt know he passed away :-( what a loss 4 NZ and the world!
spheresector 2 years ago
Wow what an inspiration this man is. simply amazing
steady2wheels 3 years ago
what an innovative man britten was. truly ramarkable machine.
600sbandit 3 years ago 2
You can see a full length documentary about Britten - for free on NZ On Screen. Take a look! (can't post the address here, but search for it and you'll find it easily)
nzonscreen 3 years ago 2
"One Man's Dream" is a MUST WATCH for anyone with even a passing interest in motorcycles. It's an incredibly compelling and poignant story. John's genius was simply staggering and the world is a poorer place after his death. R.I.P.
N0C0MPR0MISE 3 years ago 5
I've heard about this motorcycle, but this is the first time I've seen it for real, it's more awesome then I thought.
layback590 3 years ago 2
One of these bikes resides in the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama. If you go, plan on having at least 4 hours to look around. It's worth it.
MotoSpeed0 3 years ago
An incredible man & an incredible machine. His achievements will never be equaled in motorcycling, R.I.P
boyd46 3 years ago
Thank you for sharing this video
nosharpe 3 years ago
out of a garage ,a bike designed to beat the world...and out a vhs video, that deserve the high honor of youtube museum. thanks for sharing
krazyjey 3 years ago
undescribable invention, passion, and of course mortorcycle genius
billjackjane 3 years ago
Awesome, i was lucky enough to see this bike race at the lady wigram trophy against other 1000cc racing bikes who were given a 1 lap advantage and it still came through to beat them all by a country mile
TheKop4Ever 3 years ago 2
I was like you, lucky to watch this bike race in its hey at Wanganui boxing day races. The had it do a few laps at last years boxing races 2008. Andrew Stroud rode it round the track a few times. Oh the memories.
thereaper91 3 years ago
kiwi magic john britten rip john
pukka43 3 years ago
they are gonna race a britten in the wanganui cemetery circuit this year! OH YEAH a britten on the road!
NnyNZ 3 years ago 4
new zealand should design some cars.
rhupliftmofocp 3 years ago
Wow, Thanks for sharing this awesome video!
R.I.P. John Britten
tom666araya 3 years ago
John Brittens Bike ridden by Burt Munroe....imagine that. Sorry about the Pom commentator..its Steve Berry,he's a total prick.Nice post tho,Thanks
stainlain 3 years ago
'Found this on an old VHS tape and thought it far too important not to share.'
Damn right, and thank you for sharing.
Polmansol 3 years ago
Thanks for sharing.
oPBo 3 years ago
Greatest bike ever designed, built or raced. Period. John Britten: greatest inventor who ever lived.
YamFZR93 3 years ago 2
Truly inspirational RIP!!! john britten,Possum Borne,burt munroe,bruce mclaren,william hamilton.And many more........
Tru New Zealand legends!!!!
MEAN KIWI MEAN! :P
skuxey55 3 years ago 3
Brilliant post!"One Mans Dream"awesome vid!
thatkiwidude 3 years ago 2
What a talent!
flysn8k 3 years ago
The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long.
IK1963 3 years ago
Get the video "One mans dream",this has been overdubbed with a crap pommy voiceover.
thatkiwidude 3 years ago 2
Definitly agree, if anyone wants to find out more about the Britten V1000 then the film "One Mans Dream" is the way to go. This is a very well done montage of the film that was done for the BBC's Top Gear program that showcased John Brittens remarkably achievements to a wider audience. It also happens to fit within YouTubes 10 minute rule.
71bsab50 3 years ago
Legend! Such a tragic loss to us all and the motorcycle world, R.I.P John 1950 - 1995
Jonno876 3 years ago
A Genius. Such a big loss.....
Thanks for sharing.
Autan4 3 years ago
I see the spirit of john britten in the MotoCyz c1 990
Petrolhead1984 3 years ago
A W E S O M E ! ! ! ! !
keravankauhu 3 years ago
Kiwi Ingenuity aye?
treborif 3 years ago 3
Amazing guy...
GOINFINITI 3 years ago
Total inspiration, he was a wonderful man, all who worked with him or just read about him have been enriched by the experience, not many will leave such a mark on the world. (what is it about Kiwi sheds?)
tazzi344 3 years ago 3
he is so genuinly happy when he watch his bike racing...it's a joy to watch
darioliotine 3 years ago 3