The PZ500 is a 500cc big-bore single cylinder 2-stroke motorcycle with a single purpose in mind: to try and better the existing World Land Speed Record for this class of motorcycle at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA in August 2024.
The engine and bike layout are tuned and optimised for all-out straight-line speed to attempt to break the existing World Land Speed record for this class of bike. It currently stands at 230km/h without streamlining and was set in 1978. We plan to attend the iconic Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials in August 2024 to give our best shot at improving this record. Koos Zietsman will ride the bike.
Engine
Because this engine is designed by Neels van Niekerk to produce the most horsepower that we possibly can (77kW / 103hp @ 8300rpm), we decided to use a KTM 690 Duke gearbox and clutch. Even though we’re developing a 500cc 2-stroke which usually develops less torque than a comparable 4-stroke, this engine will produce a whopping 56% more torque than the 690 Duke at 8000rpm!
Our main advantage over existing land speed record competitors in this class is that they use existing single cylinder 4-stroke engines which are tuned to the brink of destruction. Team Matjien starts off with a clean sheet of paper by developing a state-of-the-art single cylinder 2-stroke engine for this grand endeavor. It’s well known that 2-strokes make more horsepower per cc than normally aspirated 4-stroke engines which will be our main winning advantage and hence all the effort. This engine is a once-off beauty optimised in every detail to give Team Matjien the best possible chance of making history at Bonneville.
The engine is certainly one of the meanest, no compromise, all-out performance state of the art 500cc single cylinder 2-stroke engines to be found out there. The pedigree of this engine reads as follows:
- Best in class 2-stroke technologies, layout and tuning by Vannik Developments.
- Digitally tunable electronic servo-controlled power valve to smooth out power delivery.
- Digitally tunable electronic ignition system to optimise engine performance.
- External high-capacity electric water pump with electronic flow control sponsored by Davies Craig to substantially increase water flow and reduce drag on the engine.
- Custom built high-performance radiator to keep things cool designed and sponsored by Universal Coolers and Dolphin radiators.
- MotoGP style external electric starter to reduce drag and complexity inside the engine.
- 44mm Round slide Mikuni carburetor breathing through a high capacity 6-petal Moto Tassinari V-Force3 carbon fiber reed valve block.
- Methanol fuel will be used which yields over 20% more power than 95 unleaded due in a major part to an impressive 18:1 compression ratio.
- Increased flywheel effect from the wider than normal crankshaft to allow better power delivery after the 8300rpm peak power point, this may be needed when we do a run with a slight tail wind and we need to keep on going past peak power.
- A balancer shaft system to smooth out vibrations and help deliver increased power.
- A one-off Rapid Prototyping investment cast Nikasil lined barrel by Castco for best-in-class heat transfer and durability.
- Billet machined crank shaft produced by P&C Technologies out of S155 (300M) aerospace high strength steel.
- Billet machined balancer shaft produced by P&C Technologies,
- Billet machined engine casings produced by P&C Technologies out of 6082 aluminium.
- Vertex cast aluminium Honda CR500 piston, conrod, crank pin and big end bearing with KTM 690 Duke cylindrical roller main bearings.
- Simulated max power is 77kW (103hp) @ 8300rpm and max torque is 82Nm @ 8000rpm while the engine is designed to rev all the way to 9500rpm.
Bike
This bike requires a completely new “low-rider” layout which is being developed and built by Team Matjien to reduce frontal area and wind resistance which are the main enemies of land speed record attempts. This process is ongoing as we receive inputs and insights from various interested sources.
Frame
- Tyres are Michelin 120/70 R17 front and 150/60 R17 rear part-sponsored by Alpha Performance Tyres. The tyres are ZR speed rated (270+ km/h) to handle the high speeds we expect.
- Brakes are 34mm opposed piston Brembo calipers with single 260mm diameter Team Matjien designed full floating discs front and rear. The rotors are laser cut from high grade steel (Hardox 440) and hand finished for improved braking performance. The steel discs are floating in our own aluminium inners to self-align between the pads for reduced drag.
- The frame is made by Team Matjien from 30mm diameter steel tubing in a trellis design using experience gained building road racing motorcycle frames in the 80’s.
- Race Technology DL1 data logger from our main sponsor THC linked with DASH2 digital dashboard supplied by Pronex Engineering to log and display engine rpm, speed, selected gear, water temperature, exhaust gas temperature (EGT), funny tree lights for optimum gear shift points and other parameters the team may find useful.
- Purpose designed intake and outlet ducts for the radiator based on F1 wind tunnel work done by team member Hans Fouche to ensure optimal air flow over the radiator to keep the engine cool while minimizing frontal area for low drag.
Challenges
It’s easy really, we are challenged by a limited budget, a very steep learning curve compounded by very little time and resources! But I believe every design engineer has been confronted by these issues, we press on remorselessly.
Posts
Follow the progress on our blog postings for the PZ500.