Supertwins at the TT

I suppose this is a way of replacing the 400/ 125 class.

Anyone know when they are deciding on the regs for this?

Just see this on IOMTT forum.

Dear TT Teams and Competitors



Please find the first draft of the technical regulations being proposed for the inaugural Lightweight TT Race for Supertwin machines due to be introduced at TT 2012. Please review the information below and come back to me with any comments no later than Friday 30th of September. Any comments or proposals received after this date will not be considered for 2012.



I must stress that this document is a draft, put together by our partners ACU Events Ltd, race organisers of the TT Races, in line with the Department of Economic Development’s direction on containing costs, encouraging a significant entry and producing close and exciting racing in keeping with the rest of the TT Programme.



Yours sincerely



Paul Phillips





Lightweight TT Race – Technical Regulations Draft 1



Machines must comply with general technical rules as per ACU Standing Regulations.



Any four-stroke twin cylinder motorcycle originally sold for road use with a water cooled engine of up to 650cc may be used provided it adheres to the following regulations.

Eligible machines must be from models homolagated 2005 or later.



1. Frame and Swing Arm:



Frame must remain as originally produced by the manufacturer for the homologated machine. Nothing may be added or removed from the frame body. Rear sub frame may be replaced or modified.



Swing arm may be replaced from a model of the same Manufacturer, provided the original attachment to frame and rear suspension remains as homologated.



2. Suspension:



Forks may be replaced from a model of the same Manufacturer. Original internal parts of the fork may be modified or replaced. Aftermarket damper kits or valves may be installed.



Fork springs may be replaced. Fork caps may be modified or replaced beyond the homologated standard to allow external adjustments.



Steering damper may be added or changed.



Rear suspension unit can be changed or modified, the original attachment to the frame and swing arm must remain as homologated.



3.Brakes:



Front and rear brake discs may be changed. Only ferrous materials are allowed for brake discs.



Front and rear brake calipers may be changed. Front and rear brake pads may be changed.



Front and rear master cylinders may be changed.



Front and rear hydraulic brake lines may be changed. The split of the front brake lines for both front brake calipers must be made above the lower fork bridge (bottom yoke).



4. Wheels and Tyres:



Wheels must remain as homologated except for bearings, spacers and spindles.



All tyres must be treaded. Slick tyres are not permitted.



5. Controls:



Footrest and foot controls may be replaced or relocated but brackets must be mounted to the frame at the original mounting points.



Handlebars, hand controls and cables may be altered or replaced. Engine starter switch and kill switch must be located on the handlebars and must be operational at post race technical checks.



6. Bodywork, tank, fairing and seat unit:



Fairing, mudguards and seat unit may be altered or replaced.



Windscreen, if fitted, may be replaced with transparent material only.



The original instruments and fairing brackets may be removed or replaced.



The petrol tank must remain as originally produced by the manufacturer for the homologated machine. The position of the tank mounting points on the frame must remain as standard.



The lower fairing has to be constructed to hold, in case of an engine breakdown, at least half of the total oil and engine coolant capacity used in the engine (minimum 5 litres). The lower edge of openings in the fairing must be positioned at least 50 mm above the bottom of the fairing.



7. Battery:



The size and type of the battery may be changed and relocated.



8. Engine:



Cylinder head, rods, pistons, valves, cylinders may be modified but the capacity must not exceed 650cc. Stroke must remain as standard. Crankshaft must remain as homologated



Camshaft timing may be changed by the slotting of cam sprockets. Cam lift must remain as homologated.



Polishing and lightening of engine parts is permitted. Balancing or gas flow modifications normally associated with individual tuning is permitted. Compression ratio of the engine maybe changed. The thermostat may be removed from the housing to aid cooling, if required.



Engine fuel/ignition ECU must remain as homologated or as homologated with addition of “power commander” type device plugged in to the existing wiring loom, to alter fuelling only.



9. Transmission:



Additions to the gearbox or selector mechanism, such as quick shift systems are permitted.



Clutch springs, friction and drive plates may be replaced.



The use of slipper clutches is permitted.



Front and rear external drive sprockets, chain pitch, width and length can be changed.



10. Electrics:



The alternator, starting system, starter crank gear and starter shaft may not be altered, replaced or removed from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle.



11. Exhaust System;



Exhaust pipe and silencers may be altered or replaced from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle.



The number of final exit(s) to the exhaust may be altered from that of the homologated machine.



12. Fasteners:



Standard fasteners may be replaced with fasteners of any material and design. The strength and design must be equal to or exceed the strength of the standard fastener it is replacing for structural applications.



The use of titanium in the swing arm spindles and the wheels spindles is forbidden. For wheel spindles the use of light alloys is also forbidden. The use of titanium alloy nuts and bolts is allowed. Aluminium fasteners may only be used in non-structural locations.



13. The Following Items MUST BE Removed:



Headlamp, rear lamp and turn signal indicators. Rear view mirrors, horn, license plate bracket, tool box, helmet hooks and luggage carrier hooks, passenger foot rests, passenger grab rails, safety bars, centre and side stands must be removed (fixed brackets must remain).



14.The following items MAY BE removed:

Instruments, instrument bracket and associated cables, horn, license plate brackets, tool kit, tachometer, speedometer and wheel spacers, radiator fan and wiring, passenger foot rests, passenger grab rails and upper chain guard.



15. Chain Guards:



A guard must be fitted in such a way as to prevent trapping between the lower drive chain run and the final drive sprocket at the rear wheel.



16. Fuel:



Only Unleaded fuel as specified in the 2012 IOM TT regulations is permitted. The use of fuel additives is strictly prohibited.



17. Radiator and Oil Cooler:



The original radiator or oil cooler must not be modified. The use of coolants is prohibited, water only to be used.

Looks good. No big tanks, that will level the playing field. Everyone will have to pit. More minitwin than supertwin. My only gripe is that you will have to run an injection bike and no curvy`s because of the date of homoligation, 2005. You may have guessed mines a curvy ((((

Here are the 2nd draft regulations for the TT & as far as I know NW200.

They now look very like our Supertwin regs.



Please see below the revised draft 2 of the proposed technical regulations for the inaugural Lightweight TT Race. Please read these carefully, and come back to me no later than next Friday the 4th of November with any comments.



Please note that this draft remains a discussion document and are by no means a fait accompli set of rules. We are looking to resolve this matter fairly quickly now though in time for the full 2012 technical regulations being issued for all classes.



Best wishes

Paul





Lightweight TT Race – Technical Regulations Draft 2



Machines must comply with general technical rules as per ACU Standing Regulations.



Any four-stroke twin cylinder motorcycle originally sold for road use with a water cooled engine of up to 650cc may be used provided it adheres to the following regulations.

Eligible machines must be from models homologated 2005 or later.

1. Frame and Swing Arm:

Frame must remain as originally produced by the manufacturer for the homologated machine. Surplus attachment brackets may be removed and replaced with those more suitable for race fairings, sub frame attachment & instrument brackets. Rear sub frame may be replaced or modified.

Swing arm may be replaced from a model of the same Manufacturer, provided the original attachment to frame and rear suspension remains as homologated.

2. Suspension:
Forks may be replaced. Fork yokes / triple clamp may be changed. Original internal parts of the fork may be modified or replaced. Aftermarket damper kits or valves may be installed. Fork springs may be replaced. Fork caps may be modified or replaced beyond the homologated standard to allow external adjustments.

Steering damper may be added or changed.

Rear suspension unit can be changed or modified, but the original attachment to the frame and swing arm must remain as homologated.

3.Brakes:

Front and rear brake discs may be changed. Only ferrous materials are allowed for brake discs.

Front and rear brake calipers may be changed. Front and rear brake pads may be changed.

Front and rear master cylinders may be changed.

Front and rear hydraulic brake lines may be changed. The split of the front brake lines for both front brake calipers must be made above the lower fork bridge (bottom yoke).

4. Wheels and Tyres:

Wheels may be replaced.

All tyres must be treaded. Slick tyres are not permitted.

5. Controls:

Footrest and foot controls may be replaced or relocated but brackets must be mounted to the frame at the original mounting points.

Handlebars, hand controls and cables may be altered or replaced. Engine starter switch and kill switch must be located on the handlebars and must be operational at post race technical checks.

6. Bodywork, tank, fairing and seat unit:

Fairing, mudguards and seat unit may be altered or replaced.

Windscreen, if fitted, may be replaced with transparent material only.

The original instruments and fairing brackets may be removed, replaced or added to.

The petrol tank must remain as originally produced by the manufacturer for the homologated machine. The unleaded baffle in the tank may be removed and the filler replaced. The position of the tank mounting points on the frame must remain as standard.

The lower fairing has to be constructed to hold, in case of an engine breakdown, at least half of the total oil and engine coolant capacity used in the engine (minimum 5 litres). The lower edge of openings in the fairing must be positioned at least 50 mm above the bottom of the fairing.

7. Battery:

The size and type of the battery may be changed and relocated.

8. Engine:

Original cylinder head, rods, pistons, valves, cylinders may be modified but the capacity must not exceed 650cc. Pistons may be replaced. Stroke must remain as standard. Crankshaft must remain as homologated

Camshaft timing may be changed by the slotting of cam sprockets. Cam lift and dwell is free. This may be reviewed after 2012.

Polishing and lightening of engine parts is permitted. Balancing or gas flow modifications normally associated with individual tuning is permitted. Compression ratio of the engine maybe changed. The thermostat may be removed from the housing to aid cooling, if required.

Engine fuel/ignition is free but the maximum rpm of the stock machine must be retained.

All machines will be tested on the Dyno during practice week and selected machines post race to ensure compliance, particularly maximum rpm.

9. Transmission:

Additions to the gearbox or selector mechanism, such as quick shift systems are permitted.

Clutch springs, friction and drive plates may be replaced.

The use of slipper clutches is permitted.

Front and rear external drive sprockets, chain pitch, width and length can be changed.

10. Electrics:

The alternator, starting system, starter crank gear and starter shaft may not be altered, replaced or removed from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle. The engine must start using the standard onboard electric start.

11. Exhaust System;

Exhaust pipe and silencers may be altered or replaced from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle. The number of final exit(s) to the exhaust may be altered from that of the homologated machine.

12. Fasteners:

Standard fasteners may be replaced with fasteners of any material and design. The strength and design must be equal to or exceed the strength of the standard fastener it is replacing for structural applications.

The use of titanium in the swing arm spindles and the wheels spindles is forbidden. For wheel spindles the use of light alloys is also forbidden. The use of titanium alloy nuts and bolts is allowed. Aluminium fasteners may only be used in non-structural locations.

13. The Following Items MUST BE Removed:

Headlamp, rear lamp and turn signal indicators. Rear view mirrors, horn, license plate bracket, tool box, helmet hooks and luggage carrier hooks, passenger foot rests, passenger grab rails, safety bars, centre and side stands must be removed (fixed brackets must remain).

14.The following items MAY BE removed:

Instruments, instrument bracket and associated cables, horn, license plate brackets, tool kit, tachometer, speedometer and wheel spacers, radiator fan and wiring, passenger foot rests, passenger grab rails and upper chain guard.

15. Chain Guards:

A guard must be fitted in such a way as to prevent trapping between the lower drive chain run and the final drive sprocket at the rear wheel.

16. Fuel:

Only Unleaded fuel as specified in the 2012 IOM TT regulations is permitted. The use of fuel additives is strictly prohibited.

17. Radiator and Oil Cooler:

The original radiator and oil cooler may be replaced. The use of coolants is prohibited, water only to be used.



Paul Phillips

Motorsport Team

Department of Economic Development

Isle of Man Government

St Georges Court

Upper Church Street

Douglas

ISLE OF MAN

IM1 1EX



Tel +44 (0)1624 686875

Fax +44 (0)1624 682355

Mob +44 (0)7624 480451

Email paul.phillips@gov.im

www.iomtt.com

www.mgpfestival.com

Big bucks then! Why not use the std Minitwin specs and leave it open for those that don't have 10K to waste on an engine tune?

(says the may who spent 10k making a Minitwin legal bike! )


C

I think it is right that they are using Supertwin type rules, these are the two most prestigious road races in the world & should have the best machinery.
It won't be as expensive as some people would have you believe to build a competitive engine. We were running 3rd at the Manx this year & closing on the lead until a gearbox problem put us back to 5th with 86 REAL bhp we will be back on the Island next year with mid 90's. We can build that spec of engine will cost the man in the street a bit over £3k which is a lot of money, but it will be enough to run at the front.

Brian

Well I can only see one thing happening here...The Death of the MiniTwin class!!

You lads and lasses are welcome to go out and race your chequebooks in the SuperTwin class-oh but think on...there are people out there-like me who are trying to afford to race on a level playing field where ability-yes ability-do you remember that?? was what won you races and not the size of your or daddys bank balance!!
This Idea that you must spend a certain amount on a bike to be competitive is simply ridiculous, especially in the current economic climate, and just makes the whole thing an exclusive club!
The thought of all those ex TT bikes filtering down into club racing just makes me think-why bother??
I think it's time I sold up and got myself down to Saint Pauls to protest about the unfair balance of wealth. Maybe my placard could say "TT organisers totally out of touch with the man on the street!!"

TC252

There is always CB500 racing

Originally Posted by TC252

Well I can only see one thing happening here...The Death of the MiniTwin class!!

You lads and lasses are welcome to go out and race your chequebooks in the SuperTwin class-oh but think on...there are people out there-like me who are trying to afford to race on a level playing field where ability-yes ability-do you remember that?? was what won you races and not the size of your or daddys bank balance!!
This Idea that you must spend a certain amount on a bike to be competitive is simply ridiculous, especially in the current economic climate, and just makes the whole thing an exclusive club!
The thought of all those ex TT bikes filtering down into club racing just makes me think-why bother??
I think it's time I sold up and got myself down to Saint Pauls to protest about the unfair balance of wealth. Maybe my placard could say "TT organisers totally out of touch with the man on the street!!"

TC252

I think you are missing the point, Mintwin racing is alive & well.
The TT rules are Supertwins, as is fitting for the world's premiere road races.

Brian

That is a very good point mate!!

It's just such a shame that what was started out as a budget level of racing will now become exclusive to those who can afford it!!

One of my dreams when I started out racing, was to hopefully get my national licence so I could race at Scarborough. The club i'm with (NEMCRC) aren't that interested in policing the Minitwin class. So I can see myself being thrown in with modified machines and struggling to finish within 10% to get an upgrade signature!!
I chose to race Minitwins because like CB500s it's "supposed" to be a level playing field!!
So you may be right, the alternative may be to leave my local club and go TSGB!!
All I keep thinking is "it's such a shame for what could be a terrific class"!!

TC252