Today in motorcycle history, December 2, 1964

  

  The Research & Development team at Suzuki has it's sights set on the perfect 125cc.

   Honda had a new four-cylinder developed known as the RC 146. Suzuki then assumed that two cylinders would not be enough to win with in the future. Immediately following the 1963 Japanese Grand Prix Suzuki began the development of a square-four, water cooled engine, internally called RK64. But the development of the machine wasn't finished until the season was already over. The completed engine design was turned in on December 2, 1964 and first engines would hopefully be built in February of 1965.

  Then the development team changed the name to RS 65. The bike still some technical difficulties, including sky-high oil temperatures. After a month of frustration it was decided to start with a new direction, the three-cylinder RJ 66 , which one would start in November of 1965. The old racer, the water-cooled two-cylinder, was now called the RT 65. Confused yet?


  1963, '64 and '65 Japanese 125cc GP's had Suzuki feeling like it could keep the title forever. There appeared only one cloud on the horizon: Yamaha had a water-cooled version of the RA 97 made.

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 1, 1965

  

  German engineer Fritz Gosslau dies in Grünwald, Bavaria.

  Better known for his work during WWII on the V-1 flying bomb (Fieseler Fi 103) an unmanned, explosive payload missile.  After the war he turned his talents to motorcycles becoming the head designer for Durkopp in 1948.



  Fritz Gosslau designed their most successful model, the MD150. Introduced in 1952, it featured a 150cc three-speed two-stroke engine with reverse circulation. The machine made ​​7.5 hp with a top speed of 56 mph. The MD150 is still considered by many to be amongst the best in German motorcycle history. There where 17,890 bikes sold in the period 1951-1954.

  In 1952 they introduced the MD200 with a 198cc two-stroke engine which increased the speed to 59 mph.

  Many racing successes were contributed to the reputation of the MD150 / 200 models. Durkopp celebrated these motorcycles as the "fastest machines in its class."

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk