Kiwi Moto3/GPMono Racebike
By Steve Bagshaw
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NZ $5,530 pledged
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This campaign was successful and closed on 31/08/2012 at 2:05 PM.
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Kiwi Moto3::Gpmono Racebike
Project 2012-07-18 04:00:39 +1200
Follow us at our moto-3-project blog.
We are going to try and find the next World Champion young Kiwi motorcycle racer, but we need a bit of help to get them on their way.
The World Championships have unfortunately all gone to the dark side and are now using 4-stroke motorcycles (Moto 3). For our young rider development and racing programmes we are now a little behind the ball by still using 2-stroke 125cc GP bikes. But the 2-stroke bikes will be out of date in the next few years. So we need to change to remain relevant and to go give our young riders the right skills on Moto 3 type motorcycles.
We can't afford to buy a factory Moto3 motorcycle, they cost either $35k or $70k!!! So we will do it the Kiwi way and design and build our own Moto 3-type bike, called a GPMono, for us and for the world, the Innovative Moto Developments, IMD250.
We have some funding we need, but quite not enough to develop all of the components.
So we are looking for extra support of $5500 so that we can purchase a second engine and have performance modifications done to it.
Help us develop a local GPMono race-bike industry and allow us to start to build a path for young Kiwi riders onto the world stage and a bike that might just take on the world. We are hoping that all you motorsports and motorcycling fans out there will want to help us on our way.
We have assembled a team of expert New Zealanders to build and develop all the major components including: the frame, performance engine modifications, suspension, exhaust and ignition systems; and to assemble a good GPMono motorcycle, track test it and go racing with a leading young rider, hopefully two. We know that some of our technologies will be equal to or even superior to those being used even in the world championships. We are confident that our GPMono motorcycle will be competitive in the global national championship market. Currently there is only one competitor in this market segment and we are confident that our motorcycle will be superior to their bike and that we will be able to establish a small manufacturing industry supplying the global market.
Without your help it is less likely that we would be able do the things we need to do. We look forward to seeing you all at the race track or at our garage where you can come and check on progress and have a cuppa or a beer and shoot the breeze.
Comments
Updates 13
IMD iM250 racing at NZSBK Round 4, Hampton Downs, March 5-7 2016.
13/02/2016 at 7:36 PM
Well, it has been a while since I found the space to update progress on the IMD iM250 project here. There have been regular updates on the Facebook page, but I guess not everyone looks on there.
We had an up and down NZSBK 2015 with young Australian rider Tayla Relph on the iM250 Mark 1.2. She rode really well and we just missed a podium in the NZ Grand Prix by 0.2s, which was pretty exciting. The two north island rounds however where a disaster with minor mechanical issues plaguing each round.
Moving on to better things, 2016 sees the launch of the IMD iM250 Mark 2.0. The bike has a new generation engine and swingarm and a host of other small changes. We will be racing the bike at Hampton Downs in March 2016 where we plan to take podiums and race wins. Our rider, Dave Manuell from Auckland has two NZ TT titles to his name and wants another!!
If we go well we will go all out to find the resources to get the bike to Australia in April for ASBK. If not, then she will go in to the shed to wait for next summers racing or be sold to one lucky buyer.
Hope to see as many supporters at Hampton Downs as possible.
Thanks again.
Steve
IMD iM250
New Zealand Superbike Championship 2014
28/12/2013 at 2:01 PM
Hi there everyone. Well, after an very eventful year of bedding in, set-backs, development, rider training and incremental improvements we are launching the final stage of development with a full NZSBK campaign.
Marc-Antoine Jacquet will be racing the bike in the 125GP/GP Mono class at Ruapuna (Christchurch) 4/5 Jan, Levels Raceway (Timaru) 10/11 Jan, Taupo Circuit (Taupo) and Manfield Park (Feilding) the last two weekends of March 2014.
Marc-Antoine has really develped well after coming to us with only 6 races under his belt. In fact on his Hyosung 250 he took the 250 Production lap record at Taupo circuit. On the IMD250 the competition is a bit tougher, but he is getting closer to the front every outing and indeed was running in the front group a couple of times this winter.
On the bike we have had a few engine issues with old parts or incorrect replacement parts (non-KTM parts that we were advised would be fine but were not). But we now have two good engines that seem to be working well at around 42hp @ 11-13.5k rpm. The bike continues to handle perfectly, so we are confident that Marc-Antoine will have a good championship in 2014.
Consistency is the key to good results in the NZSBK championship and Marc-Antoine is consistent and will get much faster as the championship progesses.
It is great that we can talk more about development of our rider rather than the bike, as with the exception of ignition ECU and exhaust we have finished most of the bike development. The potential that is in the Kelford Cams tuned engine will not be fully realised until we can do those two things. Perhaps we will have them sorted by March.
If you can make it to any of the NZSBK rounds this summer, don't forget to come and have a chat and check out the bike!
Cheers!
Steve
She is finally done!
13/08/2013 at 8:55 AM
Hi again everyone. Well, the past 4 months or so have been furiously busy in and around the IMD250 garage. Not only have I been getting to grips with my new job at Opus Research, but I have been busy busy busy tidying up loose ends on the bike and getting engines sorted out.
Unfortunately during our testing we have suffered 3 engine failures, due to old engines and aftermarket parts. The first was a piston collapse by an old piston that caused significant damage. The second was a valve failure by aftermarket valves that also caused signficant damage. The third was a big-end failure, again due to an old crankshaft, but not much damage resulted from that.
So we now have one engine with new crankshaft, bearings and piston and one engine that has been fully refreshed and not only that, but has had the crankshaft polished and the cylinder head ported, flowed and valve seats set. This engine should be good for the extra power that we need.
I have also been busy making versions 3 and 4 of the fuel tank. The final version is a copy of a Honda shape and made from Carbon/kevlar. It looks good. The previous version just didn't look right.
The bike has had some carbon fibre bodywork fitted. Not all of it just yet, that costs $$, but some of it. A quickshifter has been fitted and a lighter battery pack. The bike weighs in now at 82kg and is making 41 hp at the rear wheel. Not bad for a first prototype. We have a few things in mind that will bring the weight right down into the mid 70's and the new cylinder head should push us up towards the 45hp bracket.
So while Marc-Antoine Jacquet has been amping to race the bike, we have run only a few laps due to the engine failures and bad weather. But now, she is all finished and ready to go.
We will be at Manfeild on 24 August and then (hopefully) at Ruapuna on 31 August.
See you all there maybe!
Steve
By the way, you can now follow us on Facebook. Just search Imd250 (note lowercase letters).
IMD250 is going racing!
07/03/2013 at 9:02 AM
Hi there everyone.
Well, it might have been a wee while since we last updated here, but believe me, we have not been sitting on our hands.
We have made three new tracktests at Manfeild Park with small number of different riders and we tried one test at Hampton Downs. Unfortunately the test at HD didn't last very long when after 3/4 of the first warm up lap the piston decided to hop out of the engine and did some damage. Oh well, such is motorbikes eh?
But the other tests have all gone very well. We have ironed out a few issues with design, construction and assembly and now we think that we have the package pretty well sorted out.
I have been flat out building a fibreglass fuel tank and cover, engineering the 2nd iteration of the exhaust pipe, dyno tuning, engineering carburettor parts, ordering parts for engine rebuilding, repainting various parts and planning our assault on NZSBK 2013 Round 5 at Taupo Circuit on 22-24 March. I have also launched a Facebook page (IMD 250) and a new website, www.imd250.com.
Currently there is not too much info up there as we are applying for design and trademark registration, so as soon as they come through (fingers crossed) we will get some pics up. We have some awesome arty shots courtesy of RichardBan photography.
At Taupo we will have NZ championship race winning rider Glen Skachill from Wellington riding the bike AND we will be having an official launch of the motorcycle at Taupo on the evening of Friday 22 March at The Shed on Tuwharetoa St sharing the time with the NZSBK Meet the Riders event.
We hope that as many friends of the IMD250 project will be able to make it and share the celebrations with us.
Thanks to everyone.
Steve and Martin.
First track session videos
30/12/2012 at 12:45 PM
The IMD250 lives and performs really well.
Young Tyler Lincoln (15) tested out the IMD250 at Manfeild Park in November.
Performance of the bike was really good, handling is awesome, speed looks good, but engine vibration is a bit too much.
Videos (not great quality) are here:
Just added YouTube videos of IMD250 running at Manfeild Park with Tyler Lincoln at the controls.
http://youtu.be/1N7__RJaFjA
http://youtu.be/Zr4f9qxMKnc
http://youtu.be/3xjMGs1rKw0
The bike is taking shape.
02/11/2012 at 8:55 PM
So let's hope the bike goes as good as it looks!!
Pics are available here:
http://www.motoacademy.co.nz/gpmono-moto3-project-blog/
Cheers!
Steve
We made it!!!
26/08/2012 at 10:04 PM
Thanks again!!!
Steve and the IMD team.
IMD250 rolling chassis
25/08/2012 at 9:53 AM
We are on track for our October testing dates.
Huge thanks to Scott and the crew for all their work. We also got some photos for Bike Rider Magazine where we will feature in an up-coming issue. Thanks again.
Slight delay during mock-up and swingarm modifications
21/08/2012 at 11:00 AM
We are still planning to be able to show the rolling chassis at Manfeild on Sat 25 August.
Rolling chassis nearly complete
13/08/2012 at 6:08 AM
If you slide on over to the Moto Academy NZ website blog you can check out the latest pics of the chassis as it takes form around the engine.
I am looking forward to it being my turn to get my hands dirty assembling the bike, making the airbox, modifying the tank and mounting the ignition, mounting fairings, shortening cables and making sundry other parts.
Thanks again to all those who have contributed!! Please urge your mates to get involved.
So we are on track for October to have our bike running.
We have also secured our test rider. We are happy to welcome Glen Orwin of Auckland as our test rider. Glen is a two year Moto Academy NZ student, VMCC 125GP champion, twice top ten NZSBK 125GP, current #4 NZSBK 125GP and NZTT winner. He is a very well rounded rider and one who can provide good feedback and follow the instructions we want for testing a new bike.
Choice!!!!
Wow!
31/07/2012 at 12:18 PM
Steve
New Reward
29/07/2012 at 10:43 PM
Given the success so far of the project, we have decided that we will provide an additional reward. It is one we were thinking about earlier, but didn"t know if it would fly.
We will prepare a set of fairings for the bike for display purposes, in our team colours, and prepare a sticker of each pledgers name. The size of the sticker will be commensurate with the size of the pledge.
The pledger can then come and put the sticker on the bike at the launch party. We will place it if you cannot attend.
We will use this set for display purposes and as an emergency set if we need them!
Thanks to everyone.
Steve
Thanks to everyone so far!
29/07/2012 at 10:38 PM
Let"s hope we can carry on this way and reach our target early??
Thanks to everyone, and one pledger in particular, you know who you are.
Steve
Pledgers 32
Followers
Followers of Kiwi Moto3/GPMono Racebike
Kiwi Moto3::Gpmono Racebike
Project 2012-07-18 04:00:39 +1200
Follow us at our moto-3-project blog.
We are going to try and find the next World Champion young Kiwi motorcycle racer, but we need a bit of help to get them on their way.
The World Championships have unfortunately all gone to the dark side and are now using 4-stroke motorcycles (Moto 3). For our young rider development and racing programmes we are now a little behind the ball by still using 2-stroke 125cc GP bikes. But the 2-stroke bikes will be out of date in the next few years. So we need to change to remain relevant and to go give our young riders the right skills on Moto 3 type motorcycles.
We can't afford to buy a factory Moto3 motorcycle, they cost either $35k or $70k!!! So we will do it the Kiwi way and design and build our own Moto 3-type bike, called a GPMono, for us and for the world, the Innovative Moto Developments, IMD250.
We have some funding we need, but quite not enough to develop all of the components.
So we are looking for extra support of $5500 so that we can purchase a second engine and have performance modifications done to it.
Help us develop a local GPMono race-bike industry and allow us to start to build a path for young Kiwi riders onto the world stage and a bike that might just take on the world. We are hoping that all you motorsports and motorcycling fans out there will want to help us on our way.
We have assembled a team of expert New Zealanders to build and develop all the major components including: the frame, performance engine modifications, suspension, exhaust and ignition systems; and to assemble a good GPMono motorcycle, track test it and go racing with a leading young rider, hopefully two. We know that some of our technologies will be equal to or even superior to those being used even in the world championships. We are confident that our GPMono motorcycle will be competitive in the global national championship market. Currently there is only one competitor in this market segment and we are confident that our motorcycle will be superior to their bike and that we will be able to establish a small manufacturing industry supplying the global market.
Without your help it is less likely that we would be able do the things we need to do. We look forward to seeing you all at the race track or at our garage where you can come and check on progress and have a cuppa or a beer and shoot the breeze.
Comments
IMD iM250 racing at NZSBK Round 4, Hampton Downs, March 5-7 2016.
13/02/2016 at 7:36 PM
Well, it has been a while since I found the space to update progress on the IMD iM250 project here. There have been regular updates on the Facebook page, but I guess not everyone looks on there.
We had an up and down NZSBK 2015 with young Australian rider Tayla Relph on the iM250 Mark 1.2. She rode really well and we just missed a podium in the NZ Grand Prix by 0.2s, which was pretty exciting. The two north island rounds however where a disaster with minor mechanical issues plaguing each round.
Moving on to better things, 2016 sees the launch of the IMD iM250 Mark 2.0. The bike has a new generation engine and swingarm and a host of other small changes. We will be racing the bike at Hampton Downs in March 2016 where we plan to take podiums and race wins. Our rider, Dave Manuell from Auckland has two NZ TT titles to his name and wants another!!
If we go well we will go all out to find the resources to get the bike to Australia in April for ASBK. If not, then she will go in to the shed to wait for next summers racing or be sold to one lucky buyer.
Hope to see as many supporters at Hampton Downs as possible.
Thanks again.
Steve
IMD iM250
New Zealand Superbike Championship 2014
28/12/2013 at 2:01 PM
Hi there everyone. Well, after an very eventful year of bedding in, set-backs, development, rider training and incremental improvements we are launching the final stage of development with a full NZSBK campaign.
Marc-Antoine Jacquet will be racing the bike in the 125GP/GP Mono class at Ruapuna (Christchurch) 4/5 Jan, Levels Raceway (Timaru) 10/11 Jan, Taupo Circuit (Taupo) and Manfield Park (Feilding) the last two weekends of March 2014.
Marc-Antoine has really develped well after coming to us with only 6 races under his belt. In fact on his Hyosung 250 he took the 250 Production lap record at Taupo circuit. On the IMD250 the competition is a bit tougher, but he is getting closer to the front every outing and indeed was running in the front group a couple of times this winter.
On the bike we have had a few engine issues with old parts or incorrect replacement parts (non-KTM parts that we were advised would be fine but were not). But we now have two good engines that seem to be working well at around 42hp @ 11-13.5k rpm. The bike continues to handle perfectly, so we are confident that Marc-Antoine will have a good championship in 2014.
Consistency is the key to good results in the NZSBK championship and Marc-Antoine is consistent and will get much faster as the championship progesses.
It is great that we can talk more about development of our rider rather than the bike, as with the exception of ignition ECU and exhaust we have finished most of the bike development. The potential that is in the Kelford Cams tuned engine will not be fully realised until we can do those two things. Perhaps we will have them sorted by March.
If you can make it to any of the NZSBK rounds this summer, don't forget to come and have a chat and check out the bike!
Cheers!
Steve
She is finally done!
13/08/2013 at 8:55 AM
Hi again everyone. Well, the past 4 months or so have been furiously busy in and around the IMD250 garage. Not only have I been getting to grips with my new job at Opus Research, but I have been busy busy busy tidying up loose ends on the bike and getting engines sorted out.
Unfortunately during our testing we have suffered 3 engine failures, due to old engines and aftermarket parts. The first was a piston collapse by an old piston that caused significant damage. The second was a valve failure by aftermarket valves that also caused signficant damage. The third was a big-end failure, again due to an old crankshaft, but not much damage resulted from that.
So we now have one engine with new crankshaft, bearings and piston and one engine that has been fully refreshed and not only that, but has had the crankshaft polished and the cylinder head ported, flowed and valve seats set. This engine should be good for the extra power that we need.
I have also been busy making versions 3 and 4 of the fuel tank. The final version is a copy of a Honda shape and made from Carbon/kevlar. It looks good. The previous version just didn't look right.
The bike has had some carbon fibre bodywork fitted. Not all of it just yet, that costs $$, but some of it. A quickshifter has been fitted and a lighter battery pack. The bike weighs in now at 82kg and is making 41 hp at the rear wheel. Not bad for a first prototype. We have a few things in mind that will bring the weight right down into the mid 70's and the new cylinder head should push us up towards the 45hp bracket.
So while Marc-Antoine Jacquet has been amping to race the bike, we have run only a few laps due to the engine failures and bad weather. But now, she is all finished and ready to go.
We will be at Manfeild on 24 August and then (hopefully) at Ruapuna on 31 August.
See you all there maybe!
Steve
By the way, you can now follow us on Facebook. Just search Imd250 (note lowercase letters).
IMD250 is going racing!
07/03/2013 at 9:02 AM
Hi there everyone.
Well, it might have been a wee while since we last updated here, but believe me, we have not been sitting on our hands.
We have made three new tracktests at Manfeild Park with small number of different riders and we tried one test at Hampton Downs. Unfortunately the test at HD didn't last very long when after 3/4 of the first warm up lap the piston decided to hop out of the engine and did some damage. Oh well, such is motorbikes eh?
But the other tests have all gone very well. We have ironed out a few issues with design, construction and assembly and now we think that we have the package pretty well sorted out.
I have been flat out building a fibreglass fuel tank and cover, engineering the 2nd iteration of the exhaust pipe, dyno tuning, engineering carburettor parts, ordering parts for engine rebuilding, repainting various parts and planning our assault on NZSBK 2013 Round 5 at Taupo Circuit on 22-24 March. I have also launched a Facebook page (IMD 250) and a new website, www.imd250.com.
Currently there is not too much info up there as we are applying for design and trademark registration, so as soon as they come through (fingers crossed) we will get some pics up. We have some awesome arty shots courtesy of RichardBan photography.
At Taupo we will have NZ championship race winning rider Glen Skachill from Wellington riding the bike AND we will be having an official launch of the motorcycle at Taupo on the evening of Friday 22 March at The Shed on Tuwharetoa St sharing the time with the NZSBK Meet the Riders event.
We hope that as many friends of the IMD250 project will be able to make it and share the celebrations with us.
Thanks to everyone.
Steve and Martin.
First track session videos
30/12/2012 at 12:45 PM
The IMD250 lives and performs really well.
Young Tyler Lincoln (15) tested out the IMD250 at Manfeild Park in November.
Performance of the bike was really good, handling is awesome, speed looks good, but engine vibration is a bit too much.
Videos (not great quality) are here:
Just added YouTube videos of IMD250 running at Manfeild Park with Tyler Lincoln at the controls.
http://youtu.be/1N7__RJaFjA
http://youtu.be/Zr4f9qxMKnc
http://youtu.be/3xjMGs1rKw0
The bike is taking shape.
02/11/2012 at 8:55 PM
So let's hope the bike goes as good as it looks!!
Pics are available here:
http://www.motoacademy.co.nz/gpmono-moto3-project-blog/
Cheers!
Steve
We made it!!!
26/08/2012 at 10:04 PM
Thanks again!!!
Steve and the IMD team.
IMD250 rolling chassis
25/08/2012 at 9:53 AM
We are on track for our October testing dates.
Huge thanks to Scott and the crew for all their work. We also got some photos for Bike Rider Magazine where we will feature in an up-coming issue. Thanks again.
Slight delay during mock-up and swingarm modifications
21/08/2012 at 11:00 AM
We are still planning to be able to show the rolling chassis at Manfeild on Sat 25 August.
Rolling chassis nearly complete
13/08/2012 at 6:08 AM
If you slide on over to the Moto Academy NZ website blog you can check out the latest pics of the chassis as it takes form around the engine.
I am looking forward to it being my turn to get my hands dirty assembling the bike, making the airbox, modifying the tank and mounting the ignition, mounting fairings, shortening cables and making sundry other parts.
Thanks again to all those who have contributed!! Please urge your mates to get involved.
So we are on track for October to have our bike running.
We have also secured our test rider. We are happy to welcome Glen Orwin of Auckland as our test rider. Glen is a two year Moto Academy NZ student, VMCC 125GP champion, twice top ten NZSBK 125GP, current #4 NZSBK 125GP and NZTT winner. He is a very well rounded rider and one who can provide good feedback and follow the instructions we want for testing a new bike.
Choice!!!!
Wow!
31/07/2012 at 12:18 PM
Steve
New Reward
29/07/2012 at 10:43 PM
Given the success so far of the project, we have decided that we will provide an additional reward. It is one we were thinking about earlier, but didn"t know if it would fly.
We will prepare a set of fairings for the bike for display purposes, in our team colours, and prepare a sticker of each pledgers name. The size of the sticker will be commensurate with the size of the pledge.
The pledger can then come and put the sticker on the bike at the launch party. We will place it if you cannot attend.
We will use this set for display purposes and as an emergency set if we need them!
Thanks to everyone.
Steve
Thanks to everyone so far!
29/07/2012 at 10:38 PM
Let"s hope we can carry on this way and reach our target early??
Thanks to everyone, and one pledger in particular, you know who you are.
Steve