Billy Baxter’s Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R

We have recently acquired another record holder to add to the long list of other record breaking vehicles to have been displayed at the Museum over the years.

This latest acquisition though comes in the form of a 2002 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R motorcycle, one of the fastest ever production motorcycles to be produced by the Japanese company since 1954.

So what’s so special about this particular bike? Well in August 2003, Billy Baxter, an ex-soldier who is completely blind, smashed the then current blind solo motorcycle Land Speed Record of 78.4mph, with an incredible speed of164.8mph.

This was achieved using a special autocom communication system, with the aid of outriders from the Flying Gunners – the British army’s display team.

See Billy breaking the record.

Billy also appeared on BBCs Top Gear, and drove one of their ‘reasonably priced cars’ around the circuit in 2.02 minutes.

On display at the Museum for a period of six months, this Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R is sure to excite those fortunate enough to view it whilst becoming yet another scoop for Coventry Transport Museum.

Guest Speaker at CTM - Peter Forwood

Australian Peter Forwood has spent a considerable portion of his life to date travelling around the world on his Harley Davidson Electra Glide V2 motorcycle. So far he and his wife Kay have visited over 400 Countries and States around the world, and from Mid May of 2011 they will be off again, this time to Europe and Russia on the bike.
Before they depart, Peter will be appearing at Coventry Transport Museum to give a fascinating talk on their amazing adventures with the Harley!
The Harley-Davidson is on display at the moment at Coventry Transport Museum until 13th May.

Tickets for Peter Forwood’s talk on Thursday 12th May at 7.30pm are just £5 each, with all ticket money going to fund the Museum’s future transport projects.

You can book your tickets by telephone: 024 7623 4270 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 024 7623 4270 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

The World's Most Travelled Motorcycle

Peter and Kay Forwood started on a ‘round the world’ trip 14 years ago. This amazing adventure began in Australia on the 3rd of February 1996.

In October 2008, this Harley-Davidson motorcycle, carrying all the
luggage, became the first and only vehicle to have been ridden in every
internationally recognised country of the world. Since then Peter and Kay have continued travelling, visiting places they previously missed or
returning to places they enjoyed.

This motorcycle was purchased new in 1994 and has been ridden over 580,000 kms. By August 2009 the motorcycle's original engine required substantial repair after completing 540,080kms.

It was replaced with a brand new engine so it could continue travelling. The original engine will be rebuilt and placed back into the motorcycle, should any new countries be created.

To date, the motorcycle has visited over 414 countries, states, territories, isolated parcels, atolls and disputed territories as identified in the ‘Most Travelled Persons’ list. This is more than any other vehicle, hence the claim
"The World's Most Travelled Motorcycle"

Research is Expanding

Over recent years, research has (and quite rightly so) progressed here at the Museum. Material held in our archive is so varied and rich that looking far more closely at such material enables us to better understand our collection and those who were behind many of hundreds of cycle and motor companies to have existed in Coventry.

Last year, Coventry’s Motorcycle Heritage (The History Press ISBN 978-0-7509-5125-8) – a book detailing all known motorcycle makers in Coventry was released. Click here to buy the book - A High percentage of the historical information, sales material and photographs were extracted from what we have stored in our archive. This book is a great example of previously untold information.
Two further publications are planned for release over the next few years. The first will detail Coventry’s motorcar manufacturers, and the latter (the biggest project to date) covers the cycle manufacturers, which so far lists over 400 separate companies known to have existed in the City from 1868.

Outside the three confirmed, there is so much more information obtainable that can be researched, compiled and made available to the public. Many sometimes forget that it was not just cycles and motors that were made in Coventry. There were hundreds of other businesses that existed to support the trades including coach builders, engine builders, enamellers, platers, stampers etc. There were also makers of chains, saddles, radiators, magnetos, ball bearings, mud-guards, dress-guards, machine tools, hubs, to mention but a few – but it gives an insight as to what went on here in Coventry and also as to what we have in our archives.
It can be quite taxing at times getting too far absorbed in research – the eyes begin to sting, the neck hurts and others think you are ignoring them, but it’s all worth it in the end.

Little major break-throughs are made here every day regarding research, but often it’s difficult to share as no-one else knows who or what you are talking about! However, we will continue, and over the coming months we’ll begin to share some of these break-throughs as it’s always good to learn something new isn’t it?

Damien,
Curator Research and Information