The MTT 420 RR – BikeBound

“It’s just like the hand of God pushing you…” -Jay Leno 

Such have been the phrases of lifelong gearhead Jay Leno, a self-proclaimed member of the “Extra Cash than Brains Membership,” when Well-liked Mechanics requested him what it was prefer to trip his Marine Turbine Applied sciences (MTT) Turbine Superbike. Leno went on to say the driving expertise was like nothing else in his legendary storage:

“I’ve ridden lots of quick bikes however nothing pulls like this.”

After all, Leno was describing the 317-hp Gen-1 “Y2K” version of the MTT Turbine Superbike — the primary manufacturing mannequin of which he owns. So once we noticed the brand new 420-hp Gen-2 MTT 420 RR in bare trim on the 2023 Handbuilt Present, we needed to be taught extra about this mind-blowing “jet bike” and the corporate behind it, Marine Turbine Applied sciences.

Primarily based in South Louisiana, the place turbine-powered helicopters are a frequent sight as they ferry employees forwards and backwards to the offshore oil rigs, MTT is a design, engineering, and manufacturing firm that focuses on packaging gasoline turbine engines for distinctive industrial purposes. Says Founder, President, and CEO Ted McIntyre II:

“I took my first trip in a helicopter once I went to work offshore in 1974 and went on to get a pilot’s license. Our firm Marine Turbine Applied sciences LLC has constructed extra non-aircraft purposes than every other firm within the World.”

Practically 25 years in the past, a person requested MTT to develop a turbine-powered motorbike. The end result was the Gen-1 “Y2K” Turbine Superbike, which debuted at Bike Week 2000 with a Rolls-Royce C18 gasoline turbine producing 317 hp and a high velocity of 237 mph. Says Ted:

“The workforce who constructed the primary bike was made up of a bunch of devoted bikers who got here from numerous backgrounds together with street racing, desert racing, drag racing, and motocross — normally, gearheads who’ve personal bikes ranging in measurement and shapes throughout the spectrum.”

Quick ahead to at the moment, and the brand new model is the MTT 420 RR, boasting a 420-hp Rolls-Royce C20B gasoline turbine engine designed to run on diesel, kerosene, or Jet-A. The engine is definitely mounted upside-down to direct the exhaust downward, and the body, swingarm, and most every little thing different element of the bike have been developed in-house to accommodate the engine, which delivers near 600 lb./ft. of torque.

“The engine produces ‘Thrust’ like a jet engine, this thrust drives rotating assemblies like windmill wheels that spin and convert the thrust to shaft horsepower.”

To get that energy to the rear wheel, MTT developed a right-angle two-speed transmission with two planetary gearsets and multi-plate moist sump clutches. The 420 RR is now obtainable in a Faired model, whose carbon-fiber bodywork is produced in-house, or the brand new Bare model as seen at Handbuilt Present 2023. Ted is most proud that his small workforce in Franklin, Louisiana, has produced what’s been referred to as the world’s quickest manufacturing motorbike (reportedly 273 mph):

“Honda didn’t construct it, Harley didn’t construct it, Mercedes didn’t construct it. A small firm situated in S. Louisiana constructed probably the most vital wheel-driven automobile to debut within the new Millennium, thus the unique Y2K Moniker.”

Under, founder and CEO Ted McIntyre II offers us the complete story on the MTT 420 RR Turbine Superbike.

420 RR Turbine Superbike: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

The Turbine SuperBike began out because the Y2K Turbine Superbike and debuted in Daytona in 2000 at Bike Week. The bike was constructed on the request of a person who needed one thing completely different. Turbine vehicles and boats had been finished so we advised a turbine motorbike to showcase our firm’s means to put in generators in distinctive non-aircraft purposes. The workforce who constructed the primary bike was made up of a bunch of devoted bikers who got here from numerous backgrounds together with street racing, desert racing, drag racing, and motocross — normally, gearheads who’ve personal bikes ranging in measurement and shapes throughout the spectrum.

I took my first trip in a helicopter once I went to work offshore in 1974 and went on to get a pilot’s license. Our firm Marine Turbine Applied sciences LLC has constructed extra non-aircraft purposes than every other firm within the World.

Being situated in S. Louisiana gave us entry to the helicopter business, the assets to construct such a machine was a pure evolution of our enterprise. We’re located on the water on the Port of West St. Mary in Franklin, La. This enables us to construct each land in addition to waterborne vessels powered by generators.

We occupy over 100,000 sq. ft of manufacturing unit area with in-house engineering, CNC machining capabilities, welding, carbon fiber and composite lamination, digital and electrical providers, 3D printing and quite a few different specialised providers.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor bike?

The unique bike debuted in 2000 because the Y2K Turbine Superbike, which was powered by a Rolls-Royce C18 gasoline turbine producing 317 SHP. The present manufacturing bike makes use of a Rolls-Royce C20B engine which produces 420 SHP. Like all of our choices, they’re set as much as run on diesel, kerosene, or Jet-A fuels. Diesel is what we sometimes run on as it’s obtainable at most all gasoline stations.

The bike is hand-built utilizing aluminum sheeting and billet aluminum elements. The two-speed transmission makes use of two planetary gearsets with multi-plate moist sump clutches. The our bodies are all carbon fiber in-built our facility.

The facility is directed via a right-angle gearbox that drives the chain to the rear wheel. The entrance and rear wheels are carbon fiber. Gasoline capability is 8 US gallons (Diesel); oil reservoir for the turbine and transmission are constructed within the body.

• Why was this bike constructed?

As talked about above we had a buyer who we had constructed a number of distinctive initiatives for and I advised a bike — principally we got a clean examine and constructed a prototype. The bike debuted in Daytona in 2000 (Y2K).

 

Jay Leno heard concerning the bike from John Burns, who was the editor of Bike journal on the time. John was in Daytona for Bike Week, and we let him trip the bike. I later obtained a name from Jay who mentioned he was “A Member of the Extra Cash than Brains Membership” and was fascinated about shopping for a motorcycle. Jay purchased the primary manufacturing Y2K Turbine Superbike and nonetheless has it at the moment.

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

Figuring out the bike would have 300+ HP, we needed a machine that had the aerodynamic functionality of utilizing the ability to run speeds in extra of 200 MPH. We knew we needed to construct the body and swingarm to accommodate the engine, which we turned the other way up to direct the exhaust in direction of the bottom in lieu of its unique configuration with the exhaust directed upwards.

The output of the engine runs parallel with the body, so we needed to design and construct a right-angle gearbox to direct the ability to the rear wheel. As soon as we figured this out, it was a matter of wrapping it in a carbon fiber physique that was slippery and allowed a rider the flexibility to tuck behind the fairing for high-speed occasions.

• What customized work was finished to the bike?

Mainly, every little thing is customized constructed.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

Gen 1 (317 HP) bikes are generally known as the Y2K. Gen 2 (420 HP) are branded as 420 RRs. We provide the 420 RR in each the Faired Model and the brand new Bare Model. All are generally known as the Turbine Superbike.

• Any thought of horsepower, weight, and/or efficiency numbers?

Gen 1: 317 HP, 580 lbs. Prime Pace 237 MPH
Gen 2: 420 HP, 620 lbs. Prime Pace 250+ MPH

 

• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to trip this bike?

The engine produces 420 lb./ft. of torque for the 317 HP model, whereas the 420 HP model delivers near 600 lb./ft. of torque.

Jay Leno most likely described it higher than anybody who has ridden one of many bikes, “It’s just like the hand of God pushing you.”

Throughout an exhibition run at an airstrip the place we have been collaborating within the airshow with the Blue Angels at 180 MPH below onerous acceleration the 420 RR began smoking the rear tire. This whereas working a 230 sequence Pirelli Avenue Tire.

When the bike debuted in Daytona on the race monitor on a Dyno-Jet 200 chassis dyno, the bike accelerated from 0-204 MPH in 6.4 seconds, generated 296 rear wheel HP and 425 lb./ft. of torque.

The Roll- Royce turbine we use is a “Free Turbine” which is principally an air torque converter. The engine produces “Thrust” like a jet engine, this thrust drives rotating assemblies like windmill wheels that spin and convert the thrust to shaft horsepower. After we put the bikes on the dyno, we put them in excessive gear and launch the clutch whereas holding the rear brake. When the brake begins to slide, we let it unfastened.

The acceleration is like nothing you may think about. We’ve taken the bike to a dragstrip and launched it utilizing the identical methodology. The tire by no means was capable of hook up. NO, we’ve by no means tried to run a big drag slick on the again to see what it could do, nor are we fascinated about discovering out.

• Was there something finished throughout this construct that you’re notably pleased with?

In a Phrase, EVERYTHING. Honda didn’t construct it, Harley didn’t construct it, Mercedes didn’t construct it. A small firm situated in S. Louisiana constructed probably the most vital wheel-driven automobile to debut within the new Millennium, thus the unique Y2K Moniker.

• Is there anybody you’d prefer to thank?

Sure, each man and girl who laid arms on this bike since its inception. My title is related to the corporate because the founder, and I’ve ridden each bike we’ve ever constructed triple digits earlier than they left the store. The corporate isn’t Ted’s Turbine store, it’s MTT, and the aforementioned women and men are who made this occur.

Driving Expertise

“Y2K, even below full energy, tracks like a bullet practice…and the strangest factor is the entire lack of vibration. You hear the turbine however don’t really feel the turbine, apart from the truth that it’s making an attempt to easily compress all of your vertebrae into one dense donut.” -John Burns, Motorcyclist

“It’s bloody mad and very scary…it looks like bungee-jumping, besides with the bungee pulling you forwards and never upwards. The sheer sense of uncontrollable acceleration constructing and the wind noise dashing as much as meet you.” –John Cantlie, MCN

Comply with the Builders

Net: www.marineturbine.com
Fb: Marine Turbine Applied sciences