Wasp Motorcycles
Encyclopedia
Wasp Motorcycles is a British motorcycle
and sidecar
manufacturer based in Berwick St James, Salisbury
, England, that specialises in building sidecar motocross
, sidecar grasstrack
and solo motocross motorcycles,
as well as the Wasp 3 Wheel Freedom for disabled riders.
Wasp first saw racing
success in 1971, when it won the European Championship.
Wasp sidecars have been the winning chassis eight times in the FIM
European Championship and World Championship.
In 1972, all of the top eight places in the European Championship were riding Wasp outfits.
who was originally employed by the Ministry of Defence
as a engineering apprentice at Boscombe Down
.
He designed and built a number of off-road motorcycle frames which he used in motocross
competitions.
Other competitors were interested in Rhind-Tutt's frames and commissioned him to build specialist frames, so he decided to form Wasp Motorcycles Ltd. The company changed its name to Wasp Engineering Ltd in 1997,
but continues to trade under the name of Wasp Motorcycles.
A Wasp/BSA
motocross sidecar outfit ridden by world motocross champion Dave Bickers was used in the 1979 World War II
film Escape to Athena
, disguised to look like a German military BMW R75
.
sidecar grasstrack ('side-car-cross'),
and solo motocross motorcycles.
They also produce motorcycle leading link suspension for sidecars and fork conversion kits for road bikes, which improve braking and handling; and manufacture Métisse
frames pioneered by Rickman Motorcycles
.
including paraplegic motorcyclists, and has an electrically operated ramp to help access. With a tubular space frame
bonded to fibreglass body it has independent suspension and a twin piston brake connected to the motorcycle brakes. The design of the sidecar enables it to carry a wheelchair and can be attached to any motorcycle of over 500 cc.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
and sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
manufacturer based in Berwick St James, Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, England, that specialises in building sidecar motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
, sidecar grasstrack
Grasstrack
Motorcycle Grasstrack is a form of motorcycle racing which typically, in its current form, takes place on a flat track consisting of two straights and two bends usually constructed in a field. Mountain and hillside tracks are also common in the UK, creating more technically demanding circuits...
and solo motocross motorcycles,
as well as the Wasp 3 Wheel Freedom for disabled riders.
Wasp first saw racing
Motorcycle racing
Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all sporting aspects of motorcycling. The disciplines are not all "races" or timed-speed events, as several disciplines test a competitor's various riding skills.-Motorcycle racing:...
success in 1971, when it won the European Championship.
Wasp sidecars have been the winning chassis eight times in the FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
European Championship and World Championship.
In 1972, all of the top eight places in the European Championship were riding Wasp outfits.
History
Wasp was founded in 1968 by engineer and off-road motorcyclist Robin 'Robbie' Rhind-Tutt,who was originally employed by the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
as a engineering apprentice at Boscombe Down
MoD Boscombe Down
MoD Boscombe Down is an aircraft testing site located at Idmiston, south of Amesbury, in Wiltshire, England. It is run and managed by QinetiQ, the company created as part of the breakup of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in 2001 by the UK Ministry of Defence...
.
He designed and built a number of off-road motorcycle frames which he used in motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
competitions.
Other competitors were interested in Rhind-Tutt's frames and commissioned him to build specialist frames, so he decided to form Wasp Motorcycles Ltd. The company changed its name to Wasp Engineering Ltd in 1997,
but continues to trade under the name of Wasp Motorcycles.
A Wasp/BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
motocross sidecar outfit ridden by world motocross champion Dave Bickers was used in the 1979 World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
film Escape to Athena
Escape to Athena
Escape to Athena is a British adventure war film released in 1979, directed by George Pan Cosmatos and produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. The international cast included many well-known actors of the 1970s, including Roger Moore, Telly Savalas and Elliott Gould.The film is set during the...
, disguised to look like a German military BMW R75
BMW R75
The BMW R75 is a World War II-era motorcycle and sidecar combination produced by the German company BMW.In the 1930s BMW were producing a number of popular and highly effective motorcycles...
.
Products
Wasp manufacture and modify sidecar motocross,sidecar grasstrack ('side-car-cross'),
and solo motocross motorcycles.
They also produce motorcycle leading link suspension for sidecars and fork conversion kits for road bikes, which improve braking and handling; and manufacture Métisse
Métisse Motorcycles
Métisse Motorcycles is a motorcycle manufacturer based in Carswell near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, England. It has produced motorcycle frame kits for British and American bike engines for over 40 years...
frames pioneered by Rickman Motorcycles
Rickman Motorcycles
Rickman Motorcycles was established by Derek and Don Rickman and manufactured motorcycles from 1960 through to 1975.Initially the frame designs were for scrambles, and then for road racing. Later, in 1966, road bikes were produced as well. The first street legal bike used a Triumph Bonneville engine...
.
Wasp 3 Wheel Freedom
The 3 Wheel Freedom is designed for use by disabled riders,including paraplegic motorcyclists, and has an electrically operated ramp to help access. With a tubular space frame
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
bonded to fibreglass body it has independent suspension and a twin piston brake connected to the motorcycle brakes. The design of the sidecar enables it to carry a wheelchair and can be attached to any motorcycle of over 500 cc.