
Only known one in Canada. Has Kawasaki big bore 987 cc
Yoshimura stage 2 engine. Yosh race oil cooler. Aluminum tank. Metal
profile (MP race forks). Tomaselli clip-ons. CMA cast aluminum wheels.
Dresda box swing arm. Lockheed brakes. Clean Alberta title.
<click here to listen to the engine>
This rare and legendary example of the iconic marque,
produced by Dresda Racing in London, England. Designed and hand crafted
by the legendary innovator of the "Triton" hybrid - Dave Degans. Degans
was a top international G.P. racer in the sixties, mixing it with such
G.P. legends as Mike Hailwood, Geoff Duke, Derek Minter, and later in
his race career turned to 24 hour endurance racing, designing and
building his own race bikes.
Dave won the Barecelona 24-hour endurance race twice, in 1965 and 1970. Won the 24-hour Bol d'Or Spain twice, in 1972 and 1973.
Such was the demand for his superb race
prepared bikes, he started to supply customers with race frame kits both
for racing and for the discerning road rider.
This bike is such an example. An amazing fast lightweight race bike, for the roads!
Dresda Racing still supply spare parts for this bike.
Now with decals. Has metallic green finish which does not fully show in the pictures.
About Dresda
During the development of the motorcycle, the British manufacturers were renowned for their frames offering good, solid (predictable) handling. Their engineers were also famous for their innovative designs and quality engineering practices. Names such as Norton, BSA and Triumph were market leaders with their street bikes and the same names dominated international motorcycle races for many years.
As pressure mounted from the Japanese companies in the late 60s and early 70s for market share, all of the British manufacturers were forced to reduce costs. In many cases the sudden need to reduce costs resulted in substandard products. Poor handling frames and leaking engines were common at the time from the British manufacturers.
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About Dresda con't
Improved Swing-arms and Frames
As the decline of the British manufactures continued, many cottage industries
sprang up to offer improved components for the aging British designs. From
improved swing arm bushes to complete frames, the motorcycle press would be full
of small companies offering products.
Following the old adage ‘racing improves the breed’, many component and frame
makers took to the track to prove the worth of their products. Some simply
wanted a better machine to win races. Once a frame maker began to get consistent
results, other competitors would request copies of the frames or
swing arms for their racers. As more racers used the little known (at that time)
aftermarket frames such as Dresda, Harris, Rickman or Seeley, the names became
household names.
In addition to producing frames for race bikes, many street bike riders
wanted to build their own machines, which created another outlet for Dresda.
These ‘specials’ as they became known, typically reflected the technology of the
time. In addition to the specials, a new type of bike was being built: the café
racer. Based on the venerable Norton featherbed frame, the café racers would
fit a Triumph engine
and gearbox into a Dominator frame. But as the supply of Dominator frames dried
up, the aftermarket companies began to offer their own (often improved) versions
of the featherbed frame.
Dresda
Dave Degens started producing frames under the Dresda name in the 60s. A
competent racer, Degens initially built Tritons for the booming café racer
market before building his own frame.
The Dresda Tritons became very successful in international motorcycle racing
too, winning the Barcelona 24-Hour endurance race twice, 1965 and 1970. In
addition, other companies began to show interest in using the Dresda frames for
their race bikes. In particular, the French "Honda importers Japauto team
contracted Degens to build a frame around the Honda 750/900 engines to use in
endurance racing; the team went on to win the Bol d'Or race twice, in 1972 and
1973.
Interestingly, it was Degens’ engineering skills and pragmatic approach to
motorcycles that saw the introduction of 4
into 1 exhaust systems. Realizing the endurance racers needed ground
clearance to corner at the Bol d'Or in preference to straight line speed, Degens
designed a system for the French team in spite of objections from Honda.
“Everybody said it was no good,” Degens recalled. “It wouldn't work. Even Honda
themselves said that they had tried it and it was no good.”
New Honda Street Bike Frames
As the Japanese engines became more popular in the 70s, Degens began to offer
frames for many of the popular makes of the time. Honda was one such company,
and building on his experience with the Japauto team, Degens began to offer
frames specifically for the Honda power plant.
Dresda produced frames for most of the Japanese machines during the 70s
and 80s
but, ironically, a Dresda Triton brought the clock full circle when a Japanese
rider won a prestigious race in Japan on one.
Returning to their roots, the company now makes Dresda Tritons for the
booming café
racer market, and taking the Triumph link further, the company now offers Trident
engines in a Dresda frame.
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