Innovator | Designer | Motorcycle Record Breaker
John Britten was a mechanical engineer who transformed motorcycle design in the early 1990s. His many talents led him to be an artist, an engineer, a property developer and most famously a groundbreaking motorcycle designer. His motorcycle designs today appear in museums as well as at racetracks around the world and with wealthy collectors.
Born in Christchurch in 1950, the young Britten spent his time constructing go-karts out of packing cases; by twelve, he had built his first motorised go-kart with the use of a petrol motor. A year later, he and a friend restored a 1927 Indian Scout motorcycle they found abandoned in a ditch.
Although Britten had a talent for practical mechanics, as a dyslexic, he often struggled with formal education. However, such learning difficulties did not stop him completing a four-year mechanical engineering course at night school, while working during the day.
After graduating, his first position, with ICI as a cadet draughtsman gave him a variety of experiences, including mould and pattern design, metal spinning and mechanical engineering design. On leaving ICI for the UK, he spent four months working under Sir Alexander Gibbs and partners on the highway design linking the M1 to the M4. Britten spent the rest of his time overseas, travelling through Europe, before returning to New Zealand to secure a sole charge position with Rowe Engineering as a designer. Just two years later, he went into business on his own.
It was around this time that he became interested in racing motorbikes and the seeds of the V1000 were sown. However, it was not until the late 1980s, after forays into several different ventures including property development and a small glass art business, that Britten began work on his most successful project.
As client and designer, the V1000 was Britten's own personal vision of a motorcycle and as such, he sought to revolutionise the construction, design and performance of the vehicle. Working with a small group of friends and enthusiasts in his workshop in Christchurch the development of the V1000 combined new materials such as carbon fibre, with an entirely new design. Britten merged a traditional chassis with the engine, designing and casting the complete engine and bike from scratch.
By 1991, Britten's bike was ready for launch. Appearing at Daytona, Florida this small New Zealand privateer entrant astounded the world of motorsport by finishing second and third in the famous Battle of the Twins race. Four world speed records were to follow in 1993, demonstrating that the revolutionary design also came with fantastic performance.
In 1992, on the back of the bike's success Britten started the Britten Motorcycle Company and many of the original team went on to make the transition from skilled amateurs into company staff. However, just three years later after a brief battle with skin cancer John Britten died. Following his death, the company scaled down their operations but did fulfil the original set of orders for limited edition machines based on Britten's design.
