IN recent years the mystique of land speed records appears to have diminished but for decades it was a scene that made headlines worldwide and was populated exclusively by enormous characters with even bigger balls.
Sure, the outright land speed record – usually held by three or four-wheeled vehicles – tends to get the most attention, but bikes have had their glorious moments too. Here we’re going to pick the most important land speed record holders on two wheels over more than a century and over 300mph of improvements.