Sabre V4 500cc
| Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine Type: | 2 stroke water cooled V4 Twin Crank, reed valve |
|
| Displacement: | 499.2 cc | |
| Max Power: | 175 bhp | |
| Carburation Type: | 35 mm Keihin PJ | |
| Ignition: | Sabre full programable digital | |
| Clutch: | Dry multiple discs | |
| Transmission: | 6 speed cassette type | |
| Final Drive: | Chain | |
| Frame Type: | Sabre | |
| Suspension: | Front: Inverted telescopic Rear: Öhlins mono shock |
|
| Data Recording | Sabre 34 channes, now branded - Cougar Data Recording |
|
| Tyres: | Michelin | |
| Wheel: | Front: 3.65 x 17 inches (430 mm) Rear: 6.50 x 17 inches (430 mm) |
|
| Brake System: | Front: Carbon composite disc, Nissin 4 pot calipers Rear: steel disc |
|
| Overall Length: | 2010 mm | |
| Overall Width: | 600 mm | |
| Wheelbase: | 1400 mm | |
| Weight: | 131 kg | |
| Fuel Tank: | 24L | |
Background
The Sabre V4 was a 500cc two-stroke motorcycle that competed in the 2001 500cc World Championship. It utilised a Yamaha YZR500 engine which was housed in a custom made frame.
Racing History
Unable to lease a V4 from any manufacturer, the team decided to build its own bike around a 1994 YZR500 (OWF9) engine, a version generally regarded as one of the best of the YZR designs. Standard YZR crankcases and gearbox were used and custom engine internals, exhausts and ignition systems were added letting the engine output some 175 BHP. The chassis was designed and manufactured by Sabre Sports Ltd.
Johann Stigefelt was contracted to ride the Sabre during 2001 and put in some good performances, regularly being the best privateer in the field. The machine scored points on three occasions, its best being a 13th at the Portuguese Grand Prix. It finished the Constructors Championship in fifth place on 6 points (3 points ahead of the Pulse team).
Whilst development of the Sabre was ongoing throughout the year, the future of two stroke 500cc racing was in severe doubt with the impending arrival in the class of four stroke 990cc machines, which were to eventually make the two strokes redundant. The FIM also declared that only eleven teams would be allocated grid slots for the next five years. As the Sabre team was the most recent team to join and the class was already fully subscribed, they were not allocated a grid slot for 2002.
During the MotoGP 2002 season the Sabre V4 was used by the W.C.M Team when their four stroke Yamaha was declared illegal by the FIM. It competed in 5 MotoGP's in 2002 qualifying ahead of the Kawasaki works bike. It was the last two stroke V4 to compete in MotoGP.
The Sabre V4 only raced once more at the Macau Grand Prix in November 2002 where rider Chris Palmer scored 14th position, after qualifying in 20th.
The bike pictured, the fairing is in the the Sabre 2001 GP colours and the seat and tank are in the blue of the WCM Team as raced in the 2002 MotoGP season.
There are two Sabre V4s the second was sold to a private collector
Images (Click to enlarge)
