Once the bike had been designed the project leader, Lachlan
Thompson, was determined to put it into production in Australia.
The problem was that bicycles had not been made in Australia
since 1990.
The
problem was overcome when Thompson was introduced to Sal Sansonetti
by a friend from Aerospace Technologies. Sansonetti had cycled
for Australia at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, was Italian
Champion in 1970, and had won two stages of the 1971 Tour
of Italy and the Milan Six. Not only did Sansonetti understand
bikes and metal, he was keen to manufacture bicycles and owned
a company, Nezkot, which made injection moulding dies for
such clients as Holden and Ford. He therefore had the necessary
tooling to make the frame of the bike.
A
company (Bike Technologies) was formed in 1996, not only to
provide bikes for the AIS, but to manufacture the Superbike
in track, touring and mountain bike types for world distribution.
The
requirement study showed that a one-size monocoque shell
could be developed to suit a wide range of rider size.
One single size of the 'Superbike' can accommodate riders
from 1600 mm to 1900 mm in height.
The 'Superbike' is unique in that it has been designed
from the outset to be of a shape and structure that can
be easily and cheaply produced in high volume. This manufacturing
feature, a 'one size fits all' concept, removes the necessity
for multiple and expensive tooling. The use of a complete
monocoque shell gives lower weight and greater stiffness
than achieved in previous racing bicycle designs. This
shell is completely hollow and requires no additional
core material. Careful structural optimisation has allowed
thin non-buckling skins to be used.
Refinement of the manufacturing technique has allowed
patents on the process to be lodged. (Thompson, 1996:
3)
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