This is Simon Frankau with the Quasar he rode at the 2007 gathering. Tragically, his own Quasar was very badly burnt in a fire earlier in the year after a six-year restoration and over twenty years of ownership. This red Quasar is 002 and was previously owned by the late Nick Roche for many years. At the time this photo was taken it was owned by Mark Crowson but it was later owned by Andy Tribble and he sold it to John Cooper. It is now owned by Gavin Newell, son of the Quasar's co-creator, Malcolm Newell.

Title is being said not with the same intonation as in Top Gear program about the Ariel Atom. Just go see www.youtube.com (search on top gear atom) to see what I mean

Here you have two possibilities:
1) become shorter
2) alter the Quasar as per Mark Crowson's QuickaQuasar modification, with raised roof.

UPDATE: This Quasar is now owned by the National Motorcycle Museum and is on display in the museum's foyer, where visitors are invited to have their photo taken in it. There is a whole folder devoted to this specific machine, which is the same one that I rode to the Bol d'Or in 1984, when it was blue. It can also be seen repainted in red, here: http://bikeweb.com/image/tid/166

Photo by Koen Van de Kerckhove

From left to right at Port Lympne: Ecomobile, Carver, 5 Quasars, Benelli Adiva.
Sadly, the Voyager had already gone but you can see it elsewhere.

The Yamaha Xmax and Tmax scooters on the far right can be seen as ... potential future FFs.

This is the temporary rear end of Mark's recently rebuilt QuickaQuasar, put together just to make it road legal for the 2007 rally.
Still has some luggage capacity, lights, plate and so on. But ... it is a lot lighter than the original Quasar version.

Update: this Quasar is now owned by Malcolm Newell's son, Gavin. PNB

Be assured ... not all are there. Like I said: "attempt". ;^)

Moto Guzzi changes on Mark's QuickaQuasar.

Another view of the front fairing of Arthur's FF. You can see the tube Arthur added at the bottom. Also note the fabric used to protect the legs of the rider from the heat of the engine. Question: how does this influence the cooling of the engine? Arthur replies: "It's a water cooled engine, so what the heat shields do is funnel air passing through the rad a bit further past the front pair of cylinders. Keeps my legs from getting too hot. I fitted these after I found too much heat on my legs. The indication from the temperature gauge didn't change."

More view on the frame and you can see how well covered the riders legs are. It feels like your legs are good protected from weather ...and falls.

Using a frame over the fuel tank, Arthur was able to get his steering backwards. Looks super easy to do yourself. KvdK

Another treasure hidden in Mark's basement. The 'SEV' Z1300-powered Phasar with Tait hub-centre steering.
Compare it with Monty's V50 Guzzi Tait HCS front wheel, which has a single shock-absorber.

Mark's Quasar needed some work before the ride. Arthur's help really was appreciated.

For us it was a golden opportunity to see the inside of the motorbike.
Note: Cockpit roof is higher, Moto Guzzi gearbox and transmission, unfinished and minimalist rear section, just barely legal for now. ...

Simon Frankau's burnt out Quasar can be seen in the background

The Quasar caused a few people to do a double take at the 2007 Goodwood Revival. Strictly speaking, it was over a decade too 'young' to be allowed inside the hallowed gates, but when I turned up in it, an appreciative marshall said "Oh, I think that should be inside!" and just waved me in! I parked it near the main gate, and it was on display there all day. PNB
Photo: © Paul Blezard

Proof that a standard Quasar can crack the ton! (Half way down the left hand side of the Garmin's screen, under MXSPD you can see the figures 101.2; that's 101.2mph).
Photo: © Paul Blezard

Interesting site, improvement of steering effort promised. Anyone who understands steering geometery, is it likely to work as well as stated?

Janie Omorogbe, formerly the Gladiator known as 'Rio' and now a successful bike journalist and TV presenter, tries my Quasar for size at Donington Park after the Kill Spills rally in May 2007. This photo appeared, along with an account of my trip up from London with 200 other bikers, in the August edition of the BMF's magazine 'Motorcycle Rider'. It was also used to illustrate my little box-out on FFs for MCN, a decade later. (See elsewhere in this folder). PNB
Photo: © Paul Blezard

Knights of the Round Table ?

Developing the Voyagers

From Quasar to FJ

This account covers the process of discovery and development that led from experience of Malcolm Newell and Ken Leamans Quasar of 1977 to the Voyager launch at the end of 1989.

It places various prototypes in order and covers the work that was done on each. A recent contributor to the FF discussion group has described this work as "Tales of daring do". At the time it seemed a normal process of vehicle development; forming and testing hypothesis, similar to, and obviously based on my time as an F.1 race technician in the early seventies..