ELF 500 ROC
Encyclopedia
The ELF 500 ROC was a motorcycle that competed in the and 500 cc Road Racing World Championship.
banner in 1996. The engine was a Swissauto 500 cc two-stroke
V4 engine
, designed as a compact and powerful unit which could be used in both sidecar racing outfits and solo bikes. It utilised a single balance shaft and a 6-speed cassette-type gearbox. Its crankshaft
design allowed for the engine to fire at different angles, allowing the rider to choose either "big-bang"
or "screamer" engine characteristics. The engine was housed in a frame designed by Serge Rosset's small ROC firm, based at Annemasse
in France
. The bike competed in the 1996
and 1997
500 cc World Championships.
later replaced Bosshard, and Marti Craggill stood in for Walker at the final round. At its debut race in Malaysia, Borja scored an impressive 10th place. The bike would go on to record 8 point-scoring finishes out of 15 races, its highest placing being that of 8th by Borja at Donington Park
. The motorcycle proved fast but unreliable as it notched up a string of non-finishes. Borja finished the season on 34 points, Walker on 2 points.
, with Fuchs scoring a best finish of 6th. Borja finished the season on 37 points, Fuchs on 28.
The ELF team ceased GP competition at the end of 1997, but the bikes returned to the grid in 1998 in the form of the Muz 500
.
ELF 500 ROC
A new European motorcycle made its debut under the ElfElf Aquitaine
Elf Aquitaine was a French oil company which merged with TotalFina to form TotalFinaElf. The new company changed its name to Total in 2003...
banner in 1996. The engine was a Swissauto 500 cc two-stroke
Two-stroke cycle
A two-stroke engine is an internal combustion engine that completes the process cycle in one revolution of the crankshaft...
V4 engine
V4 engine
A V4 engine is a V form engine with four cylinders and three main bearings.-Automobile use:Lancia produced several narrow-angle V4 engines from the 1920s through 1960s for cars like the Lambda, Augusta, Artena, Aprilia, Ardea, Appia, and Fulvia....
, designed as a compact and powerful unit which could be used in both sidecar racing outfits and solo bikes. It utilised a single balance shaft and a 6-speed cassette-type gearbox. Its crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
design allowed for the engine to fire at different angles, allowing the rider to choose either "big-bang"
Big-bang firing order
A big bang engine is an unconventional motorcycle engine designed so that most of the power strokes occur simultaneously or in close succession. This is achieved by changing the ignition timing; sometimes in combination with a change in crankpin angle. The goal is to change the power delivery...
or "screamer" engine characteristics. The engine was housed in a frame designed by Serge Rosset's small ROC firm, based at Annemasse
Annemasse
Annemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The bike competed in the 1996
1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 48th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Honda's Mick Doohan continued his domination of the 500 class with 8 victories. His Repsol Honda team-mate, Àlex Crivillé beat him to the line twice in Austria and the Czech Republic...
and 1997
1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 49th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:A fourth world championship in a row for Honda's Mick Doohan with another dominating performance. He broke Giacomo Agostini's record for victories in one season with 12 wins. It...
500 cc World Championships.
1996
Sponsored by soft drink giant Pepsi, the team consisted of Adrian Bosshard and Juan Borja. Over the course of the season William Costes stood in for Bosshard, Chris WalkerChris Walker (motorcycle racer)
Chris Walker is a British motorcycle road racer. His nickname is The Stalker. He is a four-time runner-up in the British Superbike Championship, and a former race winner in the Superbike World Championship....
later replaced Bosshard, and Marti Craggill stood in for Walker at the final round. At its debut race in Malaysia, Borja scored an impressive 10th place. The bike would go on to record 8 point-scoring finishes out of 15 races, its highest placing being that of 8th by Borja at Donington Park
1996 British motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1996 British motorcycle Grand Prix was the ninth round of the 1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 21 July 1996 at Donington Park.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
. The motorcycle proved fast but unreliable as it notched up a string of non-finishes. Borja finished the season on 34 points, Walker on 2 points.
1997
Borja remained in the team, and was joined by new teammate Jürgen Fuchs. Reliability was still a concern but there was improvement and the bikes finished 13 times in the points – 6 times inside the Top 10. Its highpoint came in Brazil1997 Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1997 Rio de Janeiro motorcycle Grand Prix was the tenth round of the 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on August 3, 1997 at the Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:...
, with Fuchs scoring a best finish of 6th. Borja finished the season on 37 points, Fuchs on 28.
The ELF team ceased GP competition at the end of 1997, but the bikes returned to the grid in 1998 in the form of the Muz 500
Muz 500
The Muz 500 was a motorcycle that competed in the and 500 cc Road Racing World Championship.-Muz 500:The Muz 500 started out as essentially the same machine as the ELF 500 ROC. The Muz 500 competed in the 500 cc World Championship in 1998 and 1999...
.
| ELF 500 ROC Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine Type: | 2-stroke water-cooled V4 | |
| Displacement: | 499.27 cc | |
| Max Power: | 160 + BHP | |
| Carburation Type: | 4 Dell Orto VHSB35 flat valve carbs | |
| Ignition: | CDI digital | |
| Clutch: | Dry multiple discs | |
| Transmission: | 6-speed cassette type | |
| Final Drive: | Chain | |
| Frame Type: | Twin spar aluminum | |
| Suspension: | Front: Inverted telescopic forks Rear: Ohlins mono shock |
|
| Tyres: | Michelin | |
| Wheel: | Front: 3.5 x 17 inches Rear: 6.0 x 17 inches |
|
| Brake System: | Front: Carbon composite disc (320 mm), Nissin 4 pot calipers Rear: steel disc (220 mm) |
|
| Overall Length: | 2040 mm | |
| Overall Width: | 490 mm | |
| Wheelbase: | 1410 mm | |
| Weight: | 129 kg (without tank) | |
| Fuel Tank: | 35L | |