Wetbike
Encyclopedia
| Manufacturer | Spirit Marine, Arctic Cat, Wetco, Ultranautics |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | Two Stroke |
| Years in production | 1978-1992 |
| Horsepower | 50/60 hp Horsepower Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the... |
| Displacement | 798cc Engine displacement Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches... |
| Type of Lubrication | Premixed Oil & Gas |
| Mixing ratio | 50:1 |
| Spark plug | B8HS |
| Length | 7.75 ft (2.4 m) |
| Width | 26 in (66 cm) |
A WetBike is a planing
Planing (sailing)
Planing is the mode of operation for a waterborne craft in which its weight is predominantly supported by hydrodynamic lift, rather than hydrostatic lift .-History:...
water motor cycle that is often described as cross between a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
and a jet ski
Jet ski
Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The name is sometimes mistakenly used by those unfamiliar with the personal watercraft industry to refer to any type of personal watercraft; however, the name is a valid trademark registered with the...
.
The original Wetbike was introduced in 1978 by Spirit Marine, a subsidiary of Arctic Enterprises
Arctic Cat
Arctic Cat is a North American manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The company was formed in 1960 and is based in Thief River Falls, MN. Many of Arctic Cat's vehicles are used today and can be accessorized to perform almost any job an outdoors-man might need...
(now known as Arctic Cat
Arctic Cat
Arctic Cat is a North American manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The company was formed in 1960 and is based in Thief River Falls, MN. Many of Arctic Cat's vehicles are used today and can be accessorized to perform almost any job an outdoors-man might need...
). The Wetbike is challenging to ride, because it does require a good deal of balance. It was powered by a Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
2 stroke engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
, and a small Pump-jet
Pump-jet
A pump-jet, hydrojet, or water jet, is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle...
.
During the latter years of Wetbikes (late 1980s) there were considerable advances such as 60hp Suzuki 800cc engines, and the Metton
Metton
Metton is a runny French cheese made in Franche-Comté, mostly used as an ingredient for making the Cancoillotte. The traditional process to produce Cancoillotte with Metton is to cook it in an earthenware pot with some water or milk, then to add salt and butter .-External links :* ]]...
hulls, which were much lighter than previous models. Eventually the Wetbike gave way to the new personal water craft
Personal water craft
A personal water craft , also called water scooter, is a recreational watercraft that the rider rides or stands on, rather than inside of, as in a boat....
(PWC) such as the Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
WaveRunner
WaveRunner
WaveRunner is a trademarked name and type of personal water craft produced by the Yamaha Motor Company. Unique to the WaveRunner among PWCs is the spout of water that shoots into the air from the rear of the vehicle....
, mainly because they are much easier to ride. They were last produced in 1992. The original Wetbike was designed by Nelson Tyler, who became well known for his film industry camera mounts known as the "Tyler Mount". The design was sold to Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
later.
Appearances in media
The first appearance of the Wetbike was in the 1977 James BondJames Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film The Spy Who Loved Me
The Spy Who Loved Me (film)
The Spy Who Loved Me is a spy film, the tenth film in the James Bond series, and the third to star Roger Moore as the fictional secret agent James Bond. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert and the screenplay was written by Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum...
. In one scene, right before the film's end, Bond is seen riding on a Wetbike (the actual Spirit Marine prototype) to villain Karl Stromberg
Karl Stromberg
Karl Sigmund Stromberg is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. Stromberg was portrayed by the late German-born, Austrian actor Curt Jurgens. The character Stromberg was created specifically for the film by writer Christopher Wood...
's lair, the submergible fortress Atlantis. Bond refers to the Wetbike as a Q gadget.
The Wetbike also appeared in the 1986 comedy Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Police Academy 3: Back in Training is the third film in the Police Academy film series, released on March 21, 1986.-Plot:The film begins in a large garage structure, where Lt. Proctor and Commandant Mauser meet up with former Police Academy cadets, Chad Copeland and Kyle Blankes...
, in which a group of Wetbikes and Kawasaki JS550 stand up jet skis were used by the police to chase down thieves in speedboats in the movie's ending water chase scene. It also appeared in the 1990 George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
film Red Surf, in which it was used by a gang of surfers to transport cocaine.