File:WWS MotorcycleTOMOSD-9.ogg

English: This motorcycle was given to Technical museum of Slovenia by Tomos factory in 1997 and it represents a part of valuable and exceptional TOMOS collection.

In 1965 Tomos developed a new racing motorbike for a comeback into the world’s top racing competitions. This was called the D 9 because of the number of gears. Due to a very light frame (made of reinforced polyester) as well as other technical solutions, such as light mechanical disc brakes with an inner grasp (Tomos patent), the motorcycle weighed only 38kg. The Tomos designers wanted to compensate for a modest engine output (8.1KW (11hp) at 14,000 rpm, air-cooled engine) with a lower weight. The D 9 was also the first Tomos racing motorcycle fuelled through the carburettor with the help of a rotating disc of a design like that other competitors had used for years.

The first races quickly showed that the engine overheated and would require the replacement of air-cooling with a water-cooling system. In 1967, the designer of Tomos racing motorcycles, Janez Imperl made some improvements to the D 9 engine and many of its weaknesses were eliminated. Unfortunately any further improvement plans were stopped by new rules introduced by FIM. The international motorcycling association set the lowest permissible weight of motorcycles at 60kg and the maximum number of gears at six.

Sound recordist: Boštjan Troha

Photographer: Veronika Štampfl