Faster and Faster: Memorable: Peugeot-powered DJ 1200 Bol d’Or racer

Friday, July 25, 2008

Memorable: Peugeot-powered DJ 1200 Bol d’Or racer

The Peugeot-powered DJ 1200 Bol d'Or racer from 1979

There's an interesting article on Moto Caradisiac about the Peugeot DJ 1200, a one-off racebike designed for the Bol d’Or endurance races, made in 1979-80. Created by one Didier Jillet, the bike was fitted with an 1130cc inline-four from the Peugeot 204 saloon. Fed by twin 40mm Weber carbs, the lightened and tuned engine produced about 100 horsepower at 7500rpm.

Apart from the engine, the other notable thing about the DJ 1200 racebike was its front suspension – a single shock absorber mated to something that looks like a rear swingarm rotated upwards by about 80 degrees! The bike had a dry clutch and a six-speed gearbox. The bike rode on 18-inch wheels, shod with Michelin rubber. Fully fueled and with all fluids, the Peugeot-powered DJ 1200 weighed 261 kilos.

According to the MC report, the DJ 1200 was quick in tests, but Jillet’s financial constraints did not allow him to fully develop the bike. Makes you wonder how the bike might have done if its creator had a bit more money for development, and if the bike had been backed by one of the big endurance racing teams of that era…