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ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

I don't own a motorcycle...heck, I've never even ridden one

but I watched a program last night on Discovery HD Theatre called "Birth of a Racer" (upcoming schedule is here). The program chronicled the development of the Motoczysz CS1, an American-made MotoGP prototype bike. The founder of the company, Michael Czysz, conceived, designed, built, and tested the bike in less than 12 months. From the ground up. Completely from scratch.

There are some fascinating innovations on this bike. The one that really caught my attention and sucked me into the program is the counter-revolution two-piece crank that virtually eliminates the gyroscopic effects of conventional MotoGP engines. It also has a tri-cam design, a ground-up transmission design with easily interchangeable gearing for different tracks, and a patented slipper clutch. Some of the testing was conducted (and shot) at PIR (which would make Rasta proud). The bike is hand built in Portland, and you can put your name in the hat to get one of the 50 prototypes for the mere price of $100K.

In any event, I found it to be a very compelling story about the will to succeed and the determination it takes to envision something completely new and see it through to fruition. Inspiring. Plus, the bike is really really cool.

Here's a video shot by the Motoczysz crew during two days of testing, I think at PIR.
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

agfisher · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 484 Location: West Hartford, CT

I saw that program, it was fantastic.
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1977 924 N/A Martini Edition

brupska · Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Posts: 150 Location: Indiana

Yes, I think the project is shelved for now. They did do a lot of work that was very inovative!!!! To bad. I would like to see another bike out there. That is why I like my Buell. It is very different than any other bike out there.

Khal · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:35 am Post subject:

brupska · Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Posts: 150 Location: Indiana

Sorry about the tread jack!!! I will start a new one . Brad

Rocco R16V · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 497 Location: PNW

When I saw that program about two years ago I really thought they would dominate the motoGP world. Well they didn’t even make a dent.

Motoczysz is truly a revolutionary bike. The engine is such advancement. The stacked trans integrated into the engine case, just brilliant! Too bad even though they spent millions it wasn’t enough to keep the development on track and hire a top notch rider.

I had no idea they are here in the PNW!

I think there was some influence over the rule makers at motoGP by the existing teams to keep this bike out of races. Pure speculation but it makes sense, when you got a good thing going you tend to protect it.

I sold my bike a few years ago, it seemed the stupid drivers trying to run you over were multiplying.
I hope the best for Motoczysz, they truly deserve to succeed!
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"Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. "
Ronald Reagan