Now On Sale: $75,000 Gp Racebike

Now on sale: $75,000 GP racebike

ROUNDUP

IT'S NO SECRET THAT 500CC GRAND prix grils have dwindled over the past few years. Trouble is, there aren’t enough competitive motorcycles around to fill them up. A number of potential solutions-customer versions of Bimota’s V-Twin and Yamaha’s YZR500, to name two-are said to be forthcoming. We recently learned of another, possibly more tangible, solution.

Made in Italy by Verona Racing Products, the VRP 500 GP, unveiled at the 1991 Milan Show, is a bona fide, for-sale grand prix racebike. Through its experience building motocross and roadrace frames and motor parts for Honda Racing Corporation and others, VRP gained the knowledge necessary to build a complete motorcycle. And it has done just that: Even the engine was built by VRP.

Nothing about the VRP 500 is revolutionary: The engine is a conventional 494cc, 90-degree, V-Four two-stroke, with twin counterrotating crankshafts acting to cancel out handling-impairing gyroscopic effect. A quartet of 39mm Dell’Orto carburetors routes the air/fuel mixture to the 54.0 x 54.0mm cylinders via sixpetal case-reed induction, while three-guillotine electronic powervalves manage exhaust flow. The carburetors feature oval bores, which act to smooth power delivery at partial throttle openings-no small concern considering peak horsepower is said to be 164 bhp at 13,000 rpm. The cassette-type sixspeed transmission is easily removable to alter internal gear ratios-two to three ratios are available for each cog.

Another piece of contemporary GP-think is the aluminum-alloy frame, which suspends the engine from above and behind, its twin spars splaying around the two upper cylinders en route from the steering head to the swingarm pivot. Rake is adjustable from 21 to 23 degrees. The heavily gussetted swingarm is bent up on the right side to clear the two lower expansion chambers, which are tipped off with carbon-fiber silencers. Öhlins suspension is fitted front and rear, an upside-down fork offering 4.3 inches of travel and a ride-height-adjustable single rear shock offering 6.1 inches. Wheels are by Marvic, a 3.5 x 17-inch magnesium front and 6.5 x 17-inch composite rear. Brakes are top-of-the-line Brembos. VRP says the bike’s wheelbase measures 55.5 inches and the complete machine weighs 273 pounds dry.

What’s it cost? You had to ask. According to U.S. agent Richard Moore (Indigo Sports, 12405 Slauson Ave., Unit J, Whittier, CA 90606; 310/945-8149), who hopes to import the bikes for WERA Formula USA competition, cost will be approximately $75,000. Not cheap, especially for an unproven design. But if its specifications are any indication of its performance, it’ll take a works bike to beat the VRP And those cost a whole lot more.

Brian Catterson