The Dark Knight
Nothing screams exotic like carbon fiber, and a boutique motorcycle manufacturer in a tiny corner of northern Europe is bringing a sleek bike to market next year made primarily from the space-age material.
Trimmed in all black with a splash of gold, the sleek Renard Grand Tourer incorporates a retro feel into a motorcycle that features distinctive styling and cutting-edge technology.
If the Renard brand is unfamiliar to you, the name, which is French for "fox," was resurrected from a pre-World War II motorized bicycle manufacturer in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, a small nation tucked between Russia and Latvia on the Baltic Sea.
Its factory was destroyed during the war, but a group of enterprising Estonians who love racing revived the brand in 2008.
The GT made its debut earlier this year.
Originally, Renard bikes provided a utilitarian means of transport, made from pipe frames and propelled by meager engines that displaced less than 100 cc.
The new GT boasts an Italian-bred V2 Moto Guzzi engine that cranks out 125 horsepower from a 1,151-cc displacement.
The company's goal was to build a sporty power cruiser that benefits from reduced rotational mass and a low center of gravity for very precise handling.
"Our concept was to build something different," explained co-founder Andres Uibomäe.
While the carbon fiber and Kevlar construction used on the GT is stronger and lighter than steel-even the wheels are made of carbon fiber-Uibomäe joked that the company chose the material because "we can't weld"-important in building traditional bikes.
The ultralight unibody construction incorporates several elements of the bike into a single load-bearing structure that includes the frame, fuel tank, and air-box.
Not only does this make the monocoque assembly extremely light-weight (26 lbs), but it also contributes to the bike's distinctive look.
The bike could be called "a surgeon's blade on two wheels.
" The unique treatment of the front suspension, the absence of a fairing, and the seat make for noticeable design features.
The expertly designed front suspension is composed of hardened aluminum and precision-cut from a solid block of metal.
Virtually suspended in the air from the top of the bike, the seat holds only one rider.
"It's old-school driving pleasure," explained Uibomäe.
"You and the bike-that's it.
" With a price tag of $102,000 and production limited to a handful of units each year, the Renard Grand Tourer certainly scores points for exclusivity, if not for performance.
Its horsepower and 145-mph top speed fall short of the Kawasaki Ninja and Suzuki Hayabusa, but the uniqueness of the motorcycle will appeal to buyers who want a product sure to garner attention in any crowd of bike lovers.
Trimmed in all black with a splash of gold, the sleek Renard Grand Tourer incorporates a retro feel into a motorcycle that features distinctive styling and cutting-edge technology.
If the Renard brand is unfamiliar to you, the name, which is French for "fox," was resurrected from a pre-World War II motorized bicycle manufacturer in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, a small nation tucked between Russia and Latvia on the Baltic Sea.
Its factory was destroyed during the war, but a group of enterprising Estonians who love racing revived the brand in 2008.
The GT made its debut earlier this year.
Originally, Renard bikes provided a utilitarian means of transport, made from pipe frames and propelled by meager engines that displaced less than 100 cc.
The new GT boasts an Italian-bred V2 Moto Guzzi engine that cranks out 125 horsepower from a 1,151-cc displacement.
The company's goal was to build a sporty power cruiser that benefits from reduced rotational mass and a low center of gravity for very precise handling.
"Our concept was to build something different," explained co-founder Andres Uibomäe.
While the carbon fiber and Kevlar construction used on the GT is stronger and lighter than steel-even the wheels are made of carbon fiber-Uibomäe joked that the company chose the material because "we can't weld"-important in building traditional bikes.
The ultralight unibody construction incorporates several elements of the bike into a single load-bearing structure that includes the frame, fuel tank, and air-box.
Not only does this make the monocoque assembly extremely light-weight (26 lbs), but it also contributes to the bike's distinctive look.
The bike could be called "a surgeon's blade on two wheels.
" The unique treatment of the front suspension, the absence of a fairing, and the seat make for noticeable design features.
The expertly designed front suspension is composed of hardened aluminum and precision-cut from a solid block of metal.
Virtually suspended in the air from the top of the bike, the seat holds only one rider.
"It's old-school driving pleasure," explained Uibomäe.
"You and the bike-that's it.
" With a price tag of $102,000 and production limited to a handful of units each year, the Renard Grand Tourer certainly scores points for exclusivity, if not for performance.
Its horsepower and 145-mph top speed fall short of the Kawasaki Ninja and Suzuki Hayabusa, but the uniqueness of the motorcycle will appeal to buyers who want a product sure to garner attention in any crowd of bike lovers.
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