Comments on: Vun Rotax Single by Cafe Racers and Superbikes http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Fri, 25 May 2012 02:11:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: nic http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82550 nic Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:49:17 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82550 Vun (pron.: VOON) means ONE in Milanese dialect: one cylinder, unique layout, and one goal: passion. It costs a lot of money, it only has 54 ponies, but let's not forget that this is an hand-made beauty, with all the exclusivity that you might desire and... sharing its frame geometries with a 250cc GP racer, it's hard to find something faster on a tight twisty road. I'd also like to add one personal comment: a couple of years ago, I had the chance to meet Mr C., the heart and brain of CRS Motorcycles, in his workshop outside of Milano. And, although being a very smart businessman, I could see real passion behind his project, not only a vast knowledge and cold calculations. People like him, potentially me (if I had the money!) and many other enthusiasts worldwide are willing to do something NOT-rational for the same reason: passion. Paul, may I suggest your readers to check out some Vun-videos on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crs+vun&search=Search Thanks, Nic Vun (pron.: VOON) means ONE in Milanese dialect: one cylinder, unique layout, and one goal: passion. It costs a lot of money, it only has 54 ponies, but let’s not forget that this is an hand-made beauty, with all the exclusivity that you might desire and… sharing its frame geometries with a 250cc GP racer, it’s hard to find something faster on a tight twisty road.
I’d also like to add one personal comment: a couple of years ago, I had the chance to meet Mr C., the heart and brain of CRS Motorcycles, in his workshop outside of Milano. And, although being a very smart businessman, I could see real passion behind his project, not only a vast knowledge and cold calculations. People like him, potentially me (if I had the money!) and many other enthusiasts worldwide are willing to do something NOT-rational for the same reason: passion.

Paul, may I suggest your readers to check out some Vun-videos on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crs+vun&search=Search
Thanks, Nic

]]> By: mobilus http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82526 mobilus Wed, 27 Jun 2007 01:07:28 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82526 If I were going to spend $20k on a single, I think it would be the Borile. If I were going to spend $20k on a single, I think it would be the Borile.

]]> By: todd http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82475 todd Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:05:07 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82475 Too bad motorcycle magazines killed off the single cylinder road bike. The price complaint is valid considering many people want a mass produced bike like this. If KTM or BMW built it it would be $9000. If Cagiva (MV) built it it would be $7000. If Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, or Kawasaki built it it would be $6000. Yes, the Vun may be worth $20,000 but to whom? And how many "whoms" are there? Who cares how much it costs unless it inspires the above mentioned manufacturers to start building their own versions that we can all afford to own. The majority of people who buy new bikes are new riders (broad overstatement to be sure). Those new riders only know what they've read in magazines, that the Ninja 1400 is fast and that the Hyabusa is now slow because of it. They can not fathom that a 54HP single is fast too, much faster than just about any car any amount of money can buy. They have never read that 40HP singles routinely lapped the TT at over 100MPH average. They don't know that the Ninja 250 does over 100, handles better than many more expensive / larger bikes, and is probably just as quick where and how they ride. It's too bad that CR&S feels they have to justify the Vun's power output. To put it in terms of power to weight ratios is a little misleading: add a 180 lb rider to the equation. Even then this still doesn't tell you anything of any real importance. When you are riding that 180HP super bike, how much power is it really putting out most of the time? 30HP? The DRZ400S (or Husky SMR) is a fast, fun, quick bike. Put a fairing and clip-ons on it and now it's a terribly underpowered "girl's" bike, right? -todd Too bad motorcycle magazines killed off the single cylinder road bike.

The price complaint is valid considering many people want a mass produced bike like this. If KTM or BMW built it it would be $9000. If Cagiva (MV) built it it would be $7000. If Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, or Kawasaki built it it would be $6000. Yes, the Vun may be worth $20,000 but to whom? And how many “whoms” are there? Who cares how much it costs unless it inspires the above mentioned manufacturers to start building their own versions that we can all afford to own.

The majority of people who buy new bikes are new riders (broad overstatement to be sure). Those new riders only know what they’ve read in magazines, that the Ninja 1400 is fast and that the Hyabusa is now slow because of it. They can not fathom that a 54HP single is fast too, much faster than just about any car any amount of money can buy. They have never read that 40HP singles routinely lapped the TT at over 100MPH average. They don’t know that the Ninja 250 does over 100, handles better than many more expensive / larger bikes, and is probably just as quick where and how they ride.

It’s too bad that CR&S feels they have to justify the Vun’s power output. To put it in terms of power to weight ratios is a little misleading: add a 180 lb rider to the equation. Even then this still doesn’t tell you anything of any real importance. When you are riding that 180HP super bike, how much power is it really putting out most of the time? 30HP?

The DRZ400S (or Husky SMR) is a fast, fun, quick bike. Put a fairing and clip-ons on it and now it’s a terribly underpowered “girl’s” bike, right?

-todd

]]> By: aaron http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82446 aaron Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:43:14 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82446 I would be really curious to see what lap times would be like on a tight track. as mission raceway the few supermoto guys that decide to mix it up with the 600's keep up with the fastest (non-salaried) riders. there's no elite supermono guys up here, but if memory serves me right, the ducati supermono ran at a similar pace to the tz250s that ruled the ama 250 class at the time. while this isn't the race-only beast that the tigcraft minimono is, it has the benefit of headlights, turnsignals, and the ability to be started without your pitcrew pushing it. I would be really curious to see what lap times would be like on a tight track. as mission raceway the few supermoto guys that decide to mix it up with the 600′s keep up with the fastest (non-salaried) riders. there’s no elite supermono guys up here, but if memory serves me right, the ducati supermono ran at a similar pace to the tz250s that ruled the ama 250 class at the time. while this isn’t the race-only beast that the tigcraft minimono is, it has the benefit of headlights, turnsignals, and the ability to be started without your pitcrew pushing it.

]]> By: Clive M Sanders http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82294 Clive M Sanders Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:13:24 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/25/vun-rotax-single-by-cafe-racers-and-superbikes/#comment-82294 The frame looks similar to a ducati trellis frame. The difference being the subframe extending underneath the forks to simulate the second head on a 90 degree twin. The frame looks similar to a ducati trellis frame. The difference being the subframe extending underneath the forks to simulate the second head on a 90 degree twin.

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