The Kneeslider

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Fischer MRX V-Twin Motorcycle Now in Production

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Fischer MRX

The Fischer MRX, which has been in development for some time, has gone into production and is now available for sale. It’s powered by a Hyosung 650cc liquid cooled V-Twin and the price is $7999.

Something I found interesting on their website was this statement:

A signed original Order Form and EPA exemption form must be submitted with payment to guarantee your order. Please be aware that while the Fischer MRX is engineered and manufactured to comply with all current exhaust and noise emission requirements as established by the US EPA and DOT, along with all state and local requirements, certification is not yet final. The Fischer MRX engine has already been type-certified by the EPA, DOT, and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). You will be required to submit a signed waiver of compliance and other forms with purchase and to register your MRX with your state and/or local governing bodies.

I don’t understand what a signed “waiver of compliance” is. It looks like you’re buying a motorcycle that doesn’t yet meet all necessary government requirements and you’re agreeing to do that. Hmm … Why would anyone do that? Maybe I misunderstand what this means so I’ll try to get some clarification.

It also states the motorcycle comes in a crate with “some set up required.” It doesn’t say anything about where the motorcycle is actually produced, so I’m guessing somewhere overseas closer to the Hyosung engines that power it and the crate is what it was shipped to the U.S. in. This isn’t a big deal except they’re promoting this as “The American Exotic” so I’m not sure what they mean by that, either.

We’ll see if we can get some answers.

Thanks for the tip, Peter!

Link: Fischer Motor Company

Comments

  1. Very interesting bike. I love light-weight V-twins. I just wish they’d have either toned down the body work or upped the performance.

    At 70 horsepower, this should be a fun bike, but not the screamer the bodywork implies. It reminds me a bit of a bright yellow Ford Focus with a big wing on the back.

  2. Oh, and I’m just guessing here, but does the “set up required” allow them to get under some regulations? Does it classify as a kit bike, so it doesn’t have to meet normal requirements?

    I’m a little confused by the new EPA regulations, but they seem to be cracking down on after-market accesories and custom bikes. I’m sure I don’t understand it completely, but I thought I heard that people would actually be able to buy only one true custom bike in thir lifetime.

    Does anyone know more about the new regulations I’m talking about? I hope that I heard it wrong, because it seems a bit draconian to limit people so drastically.

  4. Why not just buy the Hyosung? Better yet, just buy a SV650. The SV has much better build quality than the Hyosung/fischer. I think they would have been better off bringing in the 250 since its only competition would be the aging ninja 250.
    -todd

  5. If ever a category of motorcycle just didn’t need an extra competitor right now… the sporty mid-weight.

    I admire the doged tenacity, but not the market research.

    Fischer: in at the deep end, against the tide, swimming with sharks and about to flounder.

    All that hard work…

  6. If my memory serves me correctly, wasn’t this bike supposed to be turbo or supercharged? That would’ve been much more interesting.

  7. Well, I feel this bike could be interesting if it wasn’t for the engine. The sporty mid-weight has been neglected. Where is a bike similar to a (for instance) RD350? With maybe a power/weight ratio of 2 but lightweight (between 120 and 160 kg’s). The CRS bike seems to fit the bill regarding specs but it looks to much like a naked and is too expensive http://www.crs-motorcycles.com/indexENG.htm
    This one also shows that a lightweight twin is possible (but also waaay too expensive) http://www.ncrfactory.com/en/ncr2/millona/millona2.html
    A cheap racer similar to a RS250 but with a torque single or twin and for a reasonable price with at least better suspension then a SV650 seems like a good thing for young people who don’t have the money for the CBR, R6, etc. Common OEM’s what are you waiting for? Give us a modern RD350

  8. ” The sporty mid-weight has been neglected. ”

    Yeah, apart from 500cc, 600cc, 650cc, 675cc and 750cc models from Cagiva, Ducati, Triumph, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki in twin, tripple or four cylinder configurations there is absolutely no choice. Totally neglected.

    ” Give us a modern RD350 ”

    They have, it’s called the R6!

  9. I supported the idea of a new USA assembled sport bike and bought one. For the money I feel it’s a good buy. Best of luck to Dan and Company.

  10. Gordy…read it carefully. I said lightweight, torque and “cheap”, not a screaming 600 which costs a fortune. The SV650 and Ninja 650R are interesting but at least 40lbs too heavy

  11. I am a big fan. I have been following the design and progress since the idea came to be. After speaking to a few people that have had the pleasure to ride the production bike, I have heard great things. I am very excited to see these bikes in the streets. The factory where the crates are shipping from in here in MD where they are built, Not S. Korea.

  12. PLease read the following excerpt:
    Our industry’s 12-year growth cycle is nothing short of spectacular,” said MIC President Tim Buche. “Motorcycling today is more mainstream than ever – and the numbers prove it. The new MIC Owner Survey shows that since 1998, there has been a 34 percent increase in the number of motorcycles in use in the United States. Motorcycles are everywhere – in advertising, editorial layouts, movies, television – they’re an iconic representation of freedom and individualism in our American culture.”

    The timing may be perfect for a new bike in this catagory.

  13. I love the look of the bike…yes its extreme but as a Bimota rider I don’t mind extreme (heck I even sorta like the Mantra). I also like the list of factory installed options! I wish the company luck…it’s a tough market segment. The price seems reasonable to me so long as it has decent performance and/or ridability. When they start shipping to Japan I will be very interested in throwing a leg over one! Would be the perfect size for the streets here (oddly enough 600s are a rare site in Japan…everything is either 400 or 1000ccs mostly with little inbetween).

  14. The Fischer MRX is being called “the most important new American machine in decades” by Motorcyclist Magazine 12/06.

    Quote:”Dan, you’ve not just hit he target, you’ve blown a hole right through the bullseye”

    Review by Sir Alan Cathcart

  15. SO – wheres the factory ? Do they have employees ? Who is this Fischer guy and why isn’t his resume somewhere on the website ? What credentials does this company have ? I am very suspect.

  16. The factory is in Maryland, with approx. 30,000 sq ft of production space available. Yes they have employee’s and bikes are being made as we speak. Please read this months Motorcyclist which features a 7 page review of this great new bike. Dan Fischer is a former AMA racer and has a successful business backround. I don’t think Dan is worried about a resume.

  17. Lots of competition in this segment, and if it has the hyosung power plant, i would just as soon stick with a hyosung for 2 and half G’s less. That being said, people who know motorcycle racing know the fischer name and i hope he does well and maybe eventually makes his own motor. it seems the spotlight is leaning toward inline 4’s at the moment. but its bound to change with time. twins are fun and i would love to see more of them to choose from without the italian price tag.

  18. The new 2007 Fisher mrx650 is on the market it is what the US has needed for a while. Yes it does use a Hyosung powerplant but for a good reason it’s a great motor that has been refined by Fischer in Maryland for performance, The bike is a track ready bike with a list of factory up-grades that can be added at the dealer while keeping the warranty in full affect. fischer uses the best parts on the market on ther machine, as for the bike its as much as an American bike as Harley is today. No one can build a 100% US manufactured bike and keep the price low and the quality as high as Fisher has.
    Bryan Hagan

  19. I really want to like this bike and this company. Unfortunately, I think Fischer picked two fights instead of one. First they have to deal with being a new company, new name (at least to most of us), dealers, etc. Then they fight another battle by using an unproven powerplant from S. Korea. It might be built well but we have to take that on faith since we have not seen Hyosung racing at any level much less winning anything.
    That could maybe be overlooked however the deal breaker here is the design. It falls short of outdoing the competition, of which there is plenty. It also does not overcome the lack of performance and the fact that the powerplant is the same motor used in bikes that cost a good amount less.
    $8K buys less performace, less pedigree, and an engine that is not half as trick as what is available in any of the current crop of 600cc supersports, saving the buyer only $1K. If they could sell it for $7K, still make a profit, and work out a deal with a major bank to provide extended financing they might have a chance to hang around long enough to go racing again.

  20. I agree with some of the above statements, if Fischer were to develop his own engine, get it under a few racers in a well known and well publicized racing series, and get some credibility for the machine to match that of his name, I would buy one. unfortunately, that all comes at a cost, we all know that development and testing are the reasons that our modern ZX-6R, R6, RR, GSX-R’s……all go blazingly fast. The frame development is neat, seems like they outta have some decent technology in that area, so I think it’s a safe bet to say that it would handle well, especially with modern inverted forks and Ohlins suspension. I give them about 3 years to sink or swim, hopefully they will swim, ‘cuz I’ll be looking to replace my beloved ’06 R6 by about then. Good luck to Mr. Fischer.

  21. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Fischer in the parking lot of a hotel. I had stopped for the night while riding to NY from IL.

    I was packing up the SV the next morning and a what I thought then was a random guy with a dog on his way over to talk bikes at 8 in the morning….turned out to be Dan Fischer. We talked bikes for an hour. I would have loved to keep talking but I was on my way to NY he was on his way to Maryland, relocating from Illinois. His bike is top notch. I only wished he had one in the trailer he was towing. Or at least taken me up on the offer to test ride my SV.

    The man and his team have created a fine motorcycle. I hope fellow enthusiasts will do some research before buying their next bike. I know when it’s time to retire the SV, the MRX will be taking it’s place.

    Here’s to you Dan – Scott

  22. I love the look of this bike! For those that suggested that one should just by a Hyosung and save the 2K, by the time you upgraded the Hyo to what you would want better tires, brakes, exhaust, suspension you would have spent as much or more and wouldn’t have the stateside support. The MRX is like a Hyo the way you wish you could get it from the factory.
    I would like to see them make a 250 version that would really give them an edge. Finally some of us just want to be different and this bike is.

  23. Having met Mr. fischer and having gotten the opportunity to ride a pre-production MRX, I can tell you this bike is a wonderful machine, and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it over the Hyosung, zuk, or kaw. The frames ARE U.S. built peices and the basic suspension is great on the road. The bike had the optional wheels and I would order both them and the suspension upgrade.

    Also, they won’t make a 250 version, but they do have a model in the works that will give them an edge. Fischer is a company to keep an eye on.

  25. I have been waiting for an American Sport Bike i could be proud to ride for quite a while. I will be buying one of these shortly. I realize there is a risk buying from an unproven manufacturer but i am willing to be the guina pig, if it means supporting American design and manufacturing, which everyone seems to love to bash nowadays. The only issue i have is the lack of fuel injection.

  26. My Fischer MRX arrived yesterday after a 2 year wait. The bike looks more awesome than any of the photographs. More reports to follow…

  27. You had me with the supercharged version but it disappeared. A larger capacity V twin about 1200cc would tempt me more. Good luck guys and as soon as you get a dealer in Australia or New Zealand I will buy one. Hyosung is well known here for a reliable and low priced commuter motorcycle with a copy Suzuki Motor.