The Kneeslider

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Motoczysz No More or TTXGP?

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Motoczysz statement about end of an era
Motoczysz statement about end of an era

Motoczysz C1Quite a few of you have been asking about what has been happening over at Motoczysz and I don't yet know. After a crash last October where the prototype was pretty badly mangled, there's been little on their website until a few days ago when this somewhat cryptic statement was posted under the title TTXGP. Does that mean Michael is shifting to electric development and giving up on the Motoczysz or is there something else in the works. They say details are coming soon. We'll see.

Link: Motoczysz

Comments

  2. MC you are deserving of great respect. You have two logical choices it seems; TTXGP and/or GP2 (MotoGP 2, 600GP or whatever it will be called). This may well allow you to focus on your true genius of chassis innovation. Although I did love the staggered V4 engine you conjured up from left field.

  3. i don’t understand. they had a decent running prototype. the price of the bike was so high that the rider wouldn’t care about $ for gas. gas has still higher energy density then any alternatives. it would take many years for batteries to catch up to a gas tank.

    they don’t really have a strong competition in their segment of exclusive hightech motorockets

  4. they don’t really have a strong competition in their segment of exclusive hightech motorockets

    Is there really a big market for these? Esp. if it’s a company without some sort of gimmick (old name, big name racer, or something) to them?

  5. If MotoCzysz indeed are going to enter the TTXGP race, I think it is a brilliant idea. Unfortunately, there really isn’t any place left for MotoCzysz to compete with their current C1 prototype machine. Even if they could get the engine down to 800cc, MotoGP is too outrageously expensive. World Superbike has changed or will be changing their homologation rules to require more bikes be built than MotoCzysz will ever be able to do. And the new Moto2 class will either require the use of Japanese 600cc I4’s, or go with a spec engine, forcing the company to drop their own 4-cylinder engine. Though Moto2 is still potentially feasible, I’m guesing it would require a total redesign of the C1’s chassis. Let’s not even bother discussing the DMG/AMA series. But an electric-powered racer of some sort could possibly use their current chassis, or a very similar design, with perhaps minimal modification….and perhaps a relative minimum of expense. We’ll have to wait and see, but I’m excited about the possibilities!

  6. Was Motoczysz ever anything more than a wealthy man indulging his fantasy? Not that I have a problem with that, we’d all do it given the chance. But several years of testing for nothing more than a few prototype bikes doesn’t add up to much. John Britten accomplished a whole lot more, with less finance. He had brilliant ideas and one hell of an attitude.

  7. Earl – The C1 engine is much more involved than the 60 degree v-twin that Britten designed and built. That statement does not diminish Britten’s work or design at all. I state it only to point out that the C1’s complexity & lack of a precedent took more time to develop. Moto Czysz has some of the best engineers working diligently on this engine. Comparing the 2 designers/designs in order to critique the time it took isn’t apples to apples.

    There is merit in judging a design by the level of complexity (or lack thereof) required in order to achieve the desired result. Cost-benefit. One of the appealing aspects of mechanical engineering is the tradeoffs every design must endure.

    I’d like to see the C1 front-end on various bikes throughout the Moto GP2 as well as an entry into the TTXGP

  8. interesting. i don’t know anything about electric motors or how much they cost to develop into a viable powerplant for a motorcycle. but despite that, i’d still be willing to wager a fair amount of cash that almost anything would be cheaper than the v15 3 cam transverse 4 cylinder he was building.

  9. I was very interested in the Motoczysz when we all heard about it years ago. As the years worn on it seemed to be more snazzy marketing and stylish PR than anything else. It’s kind of like the Chevy Volt…big hype, lots of marketing, large claims but in the end it will probably never happen.

  11. Uglyduc -re: “…As the years worn on it seemed to be more snazzy marketing and stylish PR than anything else”

    I don’t agree this project was not ‘anything else’ besides snazzy PR. The caliber of engineers who worked on the C1 & the professional racers that hammered on it on a racetrack suggest otherwise. Would we be having this dialogue if the economic fiasco didn’t materialize last fall?

    Nonetheless, that doesn’t entirely excuse this project or any project in today’s society….
    Not only does every mechanical design have tradeoffs inherent to its design, but the designs have to contend with micro and macro economies.

  12. What do the investors think when a statement like that is made? First you try to develop an engine which never actually races and then you say “it is coming to an end” in other words the money spent is gone…strange philosophy
    The process has taken some time and for sure has cost a lot of money so leaving that all behind doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. The development of the engine is the most expensive part of the motorcycle. They could have focused on WSBK because the rules changed this year regarding the production quota… which makes me wonder: the Foggy-Petronas raced in WSBK but were there any built (and ridden on the street for that matter)?

  13. Back at the beginning 2007 I looked into my crystal ball and predicted for the years beyond 2007: “MotoCzysz to have their first ever race-ready bike done in time for new Haitian MotoGP event.”

  15. In a way I’m sad and glad.

    I have had several discussions with Michael (a very nice guy) about his bike and the problems that I saw in it. While I know it is easy to be a critic, it seemed that Mike had a very difficult time allowing any kind of opinion exist around him that challenged his ideas. It seemed that nothing (even math, physics or the accountant) would sway him from his vision. It seems that you can run from the math, but eventually the money man always catches up.

    I hope he is able to continue and finally brings something to the race and to the market. I’m glad that he is showing a change in his vision. I hope that he goes back to square one and a clean sheet of paper. He should surround himself with people that challenge him who question him. Focus on small goals and concepts and move forward to larger ones.

    I want mike to succede.

  16. Yeah, I think its a great idea, and it could work, but 1.5million isnt going to come close to doing it, you need 100M at least to start this in a realistic way, and only the big companies have that cash, at this juncture, they don’t look interested, reminds me of tucker. The point is, no matter what your dreams are and how good your ideas are, you cant make it big without the big boys playing along, and they don’t like radical change.