Michael Czysz and the Motoczysz company he started, to create the C1 prototype, haven’t been making much noise recently after the initial rush of new bike introduction, interviews and photo sessions died down but it looks like they’ve been hard at work. The original C1 has been retired and they are working on a successor, this time with 600cc. Please read the update at the end of this post.
In order to build a new bike with a new engine, they’ve been out scouring the world for the best people they could find and they’ve come up with a few:
Federico Cioni, recently of Ducati, who managed the design of the Testastretta and Desmosedici RR engines, is the new President of Motoczysz.
Other additions include:
Simon Jackson and Adrian Hawkins : formerly Senior Engineers at Cosworth , UK
Nicolas Reynier: formerly Chassis Engineer at KR MotoGP Team , France
Andrea Pretzler: formerly Carbon Fiber Specialist at CarboTech , Austria ; she has done work for BMW and Benelli among others.
The original C1 was a groundbreaking motorcycle and everyone was very impressed with the design, however, they’ve promised even more from the second generation, scheduled to hit the track around July of next year.
Also very interesting is the partnership they have formed with Ricardo plc, the century old engineering and design firm started by Sir Harry Ricardo, author of The high-speed internal-combustion engine, one of the all time classics in the field. Motoczysz will be using Ricardo’s engine development and simulation software in the creation of their new engine.
We’re looking forward to seeing the new Motoczysz next year, it should be a stunner and it’s an American Sportbike, too. Nice.
Update: Federico Cioni, President of Motoczysz, wrote in to clarify a few points:
A short note to thank you very much for the support and the help you are giving us in spreading the word about MotoCzysz. We really appreciate that and encourage you to continue following our big challenge.
I also feel the need to clarify to you and to all the people that read you that the second generation C1 will not be a 600cc bike. I can see that it was probably not made clear enough on our website, but we’re talking about two different projects: the new C1 will be a 990cc engine (although completely new in its design), which will be manufactured and sold in a very limited number of replicas by the end of the year 2006 (the prototype will be ready for testing by July). On the other hand, the 600cc engine has been conceptually conceived, its architecture defined, but it will equip a different bike, which is still under discussion within our group.
I hope this makes it a little clearer, and again I, on behalf of everyone here, thank you for your continued attention.
Federico Cioni
Sources:
Motoczysz
Ricardo Company
hoyt says
The C1 is retired before it even ran a race or wore a license plate? Or is it on sabbatical?
kneeslider says
Looks like the C1 was a prototype/proof of concept bike and now they’re building the REAL bike. He’s got to be burning money like a silicon valley startup but he sure is getting top notch help. I wonder if the downsized MotoGP engine rules had anything to do with it. Remember, the C1 was built to 990cc to begin so maybe they figured, as long as we’re doing another engine, let’s redo the whole bike.
hoyt says
A 600 is a perplexing choice:
1. enthusiasts in a position to buy this bike would most likely want a bigger displacement than a 600. Even if you can afford one, who wants to shell out that money on a 600cc? (Augusta probably was prompted to build the 1000 F4 for similar reasons, yet they had a 750cc)
2. The new “street peformance” category the Triumph 675 has re-ignited seems to be hinting at future bikes with 700 – 800 cc. Watch for the new triples from Japan.
3. 700 or 800 would be closer to MotoGP size if they decide to take it to that level
4. Superbike racing seems to be better than 600 Supersport. (Daytona 200 was a sleeper)
I wish them well with whatever they produce.
Robby says
The C1 and its counter rev engine were retired because the counter rev engine does not solve any handling problems nor does it make the bike steer easier. I have explained it to them in detail and they know it. The next bike will not have a counter rev motor and they will PR their way out of it.
Michael Czysz says
The next generation will be a significant step in evolution of all of the concepts originally tested in the original MotoCzysz C1 “proof of concept” particularly the the twin crank, counter rotating, longitudinal engine layout. The most exciting aspect of this next generation is that we are design and casting our own head (that was our greatest compromise we had to make on the first concept bike). It is an industry first and all simulations and tests to date look very promising.
For the gentleman that “explained to me in detail” how there is no handling benefit from our engine layout, your analysis was very rudimentary and I do not agree. Please read the riding impressions from Alan Cathcart and Chris Ulrich for more accurate empirical data on the handling characteristics, they said “it transition like no other 1,000cc and is the most neutral handling 1,000cc they have ever ridden.” Those are the facts and every top level racer has felt the resistance in question.
As for the NEW 600cc it is not a replacement of the 990/1,000cc simply our next engine. I am very proud of it’s character and compactness and look forward to unavailing it in the future.
The “New Business” has been going better than expected our in house engineering staff and technical partners we have established along with the financial backing we have secured should get us to the next step. There are no guarantees, this is a difficult and long journey and all we can simply do is proceed step by step.
Thank You to the real motorcyclists that give us so much support, your support is a strong source of inspiration, you are helping this dream become a reality.
Sincerely,
Michael Czysz
MotoCzysz
Bryan says
Well Mike hopefully your reading this, but I read the Kneeslider like everyday, and everyday someone comes and says they have a great project like yours. As the article goes on somewhere near the end there is always some reason why the bike will not be offered to the public. I recently did a report for school on the history of Ducati, and their results were awesome coming from a very small manufacturer so long ago. I really think you need to put something on the market. A $50,000 bike if you have to or something.
Build the 600cc, find out the build costs, produce the bike with a larger profit margin. Because while you wait only Buell (wince) makes money.
~Bryan
zipidachimp says
750cc was always a decent size bike for the street, and there would be more buyers and less ‘buyers remorse’ for this size, rather than buying ‘only’ a 600.
there’s also an insurance break at 750.
seems like people keep wanting to reinvent the wheel, rather than accept reality.
my opinion, yours may differ.
Aaron Bradley says
just wondering if you got the idea I submited a while ago. haven’t heard from you or seen anything. please respond.
ludo says
pourquoi pas une démo en europe ??! 🙂
j’ai hate, de voir le z4 line …
au bugatti ou jerez !!
vivement ke, mon banquier dise ok … lol 🙂
a tous les essoreurs de poignée droite
ludo # frenchalpes
Anton Prinsloo says
I’ve recently watched the Motoczysz program on Discovery and find it fascinating that no one has come up with the simple concept (In hind sight) of a split crankshaft.
What has happened to Motoczysz since then and are they still producing bikes? As far as I know none has been sold in Australia.
Great looking and sounding bike, what would happen if one of the big guns bought the patent and produced a limited amount for the worldwide market, someone like Yamaha or Ducati? I can only dream but my 2006 R1 is good enough for now. I plan to change the motor to a big bang configuration but that’s as far as my wallet will stretch.
Best regards and cheers for the cool website.
powagain says
whats the matter with you people.Your all tearing strips off this guy with your holyier than thou attitudes.dont see any of you so called critics comming up with such innovating designs and putting them into action,your all hudled together like sheep and sticking to proven formulars that others blazed a trail to achieve.I say good luck to all that are taking a risk to try and dare to be different.and at the end of the day,if it all goes tits up.we havent got to foot the bill.eh mr banking tosspots