The 180 horsepower 1250cc supercharged version of the V-Roehr Superbike looks like it will be going ahead for 2008. Roehr announced today they’ve acquired a financial partner which will give them the necessary funding to complete development and begin production next year.
The Harley Davidson Revolution powered sport bike looks very interesting and seeing this small U.S. company turning out a 180 horsepower corner carver is definitely a positive development. I’m looking forward to seeing these on the road.
Press release follows:
Gurnee, Illinois. December 10, 2007. Roehr Motorcycles LLC is pleased to announce the acquisition of a financial partnership. This partnership provides the capital necessary to complete final development and begin production of the V-Roehr 1250SC Superbike in mid 2008.
The V-Roehr production version will feature a specially developed 180hp, supercharged version of the 1250cc Harley-Davidson* Revolution* engine. State-of-the-art Rotrex supercharger technology is employed, allowing a very light weight and compact system, providing an extremely powerful yet manageable power delivery.
The V-Roehr 1250SC will feature Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes with radially mounted front calipers, wheels from Marchesini. and body work in Carbon Fiber. Additional features include, a single-sided swingarm, combined with a raising rate rear suspension linkage.
The V-Roehr 1250SC promises to deliver quality and performance in a truly modern, exclusive and exhilarating American thoroughbred. The V-Roehr 1250SC will have an estimated retail price of $44,995.00
Roehr Motorcycles will begin accepting escrow deposits to reserve your machine beginning in January 2008.
Ryan says
Ok, I like the idea of an American sport bike…..but
Ducati – type styling (by that I mean that people will look at it and think it’s some weird looking Ducati), a little more HP than a Ducati (and no more the Jap 100’s) and $45k.
taxman says
this is an attractive bike. but i think that the new Buell 1125R is probably a better buy for this category.
hoyt says
cool deal ! Congratulations & best wishes.
sanglant says
What’s really sad is if you look at what this bike was back when it first broke cover as a prototype with a 900+cc engine. It weighed about 100 lbs less and cost less than the HD powered version and was a real sporting weapon. It had basically the power of a gsxr750 with an even power curve and 50 lbs less weight.
Now, it’s just another curiosity. Even ignoring the price and judging purely on ability, there’s no compelling reason to buy this bike over any of the liter bikes or the 1098, or even the 1125. Factor in the price, and it becomes a pretty laughable machine.
D says
American power is great but like so many others the first thing I think is Ducati wanna-be. I’m sure it will be a great bike, but for half the price you can get a canyon carver that is more refined and has a stronger history. Not to mention Italian sex on two wheels!
tom w. says
I can’t see them selling a lot of these at that price, but hopefully they can sell enough to survive and work on a next generation version.
This is the first time I’ve heard it would be supercharged and 180 HP. Was that reported earlier and I just missed it, or is that new info?
180 sounds optimistic to me, but I guess at this stage they’re better to play it up and get some interest than report a more realistic number that may not get much attention.
tom w. says
I just went back to re-read the previous article and saw that one mentioned power could be as high as 180 with available upgrades.
Can anyone from Roehr comment if the 180 will be available on the base model, or will that require some kind of upgrade kit?
Mark L. says
As an insider on the V-Rohr project, I can tell you that the 180HP is a realistic emissions certified rear wheel number. It is not a number that was made up to “get some interest”.
On releasing the information before: After much discussion internally, it was not previously released since the decision had not been made on engine changes and power level when Allen Cathcart flew over from the UK to spend a day on the bike, and as such, the standard numbers were used.
On the different models: Originally it was considered to have 2 models, but finally decided that the bike needed to stand out on performance as well as the merit of being American made. There is only one model, it is supercharged, and has Mag wheels, Brembos, Ohlins, Carbon bodywork, etc.
(I personally like the Carbon Fiber wheels but it is not my project or company!)
On the subject of Ducati wanna-be: This was never intended to compete with a particular motorcycle or motorcycle company, rather it one mans dream to build the best performing American made motorcycle that he could.
The world has many examples like this, the MV at $ 120,000, the Desmosedeici at $ 72,000, the Bimota Tesi at $ 65,000 and soon, the V-Rohr at
$ 45,000.
Of those listed above, they are all driven by passion, not by someone justifying a performance per dollar value.
Also of those listed above, Only the Desmosedeici outperforms the V-Rohr in the engine department, and not by much.
But understand that none of these bikes are about numbers. They are each and every one about the passion of one company or person, and they build their ultimate expression, and offer to share it with you at whatever price tag they hang on it.
You could no doubt take a GSXR1000 and turbocharge it, and have substantially more power than a Desmosedeici, but you still have a GSXR1000.
As far as the RV1000 prototype from a few years ago at 100HP and 325 lbs, it was a beautiful bike, but with a Swedish Highland motor and performance that was about the same as a GSXR750 of the time, it did not sell.
VERY few of you know that Walter’s first bike was a twin crank 500cc 2-stroke engine(Cast by Walter himself). A bike that weighed less than 325lbs, and produced 102HP at the rear wheel BEFORE any engine development, and would wipe up most sport bikes of less than 1000cc.
Again, not what the real world wanted.
I have seen more of the V-Rohr than anyone else except Walter, and in my personal opinion, what he has accomplished is amazing, and I honestly beleive and hope that someday down the road we will see motorcycles with his name on the Tank and the engine.
Please keep in mind that these comments and opinions are MINE ONLY.
No one has reviewed them, so take your negative stuff out on me, not on the guy who has the tenacity to accomplish what the rest of us talk about doing.
Enough said.
Mark L.
kneeslider says
I like this bike. I also like any company started by someone with a desire to build something and the drive to see it through. I really like the idea of a blown 180 horsepower V-twin in a sport bike package. I admire the persistence necessary to overcome the regulatory red tape encountered in a project like this.
For those who say “it costs too much,” it’s true,… for others, maybe not.
For those who say “there’s no market for it,” it’s also true, others in the market may disagree.
There’s a very old saying, “Those who say it can’t be done should never stand in the way of someone who’s doing it.”
I wish Roehr all the best in this and I hope they succeed. Go for it, guys!
sanglant says
Kneeslider, I hope Roehr succeeds, too. I know about the early two strokes that the company developed (when it was little more than a small custom shop). Unfortunately, those bikes, and the smaller, lighter Roehr are the bikes I liked, and where I hope the soul of the company goes. I hope he succeeds and sells these bikes so he can make the bikes that attracted interest in the first place.
All American is a noble idea, but even the Revolution engine isn’t all American, so any purity of the project is dead from the start. That leaves an engine that is simply too heavy and too slow for a real performance bike, on the track. This bike has sold its heart to chase dollars and the “market.”
The bikes that Mark L. mentions exist because they sold performance or novel engineering. The MV won the Master Bike shootout, the Ducati is the MotoGP lust bike, the Tesi uses hub steering and a swingarm front end. Bimota for years existed by using a good engine and building a better chassis. Which one of those things does this version of the Roehr do? It’s not going to beat the top flight competition, there is no track connection, and it doesn’t bring any single, overarching design to the fore.
This bike seems like the Fischer; a wonderful concept at the start that somehow became polluted before it made it to the public.
Brian says
The late Evel Knievel used to say “it’s far better to take a chance in life and to win a victory or suffer defeat, even if you’re checkered by failure, than it is to live in a grey twilight and never know a victory or defeat because you never had the chance or the guts to try either.”
How ’bout the saying “a critic is a gong at a railroad crossing that clangs loudly as the train goes by. Or in this case, “roehr-ing” by.
aaron says
so what kind of financing? what kind of production? is this along the lines of ecosse and confederate, where annual production is likely measured in the tens? will production bikes mirror the prototype, with lessons learned applied to the next build? or will an assembly line of sorts go up, with any model changes limited to semi-annual redesigns? will any variations be offered? a budget version or a naked bike?
good luck to them, regardless of what happens.
aaron says
someone with the money to buy either the bimota, ducati, or roehr likely does not care about how practical the purchase is. they see something they think they will enjoy and then they buy it. many rich people have no taste, class, or smarts – sad but true. I conclude this rant with a quote from a bentley review by Dan Neil.
“Some may regard these marginal increases in performance metrics not worth the GT Speed’s price premium, but these people have tiny yachts you can’t even land a helicopter on.”
sanglant says
Brian, how about Don Quixote and tilting at windmills as a saying, too? ; )
Aside from the simple uniqueness of the bike, what is it’s attraction again in the current form that can’t be found elsewhere?
Dodgy says
The marketing guy in me thinks they need to be a recognised ‘marque’ before they try to sell ‘the ultimate (American) motorcycle’. (Fischer tried to promote a very similar spec (Suspension, brakes, supercharging) in the early days, and sadly it seems to have become a Hyosung with different bodywork.)
It also seems to me that the very things that set this bike apart from ‘the rest’, are very generic. All top line sportbikes have similar components, Brembos, Ohlins etc. and CF bodywork can be made for anything. The engine is a standard unit (designed by Porsche for HD?) with a supercharger tacked on. To me, that doesn’t make it interesting.
So, who will buy it?
Jay Leno gets a mention…
Maybe this bike is a ‘celebrity’ bike, to be sold to celebrities, who aim to have one of everything?
It’s a collection of nice bits, a custom in many ways.
kneeslider says
If, as Dodgy says, Roehr is “a collection of nice bits” and “All top line sportbikes have similar components, Brembos, Ohlins etc.” then what could be said about Bimota?
Roehr, builds a frame and bodywork using someone else’s engine and a “collection of nice bits.” Bimota does the same thing.
Roehr is a company building a motorcycle in the vision of Walter Roehr, Bimota builds on the vision of Massimo Tamburini along with Guiseppe Morri.
Roehr is not built to satisfy the widest possible market group, same as Bimota.
If Roehr is not an American company because the engine was designed to some degree by Porsche, is Bimota not Italian because they have used BMW, Yamaha and Kawasaki engines?
Would everyone criticizing Roehr have done the same of Bimota if they were starting up today?
Am I saying Roehr is equal to Bimota? Absolutely not, but if Bimota were starting up today, Bimota would not be the equal of Bimota! You have to begin somewhere and Roehr is just beginning.
I have no connection with Roehr Motorcycles, nor do I personally know Walter Roehr, but isn’t it better to give him a chance to build his bike and let the market decide whether or not it will succeed rather than presume to know what the market will say? Will Roehr become a well known motorcycle in the future or another company that tried and failed? I have no idea, … and neither does anyone else.
chris says
I’d like to see Roehr succeed to create a new niche market. Obviously there’s talent there, and the talent should grow into something else with a little perseverance. I’m not sure of the business plan, but some people strive to not be a big company, but a great company with a quality product.
I hope to see them produce a competetive
therock says
as would say kramer, the resemblance in uncanny, to a 999 that is.
If anything, he’s doing what erik buell said couldn’t be done, and that is putting the vrod engine in a sports bike.
someone is lying here and I’m putting my money on the underdog, roehr.
I agree with roehr that a us made sportsbike has to be a reality, however I think they’re going about it the wrong way.
Forget vtwins, inline4, inline3… how about inventing a brand new engine like a v7 or inline 5 or a cubic 4. the usa has put men on the moon, surely a measly little tiny engine (that probably looks like a spec of dust from space) can’t be that hard.
what about resuscitating the v5 since honda dropped it from the rc212v.
and the bodywork, please drop the 999 theme, it’s old and ugly.
hyosung use it. I reckon use rectangular lights like the 70s cop cars, stack them vertically or horizontally, that would be cool.
still, respect for doing it though.
Ry says
I would like mine built with no paint, just the carbon body and maybe a couple of stripes. looking sexy…
chris says
continued….(I hit enter by mistake)
sanglant says
Kneeslider, a few points:
Roehr makes a big deal about being *American* while Bimota doesn’t trumpet being innately Italian. The only thing Italian they promote is their styling, which is truly Italian. The Roehr company’s website’s first plug is “American Muscle” and “Born in the USA”.
Rotrex supercharger – Dutch
Marchesini rims – Italian
Brembo brakes – Italian
Ohlins suspenstion – Swedish/Japanese
These aren’t obscure parts like a kickstand spring to be nitpicky about, they are the company’s own advertising leaders. At least with Buell’s Ulyess they’ve backed off the jingoism and embraced it being a “world bike” with parts sourced from everywhere.
Also, Bimota used *good* engines to start with, and built better a chassis. If Roehr were using a KTM 990, or even an RC51 engine, and backed off the flag waving, I think the response would be different. Of course, then he’d be basically an American Bimota, so I’d guess there would be criticism the other way, too.
You said, “but isn’t it better to give him a chance to build his bike and let the market decide whether or not it will succeed?” Who is running up to the factory with locks and torches? He’s free to build what he wants.
“Will Roehr become a well known motorcycle in the future or another company that tried and failed? I have no idea, … and neither does anyone else.”
True, I don’t know the future. However, I can pretty well guess what will happen. This bike will fail, just as the Dreer’s Norton’s failed, and a dozen other bikes like it have failed. I don’t say this with malice, but with a logical appraisal. I don’t think you truly believe I’m wrong.
Brian says
Fortunately, nay-sayers are just fuel for dreamers.
kneeslider says
“I have an idea, let’s give it a try.â€
“It will never work, it’s a waste of time.â€
I choose number 1.
taxman says
I’m open minded enough to wait and see what happens. But I’m not very impressed with the price of the bike. They are aiming for a low number of sales with a high dollar sale price. I would prefer a more practical price and getting more of them on the road. Not all bikes are going to be industry leaders performance-wise. That’s not what everything is about.
I like the comment that “therock†made. Using a new engine style. My humble opinion is that a nice V8 bike would go over really well here in the US. Something like the drysdale V8 bike, it’s very interesting and would appeal to people wanting a “muscle bikeâ€. The price is still a little higher than what I could afford but maybe with enough interest (and sales) production numbers would increase and price would come down to a more joe average availability.
I wish the best of luck to any bike builder/manufacturer. If only everyone’s ideas could succeed.
greer says
I don’t understand all the resentment to this bike being referred to as “American”. Who cares that it has some foreign components? Really what is the point of complaining where each part came from? The bike was still designed and manufactured in america(which is the hardest part), and to me that makes it an american motorcycle. What is this guy supposed to do, create his own wheel, suspension, supercharger, and hardware company just so some people will consider it truly american? My guess is that they would just find something else to complain about.
Not that I necessarily think this is a great bike, I think its main problem is that its just not over the top enough. Like people have already mentioned it looks like a weird ducati, so it has no real identity. People in the market to spend 50k on a bike are generally going to want to something mainly just looks really cool. One of the problems with this bike(and same with fischer), is that by the time its finally making it to production its styling is already dated. But, whatever, I still give the guy props for making it this far. Producing brand new bodywork is one of the most expensive and time consuming parts of any bike(how many custom bikes have you seen with original one off full fairings?), and when your a very small operation you can’t just restyle your bike on a whim. Anyway I wish this guy the best of luck, hopefully he’ll sell a few of these and one day make a amercan bike that truly sets itself apart.
ROHORN says
“Bimota used *good* engines to start with, and built better a chassis. If Roehr were using a KTM 990, or even an RC51 engine, and backed off the flag waving, I think the response would be different.”
First, those engines already come in good chassis, don’t they? What sort of idiot would want that? Oh wait, that would be Mondial. Or that “Vincent”. They sure got far. And you are giving marketing advice?
What is wrong with the VRod engine? Yeah, it is big and heavy. BFD – the bike isn’t big and heavy – and people ride bikes (or keyboards, I suspect) – they don’t carry engines around. The 1250SC weighs 5 lbs LESS than the Vee Two Super Squalo. They cost about the same. Where were you when that bike was posted? Or is it just a Pavlovian response to anything American?
There have been several reviews in print of this bike – none of the writers engage in any “monkeyshines” with any of the “points” you are making. None. Guess who I find credible, Kevin Cameron, Alan Cathcart, or….anonymous cowards on forums & blogs?
Why would anyone want the ‘vette anyway? It is just powered by an overweight truck motor, way overpriced, and has no soul. Sort of like that undesirable Cobra 427SC……
An exotic supercharged American twin American sportbike should sell – I hope they do. Compared to the prices of similarly built cars, it is a bargain.
sanglant says
To those that are taking issue with me, would any of you care to make a gentleman’s wager on the success of this bike? If you do, send me an email through thekneeslider.com (they should have all the parties addresses) and we’ll set something up.
Jeff in MD says
50K How many Jay Lennos are in the world ? Make mine a Buell . Good luck I hope they can make it work .
ROHORN says
sanglant,
Publish your email address – just Like everyone else here who puts their money, time, and effort where their mouths are.
forest,
Where’s the facts behind your parts availability opinion? Not comparisons or trends, but facts, please. And which parts are you taking about anyway?
Richard says
Best wishes to Roehr on this machine. It’s too expensive for my retired wallet, but it might be just what some other (fairly wealthy) people want. Thanks to Mark L. for the insider’s point of view.
BTW, it doesn’t take a Jay Leno to buy a $45,000 dollar bike. Lots of people have that much cash they’d like to spend on something for themselves, if they could just find the right “something”. This could be it for some of them.
Jeff in MD says
Not in this economy 🙂
John says
Of the naysayers in this group I wonder what they have ever accomplished to be so critcal,probably not much
Colin says
Honestly, with any new product entering the lineup in a well-established marketplace, differentiation of the said product is a must if it is ever to see a continuing life. This motorcycle, although being a focus of one man’s passion and enthusiasm for motorcycles, sings nothing different than what is already available for me to purchase for a fracture of the price.
In my humble opinion it looks like a mash-up of Hyosung and Ducati parts. It doesn’t communicate anything special or “American” to me. The only thing that is remotely “American” is the engine. When people look at a motorcycle, specifically even this one, it wont portray an American motorcycle. Infact I can guarantee no one will say its an American designed machine. Nothing about it is unique to itself, or to its country.
I am not against the manufacturing or the price of this bike. Good luck to Roehr in being successful of the sale of this bike. I wish him the best.
Just my two cents.
Hugo says
A lot of people are making the remark that for that kind of money you can buy this or that or whatever…Roehr already invested a lot of money in the project and getting that money back is normal in the business world. When you built a few bikes then the bike will automatically be more expensive. Taste is personal so there will be people who will buy it and others don’t. For sure if the design would be different then it would have more of an identity (like for instance the Crocket) but that is something which can be done. Most important is the machines rides and rides well which is what it is about. Changing the design is peanuts compared to that. It is strange that when people show something there are always a lot of people seeming envious of jalous and stating they will not make it. For what reason? Just let everybody have it’s fun and let’s cross our thumbs Roehr makes a succesfull product out of it because if he makes money for sure he will built another bike like the first ones he made. And nowaday nothing is “American” or “German”. All companies buy their products globally…nothing new about that
Ry says
WOW! the cup isn’t half empty here is it.
Dodgy says
“… what could be said about Bimota?
Roehr, builds a frame and bodywork using someone else’s engine and a “collection of nice bits.†Bimota does the same thing.”
From Bimota’s website “If Massimo Tamburini had not crashed his Honda 750 Four at the Misano racetrack in September 1972 the legend that is now Bimota might never have existed. After recuperating from three broken ribs he sets about the construction of a tubular steel frame to cope with the horsepower being produced by the engines of the big Japanese manufacturers.”
Back in 1972 none of the Japanese bikes handled or stopped like they should have, and gave Bimota an ‘excuse’ to exist.
From the Roehr website: “In 1995, company founder, Walter Roehrich set out to build his ultimate street bike. It needed to be light weight, powerful and above all handle like a current GP bike.
The desire to take on this challenging project grew from Walter Roehrich’s love and passion for the motorcycle and a desire to express his idea’s and build a unique bike that was not available from current manufacturers.”
Did Walter Roehrich have any history on, or with “current GP” bikes? Who is this guy? Did he find something really lacking in the bikes available at the time, and does he really believe he is improving on what is available now?
“Roehr is a company building a motorcycle in the vision of Walter Roehr, Bimota builds on the vision of Massimo Tamburini along with Guiseppe Morri.”
Who?
“Roehr is not built to satisfy the widest possible market group, same as Bimota.”
But Bimota started building racebikes, and actually had to prove it’s point, Roehr has not done this.
“If Roehr is not an American company because the engine was designed to some degree by Porsche, is Bimota not Italian because they have used BMW, Yamaha and Kawasaki engines?”
Roehr’s Mission Statement: “The Roehr Motorcycles LLC will become the premier builder of American made sports and racing motorcycles, passionately committed to producing beautifully designed high performance Sportbikes made in the USA.” and “Born in the USA” (Maybe us Kneesliderati have missed some of the point)
Fair enough, but I think using the word “will” is brave, and exactly where are they going to race the things? Where are the results? (Maybe everybody should consider the racing ‘history’ of Motoczyxz, and HD with Aermacchi?)
“Would everyone criticizing Roehr have done the same of Bimota if they were starting up today?”
I don’t think Bimota would have started today in the same way they did, if Tamburini had crashed today I doubt he could have blamed an ill-handling bike. (and maybe Bimota has a small place in making the current generation so good?)
“Am I saying Roehr is equal to Bimota? Absolutely not, but if Bimota were starting up today, Bimota would not be the equal of Bimota! You have to begin somewhere and Roehr is just beginning.”
But why?
“I have no connection with Roehr Motorcycles, nor do I personally know Walter Roehr (sic), but isn’t it better to give him a chance to build his bike and let the market decide whether or not it will succeed rather than presume to know what the market will say? Will Roehr become a well known motorcycle in the future or another company that tried and failed? I have no idea, … and neither does anyone else.”
As I assume none of us can afford one of his bikes, and if we could we would (all?) buy something else, I doubt he will succeed. I also doubt he will use this forum as a reference on whether or not to continue trying. But like so many before, maybe he should take a long hard look at himself…
kneeslider says
Walter Roehr … Walter Roehrich, …(oops)
See, I told you I didn’t know him 🙂
kneeslider says
Dodgy,
… along with Guiseppe Morri
“Who?”
BIMOTA
“BI”anchi “MO”rri “TA”mburini
—-
“I think using the word “will” is brave”
Never start a company and use the word “might.”
—-
… Roehr is just beginning.
“But why?”
Why is he beginning? Why does anyone begin anything? Because he wants to, why not?
Dodgy says
Obviously there are similarities between Bimota. One is that the ideas guys were helped by business partners. Bianchi left Bimota early, and Morri was the finance/marketing guy AFAIK. Roehrich is probably a capable engineer, and has to work with the money guys too.
But Bimota has been in and out of financial difficulty for years, and as much as they still build beautiful high performance bikes, so does everybody else…
If only the Japanese still made overpowered junk?
If only the Italians still made beautiful, but fragile junk?
There are plenty of bikes I would like to have, I can’t justify or afford most of them. Sorry, but a Roehr doesn’t make my shortlist. Anyone, anyone???
kneeslider says
I think we’re done here, comments are now closed.