Singles Hitters At the Plate In Europe

SINGLES HITTERS AT THE PLATE IN EUROPE

INCREASING INTEREST IN Singles racing has led three European companies to introduce new racebikes. Two of the firms will also build streetbikes based on the racers.

Bimota, Harris and Hejira, a small English racebike maker, are making or modifying bikes covering a broad range of sophistication.

Hejira is taking the hightechnology route, using connections with Formula One car racing teams to improve its racing Single, says Doug Chittenden, Hejira’s head man. There’s a street version in the works, too. Current plans call for a full replica in the $30,000 range, with a steel-framed version in the $15,000 range.

Much of the bike already exists, with a carbon-fiber frame and wheels, and some in-house parts in a Rotax engine. Some of the planned advances, like plastic engine components, may break new ground for motorcycles, but they are nothing new for the four-wheeled world. The transition is being paved by Chittenden’s contacts at F-1 and Indycar shops.

“Some of the people at those places like bikes and are personal friends,” he says. “They look at motorcycle work as a hobby, so they do that at night.”

Harris is taking a simpler, less expensive approach, using a stock 600cc Rotax engine and a chrome-moly space frame for its $9000 bike. Versions will also be offered with Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda and BMW power.

A BMW engine will propel Bimota’s two new Singles. The street version uses a stock 650cc engine fitted with Bimota’s own TDD/Weber fuel-injection system, while the racebike gets Bimota cams, valves, piston and connecting rod. Those goodies will also be available in kit form.

Robert Hough