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I read an article about a year ago about a MotoGP effort being started in Portland, OR with the opportunity to get on the distribution list. I think I was one of the first couple of hundred. Since then I get sporadic email announcements regarding the progress of the project. Well, I received another today and figured I’d give them a plug since their media mechanisms are online now.

The bike has a name already - MOTOCZYSZ (man if Scrabble only allowed for proper nouns). It the obvious combination of the word motorcycle and the founder / president Michael Czysz’s last name. I say obvious in hindsight, but I won’t dare to try to pronounce it. Fortunately for those if us who are not worldly, it also has a short name - the C1. Even a dumbass like me can get that right!

Instead of pretending I know a lot about Czysz, and paraphrase another’s work, I’m simply going to use the summary from a RoadRacing World article from January ‘05. The pdf of the entire article is here.

“Michael Czysz is a true believer. He is a motorcycle racer, competing in AMA 250cc Grand Prix and Formula Xtreme, and has also raced cars. He is a successful architect, with a well-known architectural firm of his own, Architropolis. And, inspired by the work of the late John Britten, Czysz has designed his own motorcycle, plans to race MotoGP and Superbike versions, and hopes to ultimately sell a street version. Like Britten, Czysz has created a motocycle with unique design features.”

I have to give a golf clap to a guy, any guy, who has a law-abiding dream and sees it through. Some may say that its easier for him due to his success, but not me. If you read the RRW article from the link above, his love of the sport and the desire to make a difference by (hopefully) contributing to the next leap in sportbike technology.

Here are two of the many potential breakthroughs features the bike is showcasing with the descriptions directly from the MotoCzysz Website:

The Engine
“The MotoCzysz power plant is true MotoGP breakthrough technology. This revolutionary engine nearly eliminates gyroscopic and torque forces, both of which have significant adverse effects on the way a motorcycle handles. The engine also has nearly perfect balance in both the primary and secondary forces, and achieves this without the use of a counterbalance shaft. So ingenious is the packaging, that the engine is a mere 6.5″ wide, the same width as the rear tire.”

Although the handling (specifically the transitions from side to side) were raved about by Chris Ulrich of RoadRacing World after his ride, he claimed the bike was a little down on power. Horsepower numbers and other performance data were not published. I would be very curious to know peak Hp, torque, actual weight, and top speed.

The Front Forks
“Motorcycle forks have long been the favorite component for the manufacturer with alternative ideas to pursue. However none to date has been able to duplicate, or exceed the success of the standard telescopic fork- until now. MotoCzysz has developed what some industry insiders are calling “possibly the most advanced front end in the business”. Cycle World says, “Stability is supreme, feedback phenomenal, grip never in question.” MotoCzysz’s evolution of the telescopic fork may just be the new benchmark that the “new” ideas will need to exceed.”

Since not many details are available with regards to specific goals and/or deadlines, its difficult to tell if this project will get to MotoGP or not. Given what I have read about Michael Czysz and the hurdles that the C1 has already overcome, things look promising. If not MotoGP, at least some of the sportbike manufacturers will take note of the innovations.

I bleed red, white, and blue. For me, this is exciting. Heck, I was secretly rooting for Harley Davidson when the VR1000 was mounted by Scott Ru$$el in the AMA Superbike series. Imagine the impact that the C1 would have on the American race fans. I think an American entry is just what we need to generate the true kind of fan(atic) that Europe enjoys. Will the Motoczysz get to MotoGP…only time and money will tell.

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