As an engineer by trade, it's a fascinating motorcycle and all of the alternate routes the company has taken to achieve something takes a lot of time to understand to even an appreciable degree, as compared to conventional wisdom and understanding about the conventional route that motorcycles have taken for a long time.
Yes, yes, yes! This was an absolutely superb look into a super rare and super interesting bike. Chris pitched it fantastically with a deep dive into the tech side and genuine questions into what could have been and why. Really really enjoyed this. Thank you Chris and thank you The Bike Specialist for letting us all enjoy these bikes!
Haven’t even had the time to press play on my screen and I want to thank you for making this video. I’m a former SB8R owner and a huge Bimota fan-there is so little information out there about Bimotas, any Bimotas really, and this one is one of the most special and interesting!
This reminds me of the Britton too. Really cool a story behind that bike, all handmade all proprietary design, one man engineering team, John Britton himself and he had no motorcycling background.
Thanks for the technical explanation at the end. I've been intrigued by these hub-centre steered bikes ever since watching Ron Haslam on the Elf Honda back in the 80s. That ran a single-sided front arm I think and I seem to remember that Ron was regularly running out of ground clearance and decking the front arm.
What a bike! Thanks Chris for the carefully-considered analysis, particularly concerning hub-centre steering. This technology clearly has much to offer and it would be a shame to see it disappear just because it is 'not like telescopic forks'.
Great looking bike with an interesting technical story. I love the idea of technicians constantly trying to improve on the basic ideas. Just because one way has worked doesn't mean you shouldn't try different ideas! Thank you for sharing!
I was ten when I first saw this bike...it was some sort of event that took place at Vallelunga circuit (near Rome). I was blown away! The look, the sound of this machine...it was vicious! Really looked like a robot from a galaxy far far away...
She's stunningly beautiful in every regard - t'was love at first sight for me! Like you said Chris, it wasn't built to be different for the sake of being different, it was engineered to perform better in every regard to convention, & engineered to be better by the very people who were best suited to extract "better" out of every milligram of mass comprising the Vyrus! P.S. @ 7:16 did you notice the old bill van you passed going the opposite direction with, at the very least, 5 vehicles stuck behind it as nobody had the balls to initiate the first overtake irrespective of the asphalt not having solid whites hahaha - that made me chuckle man. Can't express my gratitude enough for you continuing to bring us top tier motobike related content & this 'Dream Rides' mini series is rapidly becoming very close to some of my favourite MC vids uploaded to YT. Thanks a million Chris & team! (mate, we all appreciate & try to "support the companies that support you's", but geographically it isn't always possible to do so pal, so I say that to say, please consider setting up either a Bike World or Chris Northover Patreon page, I'll be the first in line to chip in a few quid each month as a gesture of appreciation for the phenomenal entertainment value you provide to me, effectively for free)... at least give it a 2nd or 3rd consideration if you have previously dismissed it out of hand, plus I know for a fact that I'm not the only one that feels this way! Either way, thanks again & keep doing what you love dude, it radiates through the internet & onto my TV and it's inspirational & infectious to all us moto enthusiasts, be us UK or continental Europe based! All the best pal! 👊
Fantastic video as always. If I won the lottery I'd have one, no question. You can discuss the pros and cons all day, which for the average road rider is, probably, negligible. To me it is cool AF. I remember they made a moto2 prototype but no-one took it on, imagine a 2023 version with a 765 triple engine 🤤
What an awesome machine .... from an engineering perspective it is extremely aesthetically pleasing and so interesting to look at. I'd have one if I could afford one.
What was that blinking green light on the dash? Also, didn't Bradley Ray race the Moto 2 Vyrus (with the Honda 600 motor) in the Spanish CEV series a few years back?
Thanks Chris, fascinating stuff! Any chance you can find a Yamaha GTS 1000 to test? I think it’s the only mainstream bike ever to make it into production with the same “funny front end” as the Vyrus.
A really interesting bit of kit. Nonetheless hub centre steering seems to have always added complexity where it really wasn't required. Especially on the road. However top marks for making a unique motorcycle.
Please ride the motoinno motorcycle too and the vyrus M2 CBR 600 RR version with the latest steering system. It's even better without the steering flex.
Always intrigued me this and the hossack front end maybe they could run all the paramètres requirements and existing qualities thru some super computers and c what they come up with I think the directness of the contact between riders hands and action of the télés on the rd gives them certain advantages technology moves pretty quickly so who knows ?
Love these bikes reminds me of the britten v1000 similar unconventional thinking and lightweight design would have 1 in a heart beat if I had the money
Imagine the Vyrus with a brand new Ducati V4 engine with 220 bhp? Id shit my pants riding it, which I already do riding a regular V4! Bloody hell, a technical orgie in design and manufacturing, a masterpiece
It's a cool engineering exercise, but as a fan of simplicity and lightness, the front steering/suspension setup doesn't make much practical sense to me.
I've got no problems with it. So long as there's no battery on it for more than turning it over and the electronics, I'd ride it! I'd say there's less stress in that front end than a conventional system. That front end is very industrial and since it's a kingpin, it's a durable axle too. It's looking the same front end as a 4x4, minus one axle housing and another tire. Interesting bike to think about, thanks to the owner who shared it!
I remember Ruben xaus testing a vyrus Moto2 bike and it being quicker than the normal moto2 bike....but like everything else, if it's different then people just write it off....
Have to say it’s certainly marmite. My mate loves it but the shape of it and the radiator on the side hanging there exposed and on show. That horrific swingarm. That front end. It’s certainly rare but it’s a dogs dinner 😂 Very cool though thanks for the video ❤
I'm sorry but didn't you mention that that was a Ducati motor in the beginning? I'm not going to rewatch to figure that out but I did hear that. I'm sure it's been heavily modified. Damn sure hope so. All that being said it is a really cool looking bike. It took a lot of time and effort to make something so special. I can give it it's just do. However, remember this. I ride a CBR with a Red Bull body kit on it. The body kit was like 800 bucks. It looks so convincing that I can't beat pretty much anybody off with a stick if I stop. And above and beyond that I was actually waved into a Christmas parade while trying to pass it....by a police officer that thought I was a REAL red Bull rider and then I had to do all sorts of tricks while people cheered. It's a Red Bull "looking" bike. I can do some pretty cool stunts. But the bike was never meant to do that. Or at least I didn't build it to do that. The body kit was like cheap and I liked it. so just because something looks cool doesn't mean the mechanics are next level. If it still has the same damn motor every other MotoGP bike has then it's just the same damn piece of crap with a fancy dress on
It must quite frustrating ( altho I could probably put up with it if you wanna day off😂) You get these Amazing bikes and then they go... oh the tyres are a bit sketchy.
I can feel that this motorbike is special. From the sound to the design... there's nothing conventional! 70s and 80s experimentation in the 21st century!
I absolutely like it. I wouldn't say I love it. But if it works well that's all that matters to me. Except for price that matters to me too. I can tell it's way too expensive for me. I can be happy on a much lesser the bike
I've always been a fan of this bike and the bimota tesi before it, although, a bit more riding footage would have been nice, there's not much decent videos of bikes like this, as for the old tyres, the owner should know better than that...🤦
Chris Northover, Ari Henning and Zack Courts are the best journalists in the motorbike-world, they truly have passion and they make wonders sharing that. Give them a Top Gear spinoff but on 2 wheels
I had never seen one of these... it says I'm weird, and LOVE it. Would I want one? No. Problems? That tank is a hip breaker - I would never consider such a radically squared element for a riding experience. Museum show piece/concept? Absolutely.
I'm a little disappointed that you didn't mention anything about those trick-looking carbon brakes. How do they work? Need heat? Crazy expensive? Guess no ABS?
Once upon a time all the top bikes needed finesse, skills and some balls or you would be punished. Now so many bikes are too easy to ride. I'm not complaining about progress, no. But it masks the skills needed to jump from bike to bike And still know what you're doing
At the end of the day a motorcycle for me must be visually appealing first , then I can deal with all the rest of its quirks after, the virus is just parts with no visual design concept apparent to me .
So all your steering input goes through that small joint, if that thing breaks off then you're screwed, I don't know how strong that thing is, but it wouldn't inspire me with confidence.
Why a 'radical' front suspension setup but a conventional rear end? Minimum would have been a single-sided swingarm... the sum of it's parts do not match-up imo..
As an engineer by trade, it's a fascinating motorcycle and all of the alternate routes the company has taken to achieve something takes a lot of time to understand to even an appreciable degree, as compared to conventional wisdom and understanding about the conventional route that motorcycles have taken for a long time.
John Britton was unconventional, did it all in his garage and won races at an international level.
Yes, yes, yes! This was an absolutely superb look into a super rare and super interesting bike. Chris pitched it fantastically with a deep dive into the tech side and genuine questions into what could have been and why. Really really enjoyed this. Thank you Chris and thank you The Bike Specialist for letting us all enjoy these bikes!
As always, Chris' enthusiasm is infectious...
Haven’t even had the time to press play on my screen and I want to thank you for making this video. I’m a former SB8R owner and a huge Bimota fan-there is so little information out there about Bimotas, any Bimotas really, and this one is one of the most special and interesting!
Thanks for watching
This reminds me of the Britton too. Really cool a story behind that bike, all handmade all proprietary design, one man engineering team, John Britton himself and he had no motorcycling background.
Thanks for the technical explanation at the end. I've been intrigued by these hub-centre steered bikes ever since watching Ron Haslam on the Elf Honda back in the 80s. That ran a single-sided front arm I think and I seem to remember that Ron was regularly running out of ground clearance and decking the front arm.
I've had the pleasure of using a bimota tese 3d 2015 and after a time to understand it. Hub center steering is sublime.
As a bike mechanic I love it.❤
Thanks Bike World, what a great in-depth look at a unique and special bike!
Can't honestly say I'v ever heard of Vyrus bikes untill now. I love it, thanks for sharing !!!!!!!
I loved the detailed technical review focusing the front suspension which makes this bike so unique
Carbon discs, dry break brake couplings, lap timer, suspension travel pot….. never seen the track in its life 😂
Well said Chris. Great review and insight into a fascinating bike 🤘
What a bike! Thanks Chris for the carefully-considered analysis, particularly concerning hub-centre steering. This technology clearly has much to offer and it would be a shame to see it disappear just because it is 'not like telescopic forks'.
Great looking bike with an interesting technical story. I love the idea of technicians constantly trying to improve on the basic ideas. Just because one way has worked doesn't mean you shouldn't try different ideas! Thank you for sharing!
username checks... nvm
Why not change the tires? Are they special edition too? Fantastic machine and I personally love the odd looks.
Never heard of vyrus before but you made me a fan. Down the rabbit hole I go
I was ten when I first saw this bike...it was some sort of event that took place at Vallelunga circuit (near Rome). I was blown away! The look, the sound of this machine...it was vicious! Really looked like a robot from a galaxy far far away...
I've never been jealous of another rider until now. Love this bike and one of my favorite engines.
She's stunningly beautiful in every regard - t'was love at first sight for me! Like you said Chris, it wasn't built to be different for the sake of being different, it was engineered to perform better in every regard to convention, & engineered to be better by the very people who were best suited to extract "better" out of every milligram of mass comprising the Vyrus!
P.S. @ 7:16 did you notice the old bill van you passed going the opposite direction with, at the very least, 5 vehicles stuck behind it as nobody had the balls to initiate the first overtake irrespective of the asphalt not having solid whites hahaha - that made me chuckle man.
Can't express my gratitude enough for you continuing to bring us top tier motobike related content & this 'Dream Rides' mini series is rapidly becoming very close to some of my favourite MC vids uploaded to YT.
Thanks a million Chris & team! (mate, we all appreciate & try to "support the companies that support you's", but geographically it isn't always possible to do so pal, so I say that to say, please consider setting up either a Bike World or Chris Northover Patreon page, I'll be the first in line to chip in a few quid each month as a gesture of appreciation for the phenomenal entertainment value you provide to me, effectively for free)... at least give it a 2nd or 3rd consideration if you have previously dismissed it out of hand, plus I know for a fact that I'm not the only one that feels this way!
Either way, thanks again & keep doing what you love dude, it radiates through the internet & onto my TV and it's inspirational & infectious to all us moto enthusiasts, be us UK or continental Europe based!
All the best pal! 👊
Lovely work
Amazing feat of engineering, super cool 😎 😎 love it 👌
Fantastic video as always. If I won the lottery I'd have one, no question. You can discuss the pros and cons all day, which for the average road rider is, probably, negligible. To me it is cool AF.
I remember they made a moto2 prototype but no-one took it on, imagine a 2023 version with a 765 triple engine 🤤
What an awesome machine .... from an engineering perspective it is extremely aesthetically pleasing and so interesting to look at. I'd have one if I could afford one.
Best bike reviewer ever!
Amazing video thank you
That is awesome. My personal grail is the 986 m2.
I don't want one, but I love that it exists!
Really great. Let’s celebrate difference.
That's feckin awesome ❤❤❤❤❤
I'm looking forward to see a Bimota model in this series ❤
What was that blinking green light on the dash? Also, didn't Bradley Ray race the Moto 2 Vyrus (with the Honda 600 motor) in the Spanish CEV series a few years back?
Awesome bike.
I'd heard of them before, never seen one though. How did you get on with the carbon disks ?
The Vyrus is an infectious ride...
Is the feel of that front similar to the r1200s or the gs ?
Thanks Chris, fascinating stuff! Any chance you can find a Yamaha GTS 1000 to test? I think it’s the only mainstream bike ever to make it into production with the same “funny front end” as the Vyrus.
That pink and black ZXR though 🥰
Have you gotten the Bimota shot for the latest Vyrus?
these things look amazing, just so wicked and functional at the same time. like something out of Akira
any chance on the 600cc one that was designed for MOTO 2
Chris you mentioned the RC8, will you be featuring one of those? cheers mate
Yep, that's the plan.
A really interesting bit of kit. Nonetheless hub centre steering seems to have always added complexity where it really wasn't required. Especially on the road. However top marks for making a unique motorcycle.
Unique motorcycle ❤
Did it still counter steer?
Please ride the motoinno motorcycle too and the vyrus M2 CBR 600 RR version with the latest steering system. It's even better without the steering flex.
Wouldn’t some Magnetti Marelli input sort the fueling issues !!?
Always intrigued me this and the hossack front end maybe they could run all the paramètres requirements and existing qualities thru some super computers and c what they come up with I think the directness of the contact between riders hands and action of the télés on the rd gives them certain advantages technology moves pretty quickly so who knows ?
I HAVE to try a hub centre front end bike one day 😁
Twin cam nutter
👍
Love these bikes reminds me of the britten v1000 similar unconventional thinking and lightweight design would have 1 in a heart beat if I had the money
It really aged well. I thought this was a brand new bike lol Its potentially ahead of its time.
Would be amazing to see a vídeo with the Bimota H2
I visited the factory in 2014 , I knew Ascanio there !!!
I love it! It's non conformist, it's doesn't follow the norm and I think we need more of that.
wow!
KTM is testing a carbon frame currently. And Pedrosa ran quite well with it.
Why you do this Chris!? I want a Vyrus now!
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Imagine the Vyrus with a brand new Ducati V4 engine with 220 bhp? Id shit my pants riding it, which I already do riding a regular V4! Bloody hell, a technical orgie in design and manufacturing, a masterpiece
whoa
i was wonder how Vyrus 988 tho, saw Moto Corse Japan have 2 unit displayed
A team called Metiss did the Bol d'Or this year in the experimental class with suchs a suspension systeem. Or atleast not a conventional system.
It's a cool engineering exercise, but as a fan of simplicity and lightness, the front steering/suspension setup doesn't make much practical sense to me.
I've got no problems with it. So long as there's no battery on it for more than turning it over and the electronics, I'd ride it! I'd say there's less stress in that front end than a conventional system. That front end is very industrial and since it's a kingpin, it's a durable axle too. It's looking the same front end as a 4x4, minus one axle housing and another tire. Interesting bike to think about, thanks to the owner who shared it!
Elite level engineering, what a pity MotoGP regs are so restrictive
I remember Ruben xaus testing a vyrus Moto2 bike and it being quicker than the normal moto2 bike....but like everything else, if it's different then people just write it off....
Have to say it’s certainly marmite. My mate loves it but the shape of it and the radiator on the side hanging there exposed and on show. That horrific swingarm. That front end. It’s certainly rare but it’s a dogs dinner 😂
Very cool though thanks for the video ❤
987 C3 4VV (Ducati-sourced 4-valve 1200 cm3 supercharged water cooled engine developing 211bhp) Now that one is scary!
I'm sorry but didn't you mention that that was a Ducati motor in the beginning? I'm not going to rewatch to figure that out but I did hear that. I'm sure it's been heavily modified. Damn sure hope so.
All that being said it is a really cool looking bike. It took a lot of time and effort to make something so special. I can give it it's just do.
However, remember this. I ride a CBR with a Red Bull body kit on it. The body kit was like 800 bucks. It looks so convincing that I can't beat pretty much anybody off with a stick if I stop. And above and beyond that I was actually waved into a Christmas parade while trying to pass it....by a police officer that thought I was a REAL red Bull rider and then I had to do all sorts of tricks while people cheered. It's a Red Bull "looking" bike. I can do some pretty cool stunts. But the bike was never meant to do that. Or at least I didn't build it to do that. The body kit was like cheap and I liked it. so just because something looks cool doesn't mean the mechanics are next level. If it still has the same damn motor every other MotoGP bike has then it's just the same damn piece of crap with a fancy dress on
Who does one engage in order to purchase one !?
The bike specialists
Made in Italy motorcycles….
It must quite frustrating ( altho I could probably put up with it if you wanna day off😂) You get these Amazing bikes and then they go... oh the tyres are a bit sketchy.
Vyrus should put a Triumph on the Moto GP 2 grid to prove the technology against a conventional chassis.
I can feel that this motorbike is special. From the sound to the design... there's nothing conventional! 70s and 80s experimentation in the 21st century!
10:47 jeez, looks like a modern bike. Looks like something Keanu Reeves made. Surprised to hear it's from 08
Is it rare than Britten v1000?
No.
Absolutely not
Are you joking, there are only two Britten’s in existence….the man was an engineering genius…rip fella…
@@jbird33010 Brittens made nine left I think
@@karlvanboxel561 you are probably quite right but only 2 running I believe but I have been wrong before, so…..lol
I absolutely like it. I wouldn't say I love it. But if it works well that's all that matters to me. Except for price that matters to me too. I can tell it's way too expensive for me. I can be happy on a much lesser the bike
Next bike, ariel ace woth girder fork
14yo tyres... Brave man. But why they'd pay for a belt service and not new tyres I cannot understand
honda cbx1000
inline 6
plzzzzzzzzzzz
DRAM ride?????? Holy smokes!
👏
Only thing it could still do different is buell style brakes XD
I've always been a fan of this bike and the bimota tesi before it, although, a bit more riding footage would have been nice, there's not much decent videos of bikes like this, as for the old tyres, the owner should know better than that...🤦
I rode a bike home from purchase with 10 year old, rock hard Pirelli's once...... Once! Never gonna do that again.
Love it , imagine electric and two wheel drive
I want....
I had those Zards on my 1098 back in the day.
Chris Northover, Ari Henning and Zack Courts are the best journalists in the motorbike-world, they truly have passion and they make wonders sharing that. Give them a Top Gear spinoff but on 2 wheels
It's a bike Tom cruise has.
It is
@BikeWorldTVshow With old tires the tires have a virus
I had never seen one of these... it says I'm weird, and LOVE it. Would I want one? No. Problems? That tank is a hip breaker - I would never consider such a radically squared element for a riding experience. Museum show piece/concept? Absolutely.
Anyone else thinks it looks like its missing a faring?
Incredible machine , it lacks a little bit on the looks department , some what ugly .
This bike is futuristic but it will never look like engineer masterpiece FGR Midalu V6 2500 this bike is perfection.
Only in the land of Leonardo da Vinci this motorcycle could be created...
I'm a little disappointed that you didn't mention anything about those trick-looking carbon brakes. How do they work? Need heat? Crazy expensive? Guess no ABS?
Take 2 .KX 500 motors. Turn them into A V twin and then insert that and now you're talking.
Once upon a time all the top bikes needed finesse, skills and some balls or you would be punished. Now so many bikes are too easy to ride. I'm not complaining about progress, no. But it masks the skills needed to jump from bike to bike And still know what you're doing
Sorry
Bimota's are a work of art
This thing looks like cheese grater 🧀
Too harsh?
At the end of the day a motorcycle for me must be visually appealing first , then I can deal with all the rest of its quirks after, the virus is just parts with no visual design concept apparent to me .
So all your steering input goes through that small joint, if that thing breaks off then you're screwed, I don't know how strong that thing is, but it wouldn't inspire me with confidence.
Also no dive when braking which is weird/different to say the least….
Why a 'radical' front suspension setup but a conventional rear end? Minimum would have been a single-sided swingarm... the sum of it's parts do not match-up imo..
Too heavy I guess.
Way too much to go wrong IMHO, but then like u said either luv it or hate it