Ignition
The world of bespoke, radical, out-there motorcycles is a small but fascinating one. Vyrus is one of its most prominent citizens
THE ITALIAN BOUTIQUE MANUFACTURER IS ALL ABOUT limited-run, carefully crafted, absolutely bonkers machines and their latest creation is called the Alyen 998. A penchant for sticking the letter “y” into perfectly normal words apart, this exclusive Italian brand is known for some pretty out-there creations. One look at the Alyen and you know that their latest innovation is right up that particular alley.
This bonkers-looking roadster is draped in carbon-fibre from head to toe. The Alyen 998 is an art piece masquerading as a motorcycle with that jaw-dropping aesthetic approach, a particular highlight of which is the unique hand-guard design which gives it a face resembling a frilled-neck lizard that is poised to strike. The wheels are carbon-fibre, too, and the frame is magnesium; so this bike is light.
It should be explosive, too, because Vyrus weren’t messing about when it came to sorting out the engine for this. They picked a Ducati 1,285-cc twin-cylinder L-twin and went to town on it. It churns out a ridiculous 205 hp peaking at 10,500 revs and that much power in that lightweight shell is a recipe for high-speed hijinks of the hooligan kind. The Alyen 998 will be a limited-run bike and each customer will be able to dictate on specific components and customization to suit their individual tastes.
How much will it cost? We don’t know. What we do know is that if you’re rich enough to be able to afford one, you’re rich enough not to care about the actual amount.
TVS Motor Acquire Norton Motorcycles
INDIAN TWO-WHEELER MAJOR TVS MOTOR HAVE TAKEN OVER NORTON Motorcycles of Britain for a whopping Rs 144 crore (£16 million). Founded by James Lansdowne Norton in Birmingham in 1898, Norton Motorcycles is among the most popular British motorcycle brands, but in the recent past, the premium bike maker had been struggling with finance. Norton’s line-up currently consists of high-end motorcycles ranging from retro classic models such as the Commando to the contemporary 200-hp, 1,200-cc V4 sport bikes. Sadly, neither of the new models lives up to the success of the predecessors from the 1960s and 1970s like the iconic racing bike, Norton Manx. The British brand currently is not known to have a treasure-trove of new-age technology either. TVS Motor clearly have a strategy in place for this ambitious
