Just when you thought two-stroke was dead, German company Ronax has produced a 500cc two-stroke machine that is road legal but wouldn’t be out-gunned on the MotoGP grid.
The Ronax 500 is powered by a fuel-injected 500cc two-stroke V4 with 119kW at 11,500rpm. Yet it weighs only 145kg (dry) with its aluminium beam chassis, banana-tyre aluminium swingarm and carbonfibre bodywork.
The performance bike is based on Valentino Rossis’s 500cc-winning motorcycle at the 2001 MotoGP.
It is fitted with fully adjustable Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes, but it also comes with lights, indicators and rear-view mirrors, so it can ride on the road.
But here is the catch: only 46 will be built and the price is $144,000 plus taxes, freight, duties, etc. Since that also includes 19% German taxes, it’s going to cost closer to $200,000 to get it landed and ready for our roads.
Ronax is taking deposits of $57,000 (plus 30% German taxes) and you could expect your bike to be delivered in about six months, r you could fly to their Dresden factory and pick it up yourself.
Ronax 500
Price: $144,000 (+ORC)- Engine: 499cc, fuel-injected, 2-stroke, 80-degree V4 with two counter-rotating crankshafts and electronic starter
- Power: 119kW @ 11,500rpm
- Exhaust: Four stainless steel tuned pipes with carbon end cans
- Gearbox: 6-speed, cassette type
- Clutch: Multi-disc clutch in oil bath
- Chassis: Aluminium bridge frame, CNC processed, steering head fully adjustable, aluminium swingarm
- Suspension: 43mm Öhlins USD fork (front), Öhlins TTX monoshock (rear), both ends fully adjustable
- Wheels: 17-inch forged aluminium
- Brakes: Brembo monobloc, forged aluminium, 4 pistons, floating 320mm disc (front), Brembo, forged aluminium, 2 pistons, 210mm disc (rear)
- Steering damper: Öhlins
- Bodywork: Carbonfibre