Cool!!!!!!!
Out of stealth mode today in Munich, Horex Motorcycles is back after getting the axe from Daimler-Benz back in 1960. To help usher the company back into the motorcycle industry, Horex has developed a V6 1200cc supercharged concept bike that uses a VR6 cylinder configuration. A solid looking street-standard, the Horex VR6 concept is expected to begin production late in 2011, and make somewhere between 175hp-200hp, and over 110lbs•ft of torque.
At the core of the Horex VR6 is a 15° V6 motor, that takes up the same width as your standard inline-four motor. Like it’s Volkswagen of a similar name, the Horex VR6’s slightly offset cylinders allow the motor to become more compact across the width of the motorcycle, while still employing more cylinders. Horex says it has secured the patent to bring the VR6 cylinder configuration to two-wheel vehicles.
Making the VR6 configuartion possible is a triple overhead cam design (TOHC). The TOHC allows all the cylinder heads to be on the same plane, and keeps the motor’s two intake valves and one exhaust valve to stay in sync.
The results of all this, according to Horex, is an exceptionally smooth power delivery. The smoothness will be necessary considering how much power is expected to be on-tap on the Horex. Helping give the 1200cc motor some boost is a radial supercharger that’s cooled by an integrated intercooler found in the motor cooling system.
Other goodies will come in the form of 50mm Marzocchi forks, that feature radially-mounted brakes with ABS. Also noticeable is a single-sided swingarm that’s fitted with a belt drive from the motor to the wheel.
While there’s still a lengthy wait ahead of us until we can see production of the VR6 two-wheeler, Horex says its has secured euros in the double digit millions to bring the project into fruition. A final production venue hasn’t been decided, but the bike is expected to be released in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland before coming to the rest of Europe and the US. Thanks for the tip Tito!
