Autoblog has been covering the Geneva Auto Show, and one of the more interesting vehicles is the Monotracer. I’m not sure who would want one of these for the $50,000.00 asking price, but I sure there is someone. Since they are only going to make 100/year, all you need is a few collectors. Those questions aside, the technology looks very interesting. The “training wheels” allow lean angles of up to 52 degrees, and you are of course, in a cage. I really don’t think most bike owners would be interested for that very reason. One of the best parts of riding, is the freedom and open air. But… I think it could be a very entertaining form of transportation if for no other reason, the WOW factor. It will surely turn heads.

Part sport bike, part sports car, the MonoTracer blends the best of both worlds, allowing 100 fortunate buyers each year the opportunity to experience high levels of grip and speed, all while having some measure of protection from the outside world. Peraves realizes that they won’t be able to convert dyed-in-the-wool bikers or 911 owners, but they can offer an original design that allows steep lean angles and properly quick acceleration.

Powered by a 1171cc, four-cylinder BMW K-engine, the MonoTracer can reach 62 MPH in 5.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 155 MPH. However, acceleration isn’t the MonoTracer’s main claim to fame. When the driver dives into a corner a retractable stabilizer wheel is deployed in less than a half a second, allowing the bike to lean up to 52 degrees – more than most sport bikes see in their lifetime.

It seems unlikely that these will make it to the US unless they fall in a regulatory category that exempts them from auto safety standards. But if it is categorized as a bike, who knows.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 12th, 2007 at 1:47 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.