Spirit Motorcycle's Digital Pit Crew

UK-based custom bike shop "Spirit of the 70's" and race engineering company "T3 Racing" have partnered up to start "Spirit Motorcycles". The new company will be producing two models: a sport-bike and a naked version, with both models being available in "R" spec, coming equipped with more race focused components. Spirit’s new models look impressive but it's what's inside that make these bikes a true breakthrough in production motorcycle racing technology. Many manufacturers have built bikes promising to be "as close to a MotoGP machine as legally possible" by using the same components used in Grand Prix racing, but Spirit Motorcycles has taken a new exciting approach.

Aside from the hardware on GP bikes, the rider's access to a full pit crew to make adjustments on the bikes give them a major advantage, but until now this privilege was only available to an elite few. Spirits new bikes come with electronic and adjustable everything, not unlike a GP machine. Their new bikes also house a SIM card, wireless connection and an array of complex software. This would allow a rider to take their Spirit bike to the track to do a couple laps. After returning to the pit, the rider can call Spirit Motorcycles, give feedback on the bike and have adjustments made wirelessly to the bike via the software and SIM.

Anyone who's done a few track days will tell you that the right adjustment can be the difference between the bike being ride-able or not, not to mention that different tracks require different set-up's for optimal performance. This revolutionary concept will likely soon star popping up on other high end race-oriented bikes as this is the closest non-demigod riders will ever come to having a pit crew.

But that’s not all. The engine is taken from a Triumph Daytona 675, bored out to 750cc (from 675cc) and with some engineering magic, now outs down 180hp. Craziness! So much R&D was put into just the power plant (engine) that Spirit claims, "pretty much the only things left from Triumph are the cases."

Not surprisingly, these bikes will not be seeing mass production anytime soon, with only 50 of each model being produced: the GP Sport full-faired version and The GP street is the naked spec with both sing available in "R" spec as well. The price is steep, the standard models will start at £45,000 and the R versions between £65-70,000, and this is before any additional features such as upgraded exhaust, etc. The British company does however say they will be releasing a "Scrambler" in the near future for around £20,000.

These aren't the most beautiful bikes, they aren't the fastest or most agile, but the guys over at Spirit Motorcycles have created an amazingly well thought-out and practical piece of technology. By taking stock of already existing technologies, Spirit’s engineers have combined high tech elements to create something new and exciting. Just like ABS, this premium feature will hopefully trickle down to everyday production vehicles in the upcoming years.

-T. Huber