Could Fahrvergnügen Translate to Two Wheels?
Rumors of Subaru's supposed entry into the motorcycle market may have dissolved, but now there's reason to believe Volkswagen may someday have a stake in the bike business. "I would still like a small, valuable motorcycle manufacturer," VW honcho Ferdinand Piech recently told a German magazine, according to Reuters. The 71 year-old auto maven also told the press that "I myself drive a Ducati. 180 horses and more power per kilogram weight than a 1,001-hp Bugatti."
As any motorcyclist enthusiast can attest, Piech's bike to exotic car comparison isn't unreasonable-- after all, remember Fifth Gear's Ducati versus Lamborghini comparo? And as for which bike builder VW may someday hypothetically acquire, Piech regrets not buying Ducati in 1985 when the company could be had for a song. Now that Ducati's fancy enough to have its own wine, I suppose Volkswagen would have to find another way to enter the two-wheeled racket... if they did, would you want to ride a Volkscycle?
Photo illustration © Basem Wasef
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Comments
Dr. Porsches laegacy has produced, for decades, the very best, fastest, winningest and most desired cars in the world. Imagine the engineering talent that produced the 917 taking a serious run at a sport bike?!
The mind runs amok!
Pete,
It’s an intriguing possibility, but I’m surprised that Piech, who had the brilliant audacity to conceive and build a 1,001 horsepower car, seems to be more interested in acquiring a motorcycle company than starting one up from scratch… obviously, it’s more financially realistic to build on somebody else’s foundation, but you always wonder what could be done with an entirely clean sheet of paper.
Basem
Basem - very True…but let’s face it …the Bugatti, while a neat car, doesn’t have a practical bolt in it. Of course, those kind of rides are not supposed to be practical, but they should at least be attainable, affordable & insurable. It’s none of those and never will be…the last thing we need is a 2 wheeled Veyron. He makes mention of a 180hp sport bike…that’s gotta be a 1098 (be still my beating heart…) If that’s where he’s going, then LET’S GO!!
The Veyron’s way more practical than a 1,000 horsepower car deserves to be; you can hold a conversation at 200 mph!
Horsepower’s more affordable and accessible than ever these days anyway; you can get 500 hp cars for $70k, and more cars than ever now have 300 hp.
Piech’s Duc? Must be a 1098R.
Basem
Basem….HP is indeed easier to come by these days. While motorcycles are my 1st love and this is a MC forum…..has anyone read the recent tests on the Nissan GTR?
OMG!!
485hp at the wheels (all 4)
124 mph in 11.2 seconds
.99G Lateral acceleration
$70 ~ $80k.
Now that’s bang for your buck if you’re in to cars!
Funny you should mention the 1098R…just read a test on that to….it looks for all the world like it has lights and turn signals and the necessary paraphernalia to be street legal. Speaking of bang for your buck….
Well, methinks Uncle Ferdie is dreaming out loud again. The Phaeton was a great car but a total bust market-wise. VW can’t get out of its own way in the US. Audi, Lambo and Bugatti are solid enough, so if Herr Piech wants to play in the uber-bikemarket, he might have a shot. I suggest he scoop up MV Agusta.
Why did the name “Volkscycle” unleash such extravagant paeans of praise for massive horsepower and technogimmickry. I know that’s a driving force behind motolust for many, but I like the concept of a balanced, graceful motorcycle that’s efficient, fun, fast, and light, while retaining simplicity and ease of use (did I mention beautiful as well?). Traditionally, this type of motorcycle has not done well in the US, as we are apparently a land of extremists, but sell well in Europe. I’m thinking of the Honda Transalp, the Yamaha TDM and 660XT, the Kawi 750’s, and hopefully, the BMW “new” F650GS. BTW, if the Harley XR1200 came to these shores, I’d give it a close look for sure, because I think Harley should be the one who makes a “Volkscycle”. What do I ride myself? I’ve been on BMW’s for 20 years, usually with a sportbike and a dual sport as well. I just got a Suzuki Bandit 1250 which is a pretty good “volksbike” as it uses regular fuel and it was cheap!
CP
It would be hard to consider meeting the nicest people on a VW….just doesn’t ring true like it did for Honda.
Too bad Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries) isn’t going into the two wheel business, they already have the experience albeit a long time back. Their boxer type engine (does anyone see Porsche when they see the design) would even adapt well for two wheels.