Suter MMX500 Unveiled

Swiss outfit Suter, most recently known for its chassis used for the past few Moto2 seasons, including the one Marc Marquez rode to the title in 2012, unveiled a 576cc V-4 GP replica this week. The bespoke two-stroker boasts numbers like 195 hp, 280 lbs and 120,000 Swiss francs (approximately US$123,000). That’s $60k cheaper than Honda’s new RC213V-S.

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Suter revealed the MMX500 yesterday in an air-force hangar in Dübendorf, Switzerland, with several Grand Prix legends on hand, including Fast Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner and Phil Read. The limited-production machine – only 99 will be built – is a dedicated track weapon.

“All members of the Suter Racing team worked very hard towards one goal: to get this beast out of its cage and on the racetrack, to make it as reliable and fast as possible,” says Suter. “Developed and produced by our racing division, this technical master­piece is built for skillful hands and appreciating hearts only.”

Now that MotoGP has switched entirely to four-stroke engines, the Suter team weren’t bound by any racing regulations when it came to its two-stroke engine. As such, displacement of the V-4 two-stroke is 576cc, achieved via 56mm bore and 58.5mm stroke and double counter-rotating crankshafts. Electronic fuel injection controls the four throttle bodies with four carbon reed valves. Spent premix exits through four “single resonance Titanium chambers” from Akrapovic. Suter claims the MMX 500 puts out 195 horses and revs to 13,000 rpm.

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Controlling that power is a CNC-machined aluminum twin-spar frame and swingarm adjustable for steering head angle, wheelbase, ride height and riding position. When it comes to suspension and braking, only the finest components were used. Ohlins fully adjustable bits at each end are accompanied by Brembo four-pot calipers in front, two-piston clamps in the rear. Different shock linkages are also available.

Customers have the option of choosing between magnesium or aluminum OZ wheels, fitted with 125/75-17 rubber in front, 205/75-17 in the rear – a slight deviation from the 16.5-inch wheels current MotoGP machines use (though MotoGP will adopt 17-inch wheels come 2016). From there, bodywork is all carbon fiber, and an optional 2D data recorder is also available.

Suter Racing Technology (SRT) has an extensive background in motorcycle roadracing, breaking into the GP scene in the mid-1990s as a component supplier (cylinders, crankshafts, carburetors, exhausts systems and various chassis components) and was a key development partner of the Swissauto 500/MuZ GP project that scored two pole positions in 1999. Later, Suter Racing developed the three-cylinder engine for the Petronas FP1 that competed in World Superbike, as well as Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machines.

More info can be found at http://suter500.com/