It has been approximately a quarter of a century since the former Bimota coach, Ascanio Rodorigofounded the company “Vyrus Divisione Motori Srl”. Since then, the conceptual idea of their motorcycles has always been very far from what generally occurs within the two-wheeled sector. His latest creation, the Alyen 988perfectly reflects this philosophy, masterfully combining a unique design, high quality materials and craftsmanship. “Made in Rimini”.
Vyrus Alyen 988: out of conventions
5 years have passed since the last time we heard about the new project that the Italian company Vyrus was working on, the Alyen 988. We are talking about the fifth generation of a saga where conventions have always been left out of the equation in terms of design. However, despite the fact that at first glance this naked Street Fighter with a strong personality seems like the very radicality made into a motorcycle, Alyen is, in the words of the brand itself “the expression of the pure pleasure of riding a superbike.”
In order to reach this final version of the model, the transalpine firm, in collaboration with the Japanese designer Yutaka Igarashi, have worked over the last few years on the development of more than half a thousand prototypes. Seeking perfection takes time and patience; trial and error… And of course huge amounts of money. Finally, as confirmed by MCN, last year the first production unit reached a client based in Dubai.
Vyrus Alyen 988 in detail
Exclusiveness: Everything that involves the manufacturing of the Alyen 988 is based on this characteristic. We must think that Only 20 units of the model will be manufactured and marketed.which gives us an idea of the attention to detail and quality of workmanship that each one of them will possess. In any case, being aware of how complicated it will be for any of us to end up enjoying one of these specimens, we can delight in its main technical characteristics.
Starting with its engine, the well-known twin-cylinder Ducati Superquadro 1,285 cc L-shaped with 90° Desmo distribution. The same one that rode the Ducati 1299 Panigale at the time. The brand declares a power of 205 hp at 10,500 rpm that reach the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox. A real bomb for a final curb weight of just 186 kilograms.
Beyond the performance aspect we have the general configuration of the motorcycle, both at the chassis and suspension levels. This is where the characteristic Omega chassis comes into play, with a double swingarm suspension system, and two Öhlins TTX40 monoshocks both front and rear. All of this is made of a magnesium alloy wrapped in a special anti-corrosion treatment.
Perhaps, the high point of this creation is in the command post where the brand uses what they have baptized as Hydraulic Bearing Wired Steering System (HBWSS)which translated into Spanish is something like “Cable Steering System with Hydraulic Bearing”. As our colleagues explain the Alyen 988 “uses heavy-duty, aerospace-spec cables to power front-wheel steering, instead of the beefy steering rods of previous designs.”
Additionally, if one cable fails, the other assists steering in a compensatory manner. To complete this technical orgy Vyrus opts for carbon fiber to manufacture some of its main elements. Among them are the spectacular 17″ Rotobox wheels or its unique body. As a culmination we have truly unique details, among which the double exhaust outlet embedded in the lower part of the rear fender stands out.
If you have come this far you will understand that getting one of these should not be cheap or easy. With an estimated price of about 120,000 euros The brand itself notifies us on its official website of the exclusivity that surrounds its model: “Alyen is a handcrafted, custom-made motorcycle built exclusively for private customers. We regret to inform you that it is not an economical motorcycle, although we would like it to be… But it is impossible to create a machine with these characteristics at an affordable price!”
