Ilmor announced that they have successfully run the first prototype Ilmor Viper Motorcycle Company engine on the dyno ahead of schedule and are already seeing promising results.
Ilmor have been working on the design and development of the updated Viper Motorcycle 152 cubic inch V-Twin engine since October 2009, as part of the manufacturing agreement between Viper Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Viper Powersports, Inc., and Ilmor Engineering announced on January 8, 2010.
The Viper Motorcycles-Ilmor V-Twin will be the motor in the Diamondback Super Cruiser model due to be rolled out in the second quarter of the year. The advanced Ilmor design, intended to both improve performance and lower emissions, includes a new crankcase, which has fully integrated oil pressure and scavenge pump sets, a new barrel housing and new cylinder heads. The addition of a state of the art cooling system, incorporating both oil-cooling and air-cooling will further improve engine output and reliability. The bottom end features a higher compression ratio from new piston assemblies with revised crown pocket details, for improved combustion and exhaust emissions. The crankshaft has been revised to account for the new piston and connecting rod assemblies and reduces overall engine vibration. The updated Ilmor badged engine design retains the distinctive Viper Motorcycle machined and polished billet aluminum look of the predecessor. Viper Motorcycle.
I had stopped by Eddie”s Shop. I had to talk to Him about some Biz. I also checked out the New Viper with the 152″ Engine. I was really attracted to the Bike, the moment I saw it. The look of the Bike in my opinion is absolutly beautiful. The quality of the Bike over all is extremly well done. The Fit and finish looks as if they have produced 1,000 of this Model. The polished Engine and the profile of that awesome Motor looks like a piece of Art. The Motor looks almost to perfect. I that I thought for a split second that it was Sculpted by a Worlds Famous Sculpter. The quality of the Viper,from the Swingarm, Pully, Bars and Tank and the entire Bike is of the quality of a Honda Rune. I sat on the Bike, and the feel of the Seat Position to the angle of the Bars and the Steering Head and the Balance of the Bike is incredible. The pricing is marked at 37K and if I rode the Bike, I would be able to tell you if it is worth more!!
I don’t know about “state of the art air cooling, but big inch engines generate lots of heat which has to be dissipated. BDM had issues with the amount of heat dissipated in the 117 and X-wedge power plants. Although they readily dissipated the heat, while sitting at traffic lights and such, 350 degree (F) temps were measured arount the coil cover/keyswitch area. Even while cruising, cylinder head temps varied greatly depending on the position of the riders legs (especially the left leg).
The engine itself this Viper looks like the Indian Power Plus engine on steroids.
Power Plus on Steroids!! Oh Yeah I would like to see Indian put this in a Scout type Chassis. With a price point of 18,000. Now we got something!!
Jag
Is there anybody out there that can speak to the heat issue? We’d love to get our hands on one of these and place it in a carbon fiber chassis.
Personally ran a 159″ R&R motor on the street for well over 5,000 miles without a heat issue at any time.
raycwheeler usa
Very well engineered, their own proprietary taillight design, thats is frenched in. Very cool design all around. I noticed the oil filter down at the cam case, wonder if that was part of the oil cooling design to position the filter in that position, or is if for ease of maintainance? Big inch, well engineered, unique beautiful design, price sounds about right. Let see,,,compared to a CVO ,,,,humm $37K doesn’t sound to bad.
Saw the Viper a couple of times on display at beach street during bike week. It may have been the most beautiful overall bike I ever saw. However, when they started it up it sure was shaking/vibrating a lot. This was in the early days before the present generation engine. It would be nice to see an American Company do well, but how big is the market for such an expensive bike right now.
Ilmor knows more about engines than just about anyone, so if they say they don’t have a problem with the cooling, I’d tend to believe them……
I don’t know about the heat issues but I do know if your in Daytona waiting to get to main street and your stuck on the bridge waiting for traffic, don’t give a shit what anyone says or what kind of motor you have, you will over heat, big cubes or not.. why would you want a 152 cubic inch motor anyway. For what ?? you want to go fast buy a hyabusa, or a gxsr 1000, just another money making co. trying to fit in, and at 37 k give me a break. build a bike people can afford.
Ilmor was a client of mine on this project for the better part of the year last year…they are a first class engine facility with high level of success in all other motor sports venues… If they say they have it right…it is right. They arent the type to let things be just because the motorcycle industry has always done it that way.
Magnificent motorcycle. It is a pity that very few its photos…
rough rider – going fast via an in-line 4 is different than big twins. Different strokes for different folks
I would like to see a compact, unit-construction gear box added to this engine so it can be put into big twin cafe projects. Check out the compactness of the gearbox on Yamaha (Star) big twin engine. See Gregg’s Customs for good pics.