Description
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Vyrus is a boutique Italian manufacturer that was founded in 2003 by Ascanio Rodorigo — the same visionary who helped spearhead the development of the Bimota Tesi. Based in Rimini, the shop is located just a few miles down the road from Rodorigo’s former employer. The Vyrus team works almost exclusively with Ducati motors, cradling each one in a hub-steered frame and wrapping it in a plethora of fancy carbon fiber parts.
Unlike its predecessors, however, the 986 M2 didn’t have an Italian heart; in fact, it wasn’t even a V-Twin! Instead, Vyrus opted for an inline-four sourced from a Honda CBR600RR. What’s more, the 986 M2 differed from the marque’s previous hub-steered bikes in that it used a pair of hydraulic push/pull pistons (rather than a set of mechanical steering rods and Heim-joint linkages) to actuate the hub’s steering arm.
Their reason for the change? To break the mold and build the ultimate Moto2 competitor.
Accordingly, Vyrus outfitted the bike with a medley of motorsport-ready components. The trademark Omega frame elements were machined from billet aluminum alloy, incorporating the engine as a structural member to save weight and mounting the radiators low to improve the center of gravity. Braking duties were taken care of via some top-dollar Brembos, while a set of longitudinally-mounted shocks kept the platform planted. Rolling on a set of lightweight forged alloy wheels, the whole package tipped the scales at a scant 298lbs dry (a figure that just skirts the lower limit of Moto2 regulations).
For all of its promise, the 986 M2 didn’t garner the interest that Vyrus had hoped it would. As a whole, the Moto2 teams were a fairly conservative bunch; with traditional telescopic forks making up the status quo, it proved a hard sell to convince them to bank their results on something novel. Thus, unfortunately, the 986 M2 never made it to the grid. Vyrus did sell the model in various guises, though, including a factory edition, a rolling replica kit, and a street-legal road bike.
This example is VIN: ZA998600RNCH50029. The seller purchased the frame directly from Vyrus and had Michael “Woolie” Woolaway build the resulting bike. He reports that it is “one of the final 986 chassis made, bearing frame number 29 of a maximum of 50 frames built (Vyrus did not build them in sequential order, allowing owners to choose from available numbers).”
The odometer shows 74 miles.
Modifications:
The seller had legendary motorcycle builder Michael “Woolie” Woolaway (formerly of Deus Ex Machina) construct the bike. He states that he delivered the frame, engine, and other components, whereupon Woolie designed and sculpted the bodywork, bringing to life the finished product you see before you today. “This bike was commissioned as a track bike for the owner who has since transitioned out of the hobby. The goal was having something wildly unique and sharp on the track yet perfectly reliable.”
Custom bodywork “hand-sculpted and laid in carbon fiber.”
The seller had the engine “completely rebuilt by Fuzzy of Fuzimoto” with a big bore kit (2mm overbore), Carillo rods, JE pistons, and the head milled by .025. All-in, it makes a claimed 135 horsepower.
Rotobox carbon fiber wheels.
“A full titanium SC Project exhaust system, purchased from a Moto2 team.”
Optional Öhlins front and rear suspension units.
Custom handlebar setup and controls.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires with date codes of 2720 and 0621.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Roanoke, Indiana this Vyrus is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any 986 M2 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
