The rather remarkable MonoTracer, which fits right into the growing trend of ‘motorcycles’ with more than two wheels is on track for going into production. The MonoTracer is currently being shown at the Geneva Automobile Salon, and the Switzerland-based Peraves say they will ramp up their production facilities to manufacture up to 100 units of this vehicle in 2009.The Peraves MonoTracer features a self-supporting composite-monocoque chassis that’s made of kevlar and carbonfibre, bonded with epoxy-resin and reinforced with aluminium crash and roll bars. The suspension is comprised of a 50mm USD Marzocchi fork up front, and Monolever swingarm at the back.Peraves have used the BMW K1200R’s liquid-cooled, 16-valve, 1171cc, 130bhp inline-four in the MonoTracer. The engine drives the rear wheel via BMW’s shaft-drive system and the gearbox is a sequential, manual-shift, four-speed (plus one reverse) unit. An automatic clutch is optional.The high-tech MonoTracer gets three 320mm brake discs with four-piston calipers. ABS is standard fitment, while an anti-spin ASP system is optional. All controls – clutch, brakes, gear-shift and throttle etc – work like those on a conventional motorcycle. The fully enclosed MonoTracer has a sophisticated ventilation system, and full airconditioning is optional.With a dry weight of 460-485kg (depending on the options chosen), the 130bhp MonoTracer accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, and top speed is in excess of 250km/h. And while those figures are impressive, the MonoTracer’s real calling card is its ability to safely lean into very fast corners. With its retractable stabilizer wheels – which deploy automatically when needed, in less than half a second – the MonoT can lean at angles of up to 52 degrees, which is anywhere between seven to 10 degrees more than what most superbikes ever do.So yes, the funky-cool Peraves MonoTracer looks like a lot of fun, but it’s also terribly expensive – about 52,500 euros (US$81,000) plus VAT. But if you can afford one, riding one of these mad Swiss machines should be an absolute blast! More details on the official MonoTracer
