International Dealer News IDN 117 Feb/Mar 2014 | Page 17

news ROOM

EBR opens in Europe, confirms
WSBK team
HAVING unveiled the revolutionary new
1190 RX at the AIMExpo at Orlando last
October, Erik Buell Racing (EBR) has
now confirmed the opening of its
planned European office and
distribution centre at Alkmaar in The
Netherlands.
With 450 sq m (approx 4,000 sq ft)
of combined space, EBR Europe
Managing Director Edwin Belonje said
"now we can make real progress with
setting up our dealer network in
Europe”.
Formerly Managing Director for Zero
Motorcycles in Europe, and the
international Sales and Marketing
Manager for Triumph Motorcycles in
Europe and Asia, Belonje went on to say:
"We started this late last year, and we
have visited several prospective dealers
in the Netherlands, England, Belgium
and Germany.
"We met with a warm reception
because EBR is poised to capture a
distinctive position in the market. We
expect to be able to deliver the first
regular production motorcycles in
March."
The 1190RX deserves its description

EBR's European operations are
being headed up by former Zero
and Triumph Motorcycles
executive Edwin Belonje

as "revolutionary". Based on its ET-V2
1190 cc liquid cooled v-twin engine, the
1190 RX weighs in at just 419 pounds,
and delivers 185bhp, and an almost
unprecedented 102 ft.lbs of torque –
said to be one of the highest levels of
peak torque ever seen on a street legal
production sportsbike.
With 21 traction control settings and
broad torque band, the engine is said to

deliver a combined highway/city fuel
economy of over 40 mpg and
hydrocarbon and nitrous oxide exhaust
emissions that are said to be less than
25 percent of those allowed by the US
Environmental Protection Agency
standards (carbon monoxide emissions
are said to be just 6 percent of the level
allowed by US federal regulations).
The company is describing the engine
design as being a “breakthrough”, and
race inspired handling features, all-new
styling and scientifically-derived
aerodynamics are said to give the
1190RX what EBR is claiming to be the
best “performance and driveability of
any superbike produced by any
manufacturer in the world.”
Completely assembled at East Troy,
Wisconsin, EBR announced a
remarkably low domestic US MRSP price
tag of $18,995 when it unveiled the
1190RX last year.

The company has also confirmed its
previously announced intention to
compete in the Superbike World
Championship in 2014, with Team Hero
1190RS riders Geoff May and Aaron
Yates in a two-bike WSBK effort that
kicks-off at the Phillip Island GP circuit
near Melbourne, Australia, on February
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