I don’t hide my love for motorcycle racing. I’ve always been attracted to race machines being the pinnacle of two-wheeled performance, and the excitement that comes with watching racers go wheel to wheel on these machines. Though MotoGP machines are in theory the biggest and best, and it is admittedly my favorite kind of racing to watch, I personally prefer piloting 600’s over 1000’s. As a result, my dream bike is a Moto2 machine, not at all unlike these 2011/12 examples that are currently for sale. All machines used in Moto2 competition are undeniably feats of engineering, FTR machines – much like Suter machines – were some of and continue to be the better bikes in the series.
The 2012 FTR example started its life as a Forward Athina Team bike before ending up in the possession of the current seller. Despite this example’s ad stating it is a 2012 model, the machine’s livery is definitely from a later year, I believe 2015. Regardless of its production year, a handful of objective things are known about the bike. It is a Moto2 race bike made by FTR and powered by an HRC 600cc inline four. To make things easier for this elite 600’s new owner, who presumably lacks a full professional support team, this example has been fitted with an electric starter. The seller specifies this machine has only been used for trackdays and has never been raced, the ad also describes the bike as “ready to go”.
While Moto2 machines are obviously incredibly expensive, this particular machine actually boasts a decently reasonable price all things considered. RoadRacing World wrote a fascinating article in 2014 when MotoAmerica was looking into the possibility of running Moto2 machines in the unlimited-chassis class, discussing the price of these cutting-edge racers. It stated that cost estimates did wildly vary depending on who you ask, but individual machines such as a Suter-built Moto2 bike ridden by Gino Rea during the 2014 season – which boasted a 2015 chassis, Ohlins front and rear suspension, Brembo brakes, OZ wheels, a Moto2-spec Honda CBR600RR engine and an SC exhaust system – came in at around $75K. The machine current MotoGP rookie and star Johann Zarco rode while in Moto2 – which featured all kinds of super-trick parts – had an asking price in 2014 of $80K.
Fabrication Techniques Racing Motorcycles – or FTR Moto LTD – was a UK-based manufacturer of high-end motorcycle chassis and components for high performance (mostly racing) machines. Founded by race-guru Steve Bones in 1994 under the name “Fabrication Techniques”, FTR quickly became a reputable purveyor of race machinery – primarily frames – working with the likes of Kenny Roberts and TWR in developing the frame for the Modenas KR3 (and the later Proton KR3) the year after first opening up shop. Before FTR was sold to Heads of the Valleys Development Company for over £400,000 (or $528K) in 2012, the elite moto-manufacturer also worked on prestigious GP projects with teams like KTM, Kawasaki, and Aprilia. FTR also helped out with the development of the failed Petronas FP1 machine that I featured an example of recently here on Bike-urious.
This FTR example was owned by Forward Racing – more specifically the 2012 Athina Forward Racing Moto2 Team – which has been a formidable part of Grand Prix racing for close to a decade. The Italian-owned team still competes today in Moto2 with riders Lorenzo Baldassarre and Luca Marini – Valentino Rossi’s half-brother – however Forward Racing has had the privilege of signing some noteworthy riders in its time in MotoGP and Moto2, including the likes of Colin Edwards, Marco Melandri, Aleix Espargaro, Stefan Bradl, and Loris Baz, just to name a few. If you follow Grand Prix racing you may remember when Forward Racing’s owner (Giovanni Curari) was arrested in Switzerland in 2015 on suspicion of corruption, fraud, money-laundering, and bribery, which lead to him being charged with “abuse of authority, passive corruption, and improper application of fiscal regulation”. Though this legal snafu resulted in Stefan Bradl leaving the team, Forward still managed to trudge on and continue competing in GP events.
The second FTR example is a 2011 M211. It features a highly-tuned power-plant that has only seen 300 miles in total. This M211 example also sports a trick Suter clutch, new Ohlins R&T forks, new Brembo racing Monoblock calipers, titanium pistons, new Z04 pads, new carbon bodywork and paint-work, Showa monoshock, OZ forged alloy rims, HM quickshifter, HRC ECU, racing battery, and a bespoke FTR racing loom, all sitting on brand new Dunlop M2 slicks. This machine reportedly weighs in at just under 300lbs and according to the seller, “cost the same to run as CBR600RR.” The example is said to be in excellent condition and its sale includes all of the unspecified spare-parts the current owner has for the track weapon. Parts for this elite 600 can be really expensive (for example the Suter clutch is a cool $2K), so any spare parts are a big deal.
Despite them costing a mere fraction of what a premier class machine costs, these Moto2 bikes are capable of performing at a pretty close level to MotoGP scoots. These examples – while admittedly aren’t the prettiest supersports – are simply superb performers that exude every quality I love about motorcycling, and you’d be hard pressed to find another (non-small displacement) bike that is able to handle like a Moto2 bike. While computer speakers can never fully do a roaring engine complete justice, here’s a quick fifteen second video of someone revving an FTR Moto2 bike. I don’t know about you, but I’m wishing I was sitting on a spare thirty grand right now.
You can find this 2012 FTR Moto2 racer for sale here on RaceBikeMart.com in the UK with a price of $33,000 (or £25,000), though they seller invites all (reasonable) offers.
You can find the 2011 FTR M211 Moto2 machine for sale here on RaceBikeMart.com in the UK with a price of $25,750 (or £19,500).