Brutus motorcycle is half an ATV

Chris Tutor — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorcycle, Off-Road

Take an old three-wheeler and lop off one of those big balloon tires in the back and you've got the basic concept of the Brutus (not to be confused with the electric-powered, US-built Brutus). But there's more to this bad bike than bloated, knobby tires.

Designed by Alessandro Tartarini, son of the founder of Italian motorcycle-maker Italjet, the Brutus is powered by a 750cc, single cylinder, 4-stroke with claimed output of 45 horsepower. It's coupled to a CVT with optional reverse and low gears. Those components are mounted to a beefy high-strentgh steel chassis riding on 14-inch aluminum wheels. Those tires are Maxxis Bighorn ATV tires, designed to tackle sand, dirt and rocks. The front tire is 6-inches wide and the rear 7.5-inches. Despite the aggressive tread front and back, the bike is rear-wheel drive only (unlike the much older Rokon, which is similar in appearance and two-wheel-drive).

The bike is expected on the market in early 2013 and may offer an optional sidecar and snow treads, a photo of which is in our gallery.

Brutus motorcycle is half an ATV originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Watch Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 V12 Brutus against BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Zach Bowman — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, BMW, Racing

The Brutus is a relic from another time. A time when men approached automobile racing with reckless abandon by cramming the largest, most powerful engine available onto a chassis supported by the world's skinniest tires. Suspension, brakes and cumbersome safety equipment were all scrapped for bullet-shaped bodywork and testicles the size of small planetary bodies. The Brutus boasts a 46-liter BMW V12 engine pulled from a post-World War II fighter plane and a chassis from a 1908 American LaFrance. The engine alone weighs 1,124 pounds and puts out a potent 500 horsepower. Now Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has decided that the creation needs to tango with the latest BMW hot rod; the 1 Series M Coupe in his new DVD, Powered Up.

This is not your typical drag race. The Brutus is a chain-driven, fire-breathing hulk that's happier scaring school children than darting down the drag strip, while the 1 Series M Coupe is as civilized as a sports car gets. How does the competition shake out? Hit the jump to check it for yourself.

Continue reading Watch Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 V12 Brutus against BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Watch Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 V12 Brutus against BMW 1 Series M Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments