The Future: MonoTracer MTI-1200 at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

At the end of August 2012 I spent a Saturday with a film crew from the Brazilian AutoEsporte TV show piloting and shooting the MonoTracer MTI-1200 all around Southern California.  I met up with the producer Tiago, host Diego, and cameraman Alcides in the morning in Anaheim.  From there we traveled via freeway to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for some beauty shots.  We then headed to Griffith Park for some green scenery.  Finally we drove out to Santa Monica and up PCH towards Malibu for some ocean and beach shots.  Here is the edited AutoEsporte MonoTracer MTI-1200 video review that aired last Sunday in Brazil.

MonoTracer mistura moto, carro e avião e é destaque do filme “O vingador do futuro”.

Translation: MonoTracer is a mixture of motorcycle, car, and plane and is featured in the 2012 movie “Total Recall”.

MonoTracer MTI-1200 Review by AutoEsporte TV

Anytime you’re out with a MonoTracer everyone becomes a paparazzi and photographs the vehicle with their cellphone.  I ran across this very sweet Instagram photo of the MonoTracer banking left on to South Grand Avenue in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall taken by Michelle Kim.  You can watch this maneuver and her snapping the photo if you look closely in the AutoEsporte MonoTracer MTI-1200 video segment above.

2012.08.25 – MonoTracer MTI-1200 banking left on to South Grand Avenue in front of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Instagram photo by Michelle Kim.

MonoTracer MTI-1200 parked beachside along PCH close to Malibu, California.

Instagram collage of photo snaps from the AutoEsporte video by Enio Pedrozo. http://statigr.am/p/291890511961776018_9989726

Slideshow of additional photos from the MonoTracer MTI-1200 film shoot:

Click to view slideshow.

[Source:  AutoEsporte TV]

2012.08.24 – Trainees,Trainers, and Trainulators at the Third MonoTracer Training of 2012 in Tuggen, Switzerland.

Last week Peraves held the third MonoTracer training of 2012 again in Tuggen, Switzerland.  10 newbies attended along with Ruedi Steck and Michael Kutschke.  Ruedi Steck of Swiss Performance is a Bonneville world speed record holder and will be piloting the X-PRIZE winning all electric X-Tracer7009 to 200mph in spring 2013 at the Nardò Ring high speed test track in Italy (recently purchased by Porsche).  Michael Kutschke is chief editor of Töff Magazine and will be covering the whole Nardo story.

2012.08.24 – MonoTracer Trainulators at the Third MonoTracer Training of 2012 in Tuggen, Switzerland.

2012.08.24 – MonoTracer Trainulators at the Third MonoTracer Training of 2012 in Tuggen, Switzerland.

Swiss magazine Blick was present and took photos and video of Ruedi’s MonoTracer training which can be viewed on their website:

• Ruedi Stecks erste Fahrt im MonoTracer (German)

• Ruedi Steck’s first ride in the MonoTracer (Google Translated to English)

Click to view slideshow.

The fourth and final MonoTracer Training day for 2012 will be held on Friday, October 12th in Tuggen, Switzerland.  Contact Peraves if you would like to attend.

[Source:  Blick.ch]

2012-18 Motorrad Magazine – Space Oddity – MonoTracer MTI-1200 – Page 1

2012-18 Motorrad Magazine – Space Oddity – MonoTracer MTI-1200 – Page 2

Motorrad journalist Stefan Kaschel reviews the experience of piloting and living with a MonoTracer MTI-1200 in the 2012-18th issue of Motorrad magazine in this article entitled “Space Oddity”.

It’s all about David Bowie‘s song…did he know of the MonoTracer or was he drugged when he wrote the 1969 song “Space Oddity“?  The truth is: whoever rides through rural parts of Germany in this capsule feels like he’s in a spaceship.  Alone, far away from home, in a far away galaxy…ground control to Major Tom…

There is a nice emotional side to this story, and we’ve never had people coming into the shop the day after an article was published before.  Well, yesterday, three people stumbled into Peraves Headquarters and wanted to see the MonoTracer space capsule for themselves…

Click here to download the “Space Oddity” article in PDF.

2012-18 Motorrad Magazine – Space Oddity – MonoTracer MTI-1200 – Page 3

2012-18 Motorrad Magazine – Space Oddity – MonoTracer MTI-1200 – Page 4

2012-18 Motorrad Magazine – Space Oddity – MonoTracer MTI-1200 – Page 5

2012-18 Motorrad Magazine – Space Oddity – MonoTracer MTI-1200 – Page 6

Here is the original music video for David Bowie’s song Space Oddity from Bowie’s promotional film, “Love You Till Tuesday”, originally released in 1969 and re-released on DVD.

David Bowie – Space Oddity Original Music Video (1969)

[Source:  Motorrad Magazine]

Lori Quaid (Kate Beckinsale) touching the side glazing of the Police MonoTracer in Total Recall 2012 to enable a “FaceTime” video call with her boss Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston). MonoTracer pilot and owner Justin Clarke plays a Police Officer extra with helmet in the right of this scene.

Lori Quaid (Kate Beckinsale) makes a MonoTracer MTI-1200 side glazing enabled “FaceTime” hand embedded cellular video call with her boss Cohaagen.

The always futuristic MonoTracer enjoys its first big screen debut in Len Wiseman‘s new action packed Total Recall 2012 starring Colin Farell and the talented & gorgeous superstar actresses Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel.  This film is a remake of Paul Verhoeven‘s original 1990′s Total Recall (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone) but with its own variations on the plot, setting, and technologies.  Visit the Total Recall 2012 movie website WelcomeToRecall.com and go see the movie while it is still playing in the theaters!

I had the opportunity to see the film in AMC ETX splendor last night and counted five MonoTracer sightings.  Three of them are at the start of the movie with the last 2 towards the end and closing scene.  MonoTracer pilot and owner Justin Clarke provided his own new MonoTracer MTI-1200 and days of support over a few weeks of shooting up in Canada last August 2011.  Justin also plays an extra in the film suited up as one of the police officers (see photo above).  His MonoTracer was stickered up as a futuristic Police vehicle.  You can see a glimpse of the MonoTracer with Lori Quaid (Kate Beckinsale) enabling a “FaceTime” video call with her boss Cohaagen on the side glazing via the touch of her hand embedded cellular phone at minute 2:06 of in the Total Recall 2012 Trailer #2.

Total Recall 2012 Official Trailer #2 (HD)

Click to view slideshow.

The last time a Peraves Cabin Motorcycle debuted on the big screen was 21 years ago in Wim Wenders‘ 1991 action film Until the End of the World with a couple of EcoMobiles outfitted in Police trim.  Click here for the official Until the End of the World website.  Click here for the Until the End of the World wiki entry.  The Until the End of the World trailer is below (Police Ecos not shown).

Until the End of the World 1991 Official Trailer

Below are two photos scanned from the 8th issue of Einspur-Zeitung, a “Single-Track Newspaper” published by Peraves AG back in February 1991.  The photos were captioned with the following:  The pictures show ECO’s No. 5007 and 5010 in action for the French Police.  Actually the scene runs in 1999, it’s in the shooting of the Wim-Wenders-movie “Until the End of the World” and by looking at the pictures carefully one recognizes the “policemen” Wolfgang WALTL, ECO-importer for Austria, and Jan HIRSCH, manager of the ECOMOBILE GmbH Germany, controlling star actor William HURT.

Police EcoMobiles from the 1991 film “Until the End of the World”.

Police EcoMobiles from the 1991 film “Until the End of the World”.

[Source: WelcomeToRecall.com, Peraves AG]

2012.04.27 MonoTracer Training in Tuggen, Switzerland.

Last month on Friday, April 27th MonoTracer of Switzerland held the first of four scheduled training days for the 2012 year.  The training was held at a dedicated motor vehicle training facility in Tuggen, Switzerland about 30 miles south of Zurich.

The MonoTracer training classes are limited to 8 students with at least 4 available instructors and begins with 1 hour of classroom theory explaining the physics and dynamics of piloting a MonoTracer.  At least 4 training MonoTracers (2 gas-powered and 2 electric-powered) are provided along with a BMW C1 which is used to verify the student understands the all important concept of countersteering prior to transitioning to the MonoTracer.  The training MonoTracers are all outfitted with temporary yellow training axles to protect the vehicle from falling over beyond 20 degrees.

The goals of the MonoTracer training are:

1.  Safe slow speed handling of the cabin motorcycle.
2.  Safe operation of the bionic legs (aka outriggers or stabilizers).
3.  Safe braking with the integral ABS system.
4.  Theories of countersteering for non-believers.
5.  Technical class for vehicle maintenance.

The focus is on “the Upper Half of the Motorcycle” and it is highly recommended one read/study Bernt Spiegel’s Motorcycling bible The Upper Half of the Motorcycle: On the Unity of Rider and Machine.  Expect lots of turning-your-head-before-the-vehicle-turns, ride-where-you-look-and-not-look-where-you-ride, think-far-ahead-and-look-far-ahead, don’t-brake-with-your-jaws-and-your-teeth-but-with-the-brake-pedals/levers, and of course, don’t-forget-to-breath.  Oh, and there may even be a little yoga and a little ZEN…  At a minimum you’ll leave the training with a better appreciation and knowledge of motorcycle riding.

The one day-course costs 200 Euros per person and starts at 8:30 AM sharp, ending at 5 PM. The dates for the MonoTracer Driver Training Courses are:

April 27th, 2012
June 29th, 2012
August 24th, 2012
October 12th, 2012

If you are interested in attending any of these Driver Training events, and are from North America, please contact Jim Lorimer at Jim@21stCenturyMotoring.com or 804-513-2054.  If you are from Europe, contact Roger Riedener at Sales@MonoTracer.com

Enjoy the video below by Mediafusion of the April 27th, 2012 MonoTracer Training in Tuggen, Switzerland.

Part13: MonoTracer Riding School Impressions

Are you an experienced motorcyclist or a pilot? Are you thinking about buying a MonoTracer? Then take the chance to have a close look at our high performance cabin motorcycle. It’ll be the most awesome experience of your life. Arrive the evening before or first thing in the morning. Start at 8:30am sharp. Cost: EUR 200,– plus hotel, food & lodging. Four instructors will show you how to ride a MonoTracer. Your first lesson will be in an all-electric MTE-150. After you’ve made some progress, we’ll show you how to ride and shift the BMW powered MTI-1200. Interested? You must have a full motorcycle licence and ideally, plenty of experience of riding heavy and powerful motorcycles.

Individual driver training is available every Monday by appointment only in Winterthur, Switzerland for EUR 500 per day.

Click to view slideshow.

[Recommended study:  Bernt Spiegel's - The Upper Half of the Motorcycle: On the Unity of Rider and Machine]

2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - Cover

Peraves CEO Roger Riedener has assembled yet another gorgeous MonoTracer calendar for the 2012 model year with some of the best photos from last year’s MonoTracering adventures.  Many of the excellent photos were taken by expert photojournalist Markus Jahn.  A low resolution (2.7Mb) PDF version of the 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar is available by clicking here.  I’ve parsed the calendar into JPEGs viewable below.  Click the jump if you’re viewing this from the main blog feed to see each JPEG individually.

January 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - Roger and Stefano formation MonoTracering in the Bohemian forest.

Click to view slideshow.

February 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - MTI-1200s on the Brno/CZ racetrack!

March 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - DuPont Kevlar® monocoque production line in Medlanky/CZ.

April 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - High tech mechanicals and sleek aerodynamics!

May 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - At 52 degrees of lean angle, life is not around the corner. Life is a corner!

June 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - First piloting lesson in an all electric MonoTracer.

July 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - Mean eyes cut through the night...with Bi-Xenon headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights!

August 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - Handcrafted to perfection with over 500 man-hours per machine!

September 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - You can order one in "Ferrari rosso corsa" to honor the great man from Maranello!

October 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - Speed is a wonderful thing, silent all electric speed is addictive!

November 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - Matching sunglasses in the Super-Bee! (EcoMobiles built from 1986 - 2005)

December 2012 MonoTracer of Switzerland Calendar - And this is what it's all about... see you in 2013!

New All Electric MonoTracer MTE-150 Piloting Tutorial Videos.

Peraves CEO and MonoTracer Jedi Master Roger Riedener continues his MonoTracer Academy series on the new all electric MonoTracer MTE-150 with the additional four tutorial videos.  He begins with the very basics of how to get in and out of a MonoTracer (Video #9).  Video #10 covers the all important MonoTracer operating controls with emphasis on the eternally respected switch for the retracts (bionic legs, stabilizers, landing gear, etc…).  Roger also notes the MonoTracer is a seatbelt equipped Safety Motorcycle and helmets are not worn.  Video #11 demonstrates just how slow one can drive a MonoTracer.  Video #12 combines all 3 lessons with a ride into the city to visit Roger’s favorite Thai restaurant.  The MonoTracer is a very elegant vehicle and we want to pilot it in a very elegant way (with the stabilizers retracted).  Study these videos and you’re well on your way to becoming a future MonoTracering pilot!

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 9: Getting In and Out

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 10: Handling

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 11: Slow Driving

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 12: City Ride

Here is the recently completed official MonoTracer MTE-150 brochure for the USA.  The stylish brochure was elegantly designed by Alain Brideson of Swiss based Design-Werk. Click on each brochure image below to zoom in or download the PDF version.

Click here to download a PDF version of the all electric MonoTracer MTE-150 brochure USA edition – (5.6Mb).

SPECIFICATIONS
Top Speed:  150 mph.  Power load at top speed is less than 60kW (40%)
Acceleration:  0-62 mph in less than 5 sec. at 370V
Energy Consumption @ 75 mph:  8kW
Vehicle Range:  180 miles @ 75 mph (20kWhr of useable battery capacity)
Charging time to replenish 16kWh:  min. 220V 16A (3.3kW) = 5 hours
max. 250V 80A (20kW) = 50 minutes
Body:  Kevlar® by DuPont aramid composite monocoque
Dimensions:  L=12.1ft, W=3.9ft (with retracts 4.4ft), H=4.9ft
Weight:  1210lbs empty
Electric Drivetrain:  AC Propulsion Gen3 150kW (200hp) induction motor
100A DC/DC converter from a 411.6V lithium-polymer traction battery
Front Wheel Setup:  Marzocchi 50mm USD fork, Öhlins steering damper and double radial Brembo 4-pot calipers on twin 320mm discs.
Rear Wheel Setup:  ABS brake system combined with electric re-gen braking up to 60kW. Separate rear hydraulic brakes and fully adjustable Öhlins shocks.

The MonoTracer-E is also equipped with leather interior, 4.6 cubic ft. luggage compartment, Oxygen iPhone-Radio, ventilation system and heaters.
Options available:  Bi-Xenon headlights, Air-Conditioning, special colors & leathers, and customizing.

Base price ex factory excl. VAT:  US $104,320.00

USA Sales:  MonoTracerUSA

“It’s like flying a meter from the ground.”

Unrivalled Efficiency – Winner of the 2010 Progressive Automotive X-PRIZE.
Proving Grounds in the Swiss Alps. 

Handcrafted like a Swiss Watch and Proven for 30 Years.
Peraves AG is the only company in the world that has dedicated the last 30 years entirely to the fully enclosed safety cabin motorcycle.  The company has built 140 customer vehicles which have safely covered 6 million miles in 25 years.

100% Electric High Performance!

MonoTracer MTE-150 Specifications.

MonoTracer MTE-150 brochure back.

New all electric MonoTracer MTE-150 taking a spin in the Swiss countryside.

Here is the first part of the riding series with the new all electric MonoTracer MTE-150 piloted by MTE-150 inventor and Peraves CEO Roger Riedener.  It was filmed in the beautiful Swiss countryside last week after all the snow and ice melted.  Watch how the TRONtastic electric Monotracer gracefully navigates the winding roads with zero emissions, a futuristic hushed electric whine, with plenty of excess available power and range.  There is no other vehicle that provides as much fun, luxury, performance, efficiency, and convenience rolled into one with the safety provided by the reinforced DuPont Kevlar monocoque chassis.  Enjoy the video with more to follow in the near future.

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 8: Spin

New all electric MonoTracer MTE-150 Introductory Videos

Dear friends of the world’s most energy-efficient high-performance vehicle, the X PRIZE winning Peraves MonoTracer MTE-150,

Last week we videoed the first of 7 short movie segments where I would like to introduce to you our final production version of this amazing machine.  Since nobody has time to watch half an hour of video, we made small 2-minute clips with the focus on one or two items on my or hopefully your list.  The weather here in Switzerland is so bad that we had to postpone the fun part, the riding experience.  But as soon as we’ve completed those clips we’ll be posting them up here on the blog. Until then, have fun watching the 7 introductory video clips below.

best, Roger

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 1: Intro with CEO Roger Riedener

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 2: Engineering Department

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 3: Handle Bar

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 4: Main Display

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 5: Control Buttons

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 6: Car Entertainment

New MonoTracer MTE-150 Part 7: FAQ