At SHOT Show 2010, Magpul unveiled the Ronin, a concept motorcycle built around the Buell 1125R. The name comes from the title for a samurai who lost his master, an appropriate name for the bike given the discontinuation of the Buell line by Harley Davidson. The unique design of the Ronin included a custom monoshock linkage suspension system, front-mounted radiator, unitized handlebar assembly, new ram air intake, cast aluminum tail section, and high-flow exhaust system, features which enhanced the bike’s ride and decreased the total weight by 54lbs from stock. This concept gained enough interest that Magpul decided to expand production to 47 bikes, paying tribute to ‘The 47 Ronin’ of Japanese folklore.
Since the initial concept bike, the Ronin has understandably received some changes. The production Ronin is sharper and more distinct in appearance when compared to the concept bike. Additionally, on the production bike, many of the items have been unitized into a single part, such as the battery box and foot pegs having been integrated into a single cast unit. Perhaps most uniquely, the standard key ignition has been replaced with a hidden RFID chip, and the production model also features custom gauge and ECU.
The Ronin will be released in sets, each release different from the last. The first 12 bikes are currently available (with 5 of them sold at the time of writing) and come in the Black & Silver color of the original Ronin concept bike, priced below production cost.
This will be followed by 10 All-Black bikes at an increased price, further followed by a release of 8; these releases, the second and third, will be available in the coming next few months.
Further releases will come in a set of 6, then 4, and then 2, all with different color schemes and features. The remaining 5 bikes will be one-off designs from the factory, each unique. Each bike will come with a bamboo toolbox.
We’ve been following the Ronin project since its debut in 2010. To finally see its release 4 years later is a welcome event.
For more information on the Ronin, including how to purchase the bike, visit www.the47.com.
Tags: Magpul, Ronin Motorworks
Damnit. I want, and am reasonably sure that I can never afford one of these beautiful bikes. Incredible job, and if any owner of one of these bikes doesn’t ride the snot out of it, they shall be butchered in the afterlife.
Nice idea, in the video the bike looks great, sounds like CRAP! No thanks.
The sound in real life is much like a Ducati 999 at lower revs. In fact the exhaust design is very similar. Very pleasing to my ears at least.
I’ll plus one that. In person, it’s a mellow, but serious note.
I’ve only got a few miles on a prototype, but it was certainly a grin-inducing ride. The engine sounds great at speed and the bike has a nimble, but muscular feel that’s hard to nail down in words.
Have they announced a price yet? The website either doesn’t like my OS or is just not working at the moment…
I’m hearing $38k.
Internet Explorer is not liking the page but Apple Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome all work well.
I want to make a good-natured comment about selling the design to Freedom Group so they can do many great things with it and bring it to the masses at a lower cost. But I know the comment wouldn’t be taken in the manner it was intended and there would be massive butt hurt. So I will just stay quiet…
BTW, cool scooter MagPul.
I wonder if it going to be like their rifle. No Parts, No Aftermarket, and No support.
What I want to know is when is the merch being released? I might not be able to buy bike, but I’d gladly throw some money to the project for a t-shirt, patch or something.