Victory motorcycles and Roland Sands Design have unveiled their purpose built race bike for this year’s Pikes Peak challenge, the Project 156. This prototype acquires its name from the 156 corners that fall on the hill-climb’s route. The bike has been built around a new liquid-cooled powertrain.
The Project 156 is based on a custom chassis designed by Roland Sands custom shop, and rides on high-end Ohlins suspension. The Project 156 is powered by a liquid-cooled engine which has been derived from the Indian Scout’s 1,131cc V-twin engine, though the new heads, internals and injection unit should make the Project 156 a completely different beast. Also, the fuel tank has been accommodated under the engine, to make room for the throttle bodies and the airbox, while raw carbon fibre bodywork ensures that the bike’s weight has been kept under control.
The Project 156 will be ridden on the hill climb course by Don Canet, the lead test rider for Cycle World magazine, on June 28. The Project 156 is a landmark motorcycle as it is one of the first Victory prototypes to pack a liquid-cooled engine. While Victory’s current range is offered only with air-cooled engines, the Project 156 points towards the future plans of the American manufacturer.
