R&D – Tucson is dead, long live Roadson! – Used ROADSON

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Tucson is dead, long live Roadson !

R & amp; D - Tucson is dead, long live Roadson! - Used ROADSON

After a bitter legal battle against Hyundai, the designers of the BT 5.50 Superleggera, this 4-stroke twin weighing less than 100 kg intended to sow discord in Top Twin, were forced to give up the Tucson name and even to pay compensation…

While Jean-François Robert and designer Yann Bakonyi (nicknamed Bako) were only beginning to see the end of this project consisting in giving life to a machine equipped with an Aprilia twin and the measurements of a 125 Grand Prix ( read), dark legal clouds have come to obscure the horizon…

Thus, the Korean manufacturer Hyundai has decided to tackle the tiny tricolor structure (the two accomplices working on a voluntary basis on this project), in order to deprive it of the Tucson name, yet filed with the INPI (National Institute of industrial property) in 1994 by Jean-François Robert. The reason ? The car manufacturer uses it to design one of these 4×4 … launched in 2003 !

A rather indelicate legal battle on the part of the automotive giant, which justifies its procedure by highlighting the "lack of exploitation" of the appellation by French craftsmen, arguing "that a registered trademark is only valid if it is used in a real and serious manner"…

Judged on January 6 – after five long years of proceedings – the case turned in favor of the Korean brand, to which the French justice awarded the Tucson brand, before forcing Jean-François Robert to pay the tidy sum of 2000 €, as well as various costs to the 7th world manufacturer !

BT 5.50 Superleggera wants to go green !

Crossed during the last JPMS (read our), Jean-François and Bako strive to maintain morale, despite this rebound undermining the fragile financial balance of the structure now responding to the name of Roadson.

"We will continue the adventure and make a new start, under the Roadson brand, with innovative projects", informs the team."Our latest creation, the BT 5.50 Superleggera, will continue its journey and, as promised, we will be experimenting with our innovative ideas in the Top Twin category and even on other tracks. Appointment is made on April 4 and 5, 2009 in Ledenon, for the first round of the championship".

Duly weighed on the seesaw of our colleagues from Motorcycle-Journal, the bike actually confirms the promises made this winter, posting the record value of 97 kg with engine oil, gear oil and water! Minimum weight for a 550 cc 4-stroke twin, achieved with forged aluminum wheels weighing 2.5 kg more than the – expensive – carbon components originally intended !

Having completed this first step, Roadson is now turning to a second challenge that is very much in tune with the times: making the BT 5.50 Superleggera as environmentally friendly as possible! "In addition to using a small displacement motorcycle that will consume less, we will work on its releases with the help of the Lycee Marcel Callot de Redon"says Roadson.

"Guy Divet, injection and Shell Marathon, will help us clean our engine, without degrading its power, and we will also transform it to accept the E 85, a first step towards partially renewable energy. Finally, Artytech proposes to produce a bodywork based on fibers and natural resins which will make our coverings, if not recyclable, at least as easy to treat as ordinary household waste ", list the two men..

Thus, after having limited the weight of this proto as much as possible, arousing very keen interest among many lovers of (beautiful) mechanics, Roadson announces that it wants "minimize the ecological footprint of our competitive season". A nice gesture, however requiring additional efforts and for which Jean-François and Bako do not hesitate to solicit generous patrons who love French motorcycles. !

Bubbling with ideas and motivation, the two creators therefore continue on their way, amused by one of our last questions: the new Moto2 category opening its doors in 2011 to preparation based on prototype chassis (read), can – imagine a variation of the Superleggera in the Grand Prix world championship ?

Not wishing to put the cart before the horse or play advertising effects, Jean-François Robert will simply admit "have thought about it of course, but budgets are already so hard to find in the French championship, then in the world…". Certainly, but the challenge could also interest a well-established preparer wishing to use the ultralight frame developed by Roadson … Stay tuned !

Alexandre BARDIN – Photos DR

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