The Roehr 1250SC was a limited-production American superbike, introduced in late 2008 as an updated version of the V-Roehr 1130. It used a supercharged Harley-Davidson Revolution engine, carried its fuel under the seat and, according to its maker, was the most powerful production motorcycle on sale in the United States.
Roehr 1250SC at a glance
| Maker | Roehr Motorcycle Company, Gurnee, Illinois, USA |
|---|---|
| Introduced | V-Roehr in March 2007; 1250 version in late 2008 |
| Engine | 1,250 cc V-twin, Harley-Davidson “Revolution” |
| Charging | Rotrex supercharger |
| Power | 180 hp (130 kW) |
| Price | US$49,999 (the 1130 cost US$39,995) |
| Fuel tank | 12 litres, under the seat |
| Cooling | side-mounted Honda radiators |
This page is based on one source only, the English Wikipedia article on the Roehr Motorcycle Company; the 1250 is described there in a section on the V-Roehr.
History of the Roehr 1250SC
Roehr Motorcycle Company was a small American manufacturer based in Gurnee, Illinois. Its founder, Walter Roehrich, had been working on his own motorcycles since 1995, when he began building a 500 cc two-stroke V-twin from Yamaha YZ250 engine parts; the resulting 115 hp Roehr Rv500 was shown to the press in 2000. A second prototype, the Rv1000, followed in 2004 with a 120 hp 936 cc four-stroke V-twin from US Highland, but neither machine reached series production.
The production model arrived in March 2007 under the V-Roehr name. The 1130 was powered by a supercharged 180 hp version of Harley-Davidson’s 1250 cc Revolution engine, production of the first fifty bikes was scheduled for 2008, and the price was US$39,995. The design was unusual: the 12-litre fuel tank sat under the seat, while the dummy tank on top was only a cover for the airbox and the intake of the V-Rod engine, and side-mounted Honda radiators kept the profile slim.
In late 2008 the 1130 was updated into the 1250, using the 1,250 cc version of the Revolution engine with a Rotrex supercharger. It was still rated at 180 hp, or 130 kW, and Roehr described it as the most powerful production motorcycle available in the United States. The price rose to US$49,999. Demand for an expensive limited-production machine fell away during the Great Recession: eleven of the twelve deposits taken for the 1250 were cancelled, and Roehr stopped production of all its motorcycles in 2012.
Design and features
- Supercharged Revolution engine: Harley-Davidson’s 1,250 cc V-twin with a Rotrex supercharger, rated at 180 hp.
- Fuel under the seat: a 12-litre tank placed low in the frame, with a dummy tank covering the airbox and intake.
- Side-mounted radiators: Honda units on the flanks of the bike, fitted to keep the profile slim.
- Limited production: a hand-built American superbike at a price close to that of a car.
Roehr 1250SC versions
- Rv500 (2000): prototype with a 115 hp 500 cc two-stroke V-twin built from Yamaha YZ250 parts.
- Rv1000 (2004): prototype with a 120 hp 936 cc V-twin from US Highland, never manufactured.
- V-Roehr 1130 (2007): the first production model, 180 hp, US$39,995.
- V-Roehr 1250 / 1250SC (2008): larger Revolution engine with a Rotrex supercharger, US$49,999.
The same company built the electric eSuperbike and eSupersport. More American motorcycles are in our Roehr collection.
Video: Roehr Motorcycles 1250sc Motorcycle Review
Video by Motorcycle.com on YouTube.
Sources
- Roehr Motorcycle Company, English Wikipedia: history, engine, price, production
