It wasn’t a big booth, but it contained a testament to what giving up 3 years of your life to a passion and vision can do. It’s Dan Fischer’s dream: the Fischer MRX 650, “the first American Superbike” – consensus around the booth was that the Buell didn’t qualify; we didn’t go there. The bike on display is the third prototype in the series and will be going to production in August for a limited run. The price? The MRX 650 will go for approximately $9995.00 USD when it begins its first limited production run this August.

The production model will see some changes; a pillion seat (cowling style), lack of the supercharger indicated on the prototype, bigger mirrors, and, one of the cooler design concepts we’ve heard of, a translucent strip (seen as carbon-fiber in the photo) “splitting” the tank cover and revealing a clear fuel tank and air box below.

The engine is a 90-degree liquid-cooled v-twin developing 77 hp at 9400rpm. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the Suzuki SV650’s heart; no coincidence since the engine is supplied by a team from Korea’s Hyosung, one of whose members is one of the original designers of the SV. This engine also sees use in Hyosung’s “SV-inspired” Comet 650, making its appearance as early as March in the US under the Alpha mark. In the case of the Fischer MRX, however, don’t expect the same mild-mannered characteristics; we suspect the glasses, business-suit, and nebbish attitude have been left in the phone booth.

The American company Gemini Technology Systems, instrumental in the development of the earlier Harley Davidson VR-1000 “superbike” (we’re not going there either), which debuted in 1990 and was “killed” in 2001, refined the top end of the new power plant. They are also responsible for the development of the MRX’s chassis; the geometry was developed out of research on a number of currently manufactured offerings as well as the known specs for MotoGP bikes. The bike’s styling is largely the work of British motorcycle designer Glynn Kerr. The result is a bike with an origami-meets-neo-Tokyo angular edge and potentially best-of-class handling.

In one of the best quotes of the show, Dan Fischer was heard to say, “…ugly bikes don’t go fast!” That being the case, the Maryland manufactured MRX should be a cooker.

Estimated MSRP: $9995.00