2005 Metmachex-Suzuki 1,157cc Bandit
Registration no. FH05 UKT
Frame no. SMETMA001CHEX0305
Engine no. V720-101745

• Unique design
• The sole survivor of two made
• Bought directly from the manufacturer

This unique motorcycle was constructed in 2004 by Metmachex Engineering, the British company known worldwide for its special aluminium-alloy swinging arms and other components. Now based at Alfreton, Derbyshire, Metmachex was founded in 1978, its trading name being derived from the words 'Metal Machining Experts'. At first the firm's main source of income was sub-contract work, interspersed with design and machinery repairs. Their first swinging arm was made after a customer asked for his Yamaha RD350LC swinging arm to be repaired; the repair was found to be too costly, so Metmachex designed a new one made out of aluminium. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Metmachex-Suzuki was designed and built by the firm's chief engineer, Bill Ryde, using £30,000 of his own money and a similar amount from the Government as an engineering innovation grant. This motorcycle's most innovative feature is its 'steering head', which uses a pair of spherical (Rose) joints instead of the conventional ball or taper-roller races. The engine is that of a Suzuki Bandit 1200, which in standard trim produces 100bhp-plus and over 70lb/ft of torque. Given that the Metmachex is considerably lighter than the 211kg Suzuki donor bike, you can be assured that its performance is more than adequate.

The current vendor bought this machine directly from Metmachex in 2009, and in June of that year it was featured in Motor Cycle News. MCN quoted the owner as saying: 'the steering is a little tight on take off but then the whole bike changes. Without doubt this is the BEST handling bike bar none I have ridden. It's extremely stable at all speeds and just glides around bends.'

Metmachex made only two of these machines; the other one was stolen and disappeared, believed destroyed, leaving the example offered here as the sole survivor. It has covered only 70 miles from new and is presented in commensurately excellent condition. Representing a unique opportunity for collectors, this testament to British engineering excellence is offered with the purchase receipt, an expired MoT (2010) and a V5C registration document.