The Closest Thing to a 500cc GP Bike You Could Actually Buy…
In an era dominated by electronically-managed four-stroke superbikes, the Ronax 500 arrived like a time machine, dragging the raw, violent soul of 1990s Grand Prix racing into the modern world. Built in Germany and unveiled in 2014, it remains one of the most outrageous motorcycles ever offered to the public: a fuel-injected, two-stroke V4 GP replica with minimal compromises.
The Ronax was born from a desire to resurrect the golden age of 500cc racing…in modernized form.
A Modern Tribute to the 500cc GP Era
If the Ronax looks familiar, that’s no accident. Its design clearly channels machines like the Honda NSR500 — the terrifying, tire-smoking weapon that defined premier-class racing before MotoGP went four-stroke. It was a heady era, when the likes of Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Gardner, Randy Mamola, and so many other legends tried to tame the raw power and brutal handling of the 500cc two-strokes.
“The high-horsepower 500s were hard to ride — no smoothly feeding power at high lean angle. You had to get turned early, then lift up to ‘plant’ the rear tire on a footprint capable of handling that legendary two-stroke hit. There was no certainty; a strong drive matched the rider’s body strength and speed of thought against the ever-possible highside.” –Cycle World
The Ronax 500 essentially asks: What if you could buy a brand-new NSR500 today, with modern reliability upgrades?
The result is a machine that blends:
- Classic GP architecture (two-stroke V4, expansion chambers)
- Modern engineering (fuel injection, digital electronics)
- Boutique craftsmanship (CNC-machined components, carbon fiber)
Only 46 units were ever planned — an intentional nod, of course, to Valentino Rossi and his iconic race number.
The Company Behind It: Ronax GmbH
The Ronax 500 didn’t come from one of the traditional motorcycle giants. Instead, it was the brainchild of Ronax GmbH, a small German engineering firm founded by former Grand Prix racer and engineer Ronald Ten Kate (often credited in connection with the project’s early development) along with a group of specialists with deep roots in racing and high-performance engine design.
Ronax was less a conventional manufacturer and more a boutique engineering collective — a team assembled specifically to bring the idea of a modern two-stroke GP replica to life. Their approach reflected this:
- Race-first philosophy: The bike was designed as a true GP-style machine from the outset, not a softened road bike.
- Engineering-led development: Emphasis was placed on precision-machined components, lightweight construction, and authentic GP architecture.
- Limited production by design: The 46-bike run was part of the concept, ensuring exclusivity and allowing hand-built quality.
The company leveraged specialist suppliers and motorsport-grade partners for key components: Öhlins for suspension, Brembo for braking, and bespoke machining firms for the chassis and engine internals.
After the initial unveiling and limited production run, Ronax largely faded from the spotlight, with no major follow-up models. That makes the Ronax 500 not just rare, but effectively a one-off statement from a company that existed to build a single uncompromising vision. That’s incredibly rare in the motoring world.
Engine: A Two-Stroke Masterpiece
At the heart of the Ronax is one of the most exotic engines ever fitted to a road-legal motorcycle.
- 499cc liquid-cooled two-stroke V4
- 80-degree cylinder angle
- Twin counter-rotating crankshafts
- Fuel injection (rare for large two-strokes)
- 160 hp @ 11,500 rpm
Twin crankshafts help reduce gyroscopic forces, improving agility and stability — just like in period GP machines. However, unlike the peaky, carbureted race bikes of the past, the Ronax used modern EFI and selectable maps (Sport/Rain) to make the power delivery slightly more manageable…though “manageable” is still relative. Certainly the bike retained much of the character of the original 500cc GP bikes.
In this way, the Ronax 500 wasn’t just a bit of nostalgic kit, but a cutting-edge reinterpretation of the “unrideable” 500’s of the two-stroke era.
Chassis & Components: No Expense Spared
Everything about the Ronax screams factory race bike:
- Aluminum frame (CNC-machined, adjustable geometry)
- Öhlins suspension (USD fork + TTX rear shock)
- Brembo monoblock brakes (320mm front discs)
- Forged aluminum wheels
- Full carbon-fiber bodywork, tank, and subframe
Dry weight comes in at around 145 kg (320 lbs) — astonishingly light for a machine with this level of performance. This gives the Ronax a power-to-weight ratio that rivals (and arguably exceeds) many modern superbikes.
A Race Bike for the Road (Sort Of)…
Despite its extreme nature, the Ronax 500 was technically road-legal, complete with an electric starter, hidden headlight, and optional indicators and mirrors. But let’s be honest: this was no commuter. It’s far closer to a track weapon with just enough concessions to sneak onto public roads. Even contemporary reviewers noted it would feel like riding a GP bike with slightly improved manners, not a friendly street machine.
The Ronax offered a sensory experience unlike anything today. Modern superbikes are faster, safer, and more refined—but they lack the violent powerbands, mechanical rawness, and screaming exhaust note of a big two-stroke. The Ronax delivered all of that — with just enough polish to keep it from being completely unrideable.
Price & Exclusivity
The Ronax was never meant to be accessible.
- Price: ~€100,000 (~$130k–$200k depending on taxes/import)
- Production: 46 units
- Build: Largely hand-assembled
This puts it in the realm of hyper-exotics — much closer to a collector’s piece than a production motorcycle.
Ronax 500 Specs
Engine: 499cc two-stroke V4 (80°), twin counter-rotating crankshafts
Power: ~160 hp @ 11,500 rpm
Fueling: Electronic fuel injection (Sport/Rain modes)
Transmission: 6-speed cassette gearbox
Frame: CNC aluminum bridge frame
Suspension: Öhlins (front & rear)
Brakes: Brembo monobloc, 320mm front discs
Bodywork: Full carbon fiber
Weight: ~145 kg (dry)
Production: 46 units
Price (new): ~€100,000
Why We Love it…
The Ronax 500 is basically a rolling tribute to one of the wildest eras in racing history. It wasn’t the fastest bike you could buy, not the most advanced, and certainly not practical. But it was just about the closest thing to owning a Grand Prix that you could ride on the street. And for a certain kind of rider (or collector), that’s priceless.
Follow the Builder
Ronax GmbH: www.ronax500.com
Photo Agency: Knitterfisch Dresden: www.knitterfisch.de
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What would it feel like to ride a motorcycle like this?
Awesome. Engineering art. When i smell the 2T exhaust,i’m done,my head instantly gets filled with pictures of 2t races from the 1986 season review i have on a TDK VHS casette. Have a moped,50cc,how many km’s i made on that,who knows… Glad there are so many people that like the proper racing that it was. Yes dangerous but so good. Congratulations Mr. Ten Kate,the bike is pure art. And so light,145kg! Weight reduction is the mother of tuning. Bike is like something i would make for myself if i could. Just saw the article this morning…oh,like a breath of fresh air. The spikey lines of bikes since,all the way from 2014 i just don’t like. I stopped buying the magazine because all bikes started to look like aliens. Well done and good luck.
Zimone