Derbi
Mulhacén 659
Named
after the tallest mountain in Spain, the Derbi Mulhacén 659 is the
largest-displacement motorcycle ever produced by Spain. Built by Minarelli for
Yamaha in Italy, the fuel-injected, sohc, four-valve, liquid-cooled Single is a
willing mill, producing 47 horsepower at 6250 rpm and 41 foot-pounds of torque
at 5500 rpm. The dry-sump engine serves as a stressed member of the
tubular-steel frame, the front downtubes of which double as an oil tank. A 43mm
Marzocchi inverted fork handles suspension duties up front, while at the rear a
link-actuated shock is offset to the right side of the cast-aluminum swingarm.
Wheelbase is 54.5 inches.
Weighing
a claimed 357 pounds dry, the Mulhacén feels light and accelerates briskly.
Naturally, the 659 is best-suited to dancing through the corners of a twisty
mountain road, where it is quick and sure-footed. The front brake—a radial-pump
Brembo master cylinder mated to a radial-mount four-piston caliper pinching a
320mm stainless-steel rotor—is a good compromise, especially if you plan to
ride off-road; but if Nennewitz proceeds as planned to design a road-only
version with 17-inch wheels and radial tires, a twin-rotor setup is a must.
At
32.6 inches, the seat is rather tall, but its narrowness where it meets the gas
tank allows 6-footers to easily reach the ground. Shorter riders will have to
tiptoe to maintain their balance at stops. This is one detail of the project
that needs to be revised. Since seat padding is already thin, though, lowering
the seat may require re-designing the subframe.
