OTL USA 8.2011 - GG

OTL
gg technik
This machine is just cool. A technological tour de force. The only “auslander” motorrad
manufacturer who’s supplied with original BMW running gear from the BMW factory! Three
wheels, and on its way to a dealer near you.
The final breakthrough came with Walter
Grüter’s GG Quad in the year 2004,
the product of thousands of man-hours
of development and sheer hard work,
pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial
drive. The GG Quad is a four- wheeled
motorcycle, 200 of which have been sold
worldwide.
I
f you’re alive, ride a motorrad, and
don’t want one of these, we’re not from
the same gene pool. Swiss-born Walter
Grüter trained as a mechanical engineer
and launched his own firm in 1983,
concentrating on retailing and servicing
European motorcycles, with a particular
emphasis on Moto Guzzi. In 1985 the firm
became an authorized dealer of BMW and
Ducati.
Grüter has always loved tinkering with
things mechanical. Not content with
simply selling and repairing motorcycles,
he took a close look at each new model
as it came out to see if anything could be
modified or improved, especially in terms
of visuals.
Eleven years after founding the company,
Grüter decided it was time to try his
hand at building something himself. This
turned out to be the GG Duetto, a stunning
motorcycle-sidecar combination built to
the firm’s own design and specifications.
By 1999 many GG duetto outfits had been
sold around Europe and Japan. In 2001
38 OTL september 2011
Grüter’s innovative ideas brought him to
the attention of BMW Switzerland, which
invited him to develop two prototypes for
the Swiss Army’s new motorcycle. BMW
won the bidding and contracted Grüter to
customize the resulting 600 BMW bikes.
The US government considers any
4 wheeler street machine a car, and
homologation in the US is very difficult
and expensive. Hence, Gruter concentrated
on a three wheeler, which is designated as
a motorcycle. The creation of GG Taurus,
a racy three-wheeler, is the continuation
of innovative ideas. The 3-wheeler can
be used without speed limitiation in
each country. Highest quality, first class
engineering, modern design, power and
security are in accord with precision and
driving pleasure on the highest level.
Over the years Grüter and his team have
established a global network of distributors
and dealers: “To sell this product, you
have to be seen promoting it,” he declares.
For a small manufacturer of custom
vehicles such as Grüter, this means taking
twelve years, you need a certain level
of infrastructure – and this Grüter + Gut
GmbH has achieved, along with its spinoff company GMG-Technik GmbH. For
20 years now the engineering workshops
(which boast three CNC machining
centers and a high-tech Makino machining
center) have been manufacturing custom
parts and accessories for other companies
and for Grüter’s in-house projects.
Despite his success over the years,
Walter Grüter intends to remain “lean”.
His two companies currently employ
8 people, spread over the development
department, the engineering workshops
and administration.
It goes without saying that Central
Switzerland has long been conscious
of this global player in the world of
motorcycle customization. In autumn
2005 Grüter + Gut GmbH became the
proud recipient of a prize for innovation,
courtesy of the Central Switzerland
Chamber of Commerce.
GG Taurus is also offered for people
with a physical disability
After many inquiries GG decided to take
the opportunity to build the GG vehicles
for people with a physical handicap. The
GG vehicles can be adapted to individual
needs, for example:
– Electrical gear change – Thumb brake
– Special running board (in addition to
the carrying frame left + right) – Driver’s
exhibition space at international shows
attended by the trade and the general
public. He has been halfway around the
globe in his travels, visiting the whole of
Europe, Japan, Russia, the Middle East
and the USA. Plans are afoot to expand
into other markets. In fact, OTL met Herr
Gruter at BMW Motorrad Days recently
in Garmisch, and was stunned by the sheer
quality of each and every component on
the machine. It is a mechanical work of
art with performance to match, driven by
BMW engineering. It was one of the most
innovative machines seen at the Bavarian
BMW party. And, it’s coming to the
USA!
To be able to launch no fewer than five
in-house developments in the space of
september 2011 OTL 39
OTL
gg technik
foldaway backrest – Modification of
footbrake Integral left side for electrical
gear – Special pannier for the wheel
chair.
The modification of GG Taurus for
people with a physical handicap is in
preparation.
GG TAURUS – Technical data
4 cylinder liquid-cooled inline 4 valves
per cylinder 1293 cc, 175 bhp at 9250
rpm.
Three-way cat. Converter, 6 gears forward
+ reverse gear
34 Liter fuel, weighs 875 pounds. 136
mph top speed.
GG in-house construction - Front:
Single-wheel suspension with trapezoid
cross-members in aluminum, Rear: GG
Swing arm in aluminum. Hydraulic
shock absorbers with infinitely variable
adjustment – front 100mm, rear 130
mm. Cardan with reverse gear. Hydraulic
brakes – front 270mm, rear 284mm.
Front floating, rear rigid brake discs
Forged aluminum wheels, Front 205/4017 / Rear 275/30-19
Price to be announced. See website for
further info:
http://www.gg-technik.ch/
40 OTL september 2011
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