Japan’s Olympic track bike costs more than a brand-new Porsche 911

Did you know that the Japanese national cycling team’s new Olympic track bike cost more than a brand-new Porsche 911?

This year’s Olympics brought a lot of surprises, and one of them was the bikes used by Japan that go into the six-figure cost territory.

These bikes are also made by a company that builds race cars and space rockets.

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Japan’s Olympic Track Bike

If you have watched bike races in the past like the Tour de France, then you might remember the specialized purpose-built road bikes used by the athletes.

These kinds of bikes usually cost around $15,000 to $30,000.

However, the Olympic track bike goes into the six-figure cost territory.

According to Cycling Weekly, the V-Izu TCM-2, made by Toray Carbon Magic cost around $138,000.

With that kind of money, you could even buy a brand-new Porsche 911 with a few options.

The company behind the bike

The Olympic track bike manufacturer is owned by Japanese carbon giant Toray.

And these carbon fiber bikes are not the only product that they develop.

According to their official site, they produce carbon components for Super GT monocoques, NASCAR seats, WEC prototypes, Formula 3 body panels, and winged rockets.

They also make other carbon fiber equipment for the Olympics such as bobsleds and competition wheelchairs.

The carbon fiber Olympic track bike also has a unique left-sided drivetrain.

Though, it is uncommon to see a left-sided drivetrain on a bike, it is not unusual in track cycling.

Placing the chainring on the inside improves the aerodynamics and handling of the Olympic track bike.

“The first thing that athletes say about this bike is that once you get up to speed, it’s hard to slow down,” says Koichi Nakano of the Japanese Cycling Federation.

Even Lamborghini has made a Huracán Sterrato bike, but in terms of performance, it doesn’t even come close to this one.