Well I guess letting the winglets crack is still better than snapping the headstock of the frame by knocking it over in the parking lot like some other brands.
It’s easier and cheaper to weld together a few prototypes for testing. Once the best example is discovered, the. program your CNC cutters, pipe benders and welders to scale up into full production. At least, that’s my guess. From personal experience putting together the Riders Discount 2009 YZF-R1, the first Öhlins shocks we got for it had CNC-machined bodies. The second batch we received came with cast bodies.
That makes more sense for prototypes. But I figured for performance smooth bends would be better, also would cheaper and quicker.
I doubt that. With only 47 coming in, there will be a handful of club racers that will get one. There will be a bigger group of track day guys that don't care about the cost and will get one and the rest will go to street riders that will take them to starbucks and bike nights. They will all sell out.