Chapter 23: Ignite the Revolution
Summer's first heat wave arrived early in Cleveland, turning the city's industrial district into a furnace of asphalt, steel, and ambition. HMT Industries thrummed with energy as production lines ran night and day to fulfill Vortex and Zephyr orders. Amid this crescendo, Nate Stark's gaze was fixed on a different horizon: the two-wheeled revolution.
"Morning, Nate." Maria Santos intercepted him in the lobby, her clipboard bristling with notes. "R&D's ready for the Ignite presentation. Jake's team has prototypes for the test rides."
Nate nodded, tasting the moment's weight. "Let's make them remember why HMT built cars—and now builds dreams that lean into corners."
The Ignite project had been confidential for months in HMT's back-lot workshop, where only a few trusted engineers had access. That morning, the doors slid open to reveal a row of prototype superbikes, their frames muscular yet elegant, each showcasing a new hydrogen-enhanced internal-combustion engine. Carbon-fiber fairings gleamed under overhead LEDs, concealing the compact 600-cc twin-cylinder motors at their heart.
Jake Morrison stood beside the first prototype, adjusting its instrument cluster. His lab coat was gone, replaced by a crisp HMT polo. "Behold the Ignite S1. Lightweight chassis, modular engine mount, and our new 600-cc twin with variable valve timing and direct fuel injection. Delivers 140 horsepower at 9,000 rpm."
Nate ran a hand along the fuel tank's sculpted curve. "Torque numbers?"
Jake tapped the display: "125 Nm at 4,500 rpm. Broad powerband, linear throttle response—no lag, just pure pull."
Sarah Chen joined, holding a tablet. "We've tuned the engine for a high compression ratio using our proprietary cooling system. Fuel efficiency is 45 mpg urban, 60 mpg highway. And maintenance intervals are every 12,000 miles."
Nate turned to Sarah. "And the exhaust note?"
Sarah smiled. "We engineered a harmonically tuned header and muffler system. It sings at low rpm and rumbles with authority at high revs—designed to evoke classic superbike growl."
The test area outside the workshop housed a loop of asphalt winding past service roads, power substations, and arc-reactor vents. A crowd of HMT engineers and invited local riders assembled to witness the first civilian demonstration.
"First rider, Jules Fontaine," Nate announced, pointing to a lithe French professional clad in leather. "Consultant on fairing aerodynamics."
Fontaine nodded, swung a leg over the Ignite, and waited. The engine idled smoothly—steady, confident. He opened the throttle, and the bike lunged forward like a coiled spring. Tires gripped the pavement, and the crowd gasped at the combination of acceleration and the melodic roar.
Moments later, Fontaine returned, sliding off the bike with grace. "Impressive midrange torque," he said, removing his helmet. "Pulls hard from 3,000 rpm to redline with no flat spots. Handling is agile—turn-in is sharp without nervousness."
Jake beamed. "That's the chassis geometry paired with our high-performance suspension. Active damping smooths road imperfections, but you still feel the connection."
"Next up, Kenji Sasaki," Nate continued. "Veteran racer and bike designer." Sasaki mounted the next Ignite. The engine's crisp bark echoed as he accelerated into the curve, then banked through the bend with precision before throttling out in a seamless surge. His return was quiet, his expression thoughtful.
"The power delivery is musical," Sasaki observed, helmet in hand. "Nothing jolting—just a crescendo. Braking feedback is confident, chassis balance is spot-on. You've captured the essence of what makes a superbike thrilling."
The media tent, erected for Monaco, had been transported back to Cleveland. Journalists from national and regional outlets clicked away, recording interviews and photographing the bikes. A reporter from CycleWorld magazine asked, "Mr. Stark, what inspired HMT to enter the motorcycle market?"
Nate leaned casually against a crate. "We built cars to push boundaries. Motorcycles are pure expression—you and machine entwined. Ignite extends our vision: craftsmanship, performance, and innovation for riders who want both tradition and technology."
A local influencer queried, "But conventional engines are old news. Why not electric?"
Sarah answered confidently, "The internal-combustion engine remains central to motorcycle culture—its sound, its mechanics. We've optimized it with modern engineering: high compression, advanced cooling, active suspension, and direct injection. It's the best of analogue emotion and digital precision."
Another reporter smiled. "Sounds like you've hit a sweet spot. Traditionalists and performance seekers both get what they want."
At lunchtime, Nate joined the core R&D team in the café. Whiteboards around them were covered with ignition-timing maps and materials specs. They shared pizza.
"You're redefining superbikes," Jake said between bites. "Competitors didn't see this coming from a car company."
Nate shrugged. "HMT stands for horizons—why limit ourselves? We started with cars because that's my legacy, now we carry people differently. Bikes are a new canvas."
Maria raised her soda. "Just don't forget the folks who build the seats and panels. They deserve credit for this too."
They laughed, the moment sealing their teamwork.
That evening, Nate walked the loop by moonlight, the Ignite prototypes silent under guard lights. He reflected on each bike's evolution: the bespoke wood inlays on Zephyr, the Vortex's carbon-fiber monocoque, now the Ignite's high-rev twin. Each step marked growth, each innovation built on the last.
His phone vibrated: a message from Klaus Brenner. Milan dealer wants to add Ignite to his showroom. Alps test-ride next month?
Nate typed back: Yes. Arrange a press ride through the Stelvio Pass. Let the road talk.
A second message: Royal commission extends to one Ignite with special liveries, custom exhaust tips.
He smiled: HMT was now crafting automotive art on two and four wheels.
Under the arc reactor's hum, Nate felt the horizon expand again. Reds, blues, silvers—machines of speed and grace awaited their turn. Tomorrow, the world would see Ignite not as a sideline but as a revolution on two wheels.
And HMT Industries would ride that revolution, engine roaring.