Top Ten Fastest Motorcycles

When you have the need for speed, nothing is quite like jumping on the back of a crotch rocket. Over the years, motorcycles have progressively gotten faster and faster. Now they are available in speeds that far exceed the speed limits in most places in the world. Here are the top ten fastest bikes:

10

Bimota YB6 EXUP

The Bimota YB6 EXUP is a classic Japanese sports bike. It was released in 1989 and is considered one of the forerunners to the modern sportsbikes we have all come to love.

Specs:

  • 1002cc inline-four
  • Top speed: 170 miles per hour
  • Power: 147 horsepower

9

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 is attributed to being the motorcycle that started the speed battle that ensued during the mid 1990’s until the mid 2000’s. It was the world’s fastest production motorcycle for six years between 1990 and 1995.

Specs:

  • Engine: 1052cc inline four
  • Top speed: 175 miles per hour
  • Power: 145 horsepower

8

Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird

Arriving on the scene in 1996, the Blackbird was manufactured to challenge the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 as the world’s fastest production motorcycle and succeeded with a top speed of just under 180 miles per hour. It was the fastest production motorcycle until the Suzuki Hayabusa was released in 1999.

Specs:

  • Engine: 1298cc inline-four
  • Top speed: 180 miles per hour
  • Power: 162 horsepower

7

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R

Produced by Kawasaki from 2000 until 2006, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R is known for its role in bringing a truce to the escalating competition to build a faster motorcycle. Its principle competition is the Suzuki Hayabusa.

Specs:

  • Engine: 1198cc inline-four
  • Top speed: 185 miles per hour
  • Power: 178 horsepower

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6

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14

Introduced at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 is capable of accelerating 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 186 mph, but is thought to be capable of going quite a bit faster.

Specs:

  • Engine: 1352cc inline-four
  • Top speed: 186 miles per hour
  • Power: 163 horsepower

5

Suzuki Hayabusa

The Suzuki Hayabusa began production in 1999. The literal translation of the name hayabusa is “peregrine falcon.” It was chosen as the name because peregrine falcons are widely known to prey on blackbirds and Suzuki was out to beat the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird in terms of speed.

Specs:

  • Engine: 1298cc inline-four
  • Top speed: 188 miles per hour
  • Power: 173 horsepower

4

MV Agusta F4 R 312

The MV Agusta F4 is the motorcycle that resulted in the reincarnation of MV Agusta in 1988. Following his work on the Ducati 916, famous motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini began work on the F4. The F4 is almost unique among superbikes to have a hemispherical cylinder chamber and having 4-valves per cylinder.

Specs:

  • Engine: 1078cc inline-four
  • Top speed: 193 miles per hour
  • Power: 190 horsepower

3

Ducati 1199 Panigale R

First introduced in 2011 at the Milan Motorcycle show in Italy. It features the world’s most powerful twin-cylinder engine and has the highest power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios of any traditional production motorcycle. The 1199 is also one of the first production sports motorcycles to feature an electronically adjustable suspension.

Specs:

  • Engine: 1199cc V-twin
  • Top speed: 200 miles per hour
  • Power: 195 horsepower @ 9,000 rpm

2

MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K

The MTT Turbine Superbike is unique on this list in that it doesn’t use a regular combustion engine. The machine is powered by a Rolls-Royce gas turbine. The massive amount of power is supplied to the rear wheel using a two-speed gearbox. Since the other only other motorcycle included on the list is not considered to be a production bike, it officially holds the Guinness World Record for being both the world’s fastest production motorcycle and being the world’s most expensive production motorcycle.

Specs:

  • Engine: Rolls-Rocye 250-C20 turbo shaft
  • Top speed: 227 miles per hour
  • Power: 320 horsepower @ 52,000 rpm

1

Dodge Tomahawk

The Dodge Tomahawk is equipped with the same V-10 engine used in the Dodge Viper. Yes, you read that right, a V-10 on a motorcycle. Although never reaching production, this bike drives 500 HP to its 4 wheels. Only 10 of these sought after motorcycles were ever built. Each one was sold for prices up to $550,000. With a 0-60 time of 1.75 seconds, the Dodge Tomahawk is officially the world’s fastest bike.

Specs:

  • Engine: 10-cylinder 90-degree V-type
  • Top speed: 350 miles per hour
  • Power: 500 horsepower @ 5600 rpm

 

Featured image: Flickr by time anchor

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