The Motorcycle sure has changed since the first European inventors strapped motors to their safety bicycles in the early part of the 19th century. And still, they are for the most part the same concept, 2 wheels, and an engine. The top speeds, however, that’s another story entirely. Motorcycles that can top out at over 200 miles per hour are a common occurrence. The amazing features of the top 7 fastest bikes in the world would have absolutely dumbfounded the inventors in the 1800s strapping steam engines to bicycles. Would they have ever dreamed of the machines we call bikes today?
Here is a look at 7 of the fastest bikes in the world and the features that make them that way:
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R, Top Speed: 186 miles per hour
Main Features:
1441 cc (87.9 Cu in) four valve liquid cooled engine.
270.9 HP hit a top speed of 186 miles per hour.
0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds.
6-speed transmission.
The Kawasaki Ninja was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005 and released for sale for the 2006 model year. The bike has gone through some modifications (for the faster) since it’s introduction. The ZX-14R was Kawasaki’s most powerful sport bike as of 2007.
Yamaha YZF -R1, Top Speed: 186 miles per hour
Main Features:
998 cc, liquid-cooled, 16-valve DOHC, in-line-four-cylinder, engine
6-speed transmission
200 HP @13500 rpm.
0 – 60 mph in 2.88 seconds
The Yamaha YZF-R1 has been around since 1998. The latest generation of the bike was unveiled at the EICMA Motorcycle show in 2015. The newly designed bike was given a state-of-the-art slide and traction control system quick shifter, anti-wheelie system a larger airbox shortened bore to stroke ratio and they kept it all within the same chassis spec as the previous generation Yamaha.
Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird, Top Speed:180 miles per hour
Main Features:
1137cc, (69.4 cu in) DOHC four-stroke, inline-4 engine.
137 HP.
Close Ratio 6-speed Transmission
0 – 60 in 3.4 seconds
Also called the Super Blackbird, The Honda CBR 1100xx was produced from 1996 t0 2007. Honda produced the bike as a challenger to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 for the title as the world’s fastest production Motorcycle. The CBR 1100xx took that title from the ZX-11in 1997 only to be replaced by the Suzuki Hayabusa in 1999.
Kawasaki Ninja H2R, Top Speed: 210 miles per hour
Main Features:
998 cc supercharged DOHC inline-4 engine with 300 H.P power.
6-speed dog-ring transmission.
310 hp @14,000rpm.
0 – 60 in 2.5 seconds
The Kawasaki Ninja H2R track-only model has more power than fastest of the fast street-legal bikes on the market. The top speed of 210 would blow away the Suzuki Hayabusa or Kawasaki ZX-12R, but the street-legal version of the bike has a top speed of 200.
MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K, 227 miles per hour
Main Features:
Rolls-Royce 250-C18 turboshaft engine.
2-speed semi-automatic transmission.
320 HP@52000 rpm.
The MTT Turbine Superbike is a nonproduction motorcycle. Its turboshaft engine drives the rear wheel through a two-speed gearbox and chain and sprocket. The turbines are not driven by jet fuel in the Y2k, but diesel kerosene and biofuel. The results are very impressive.
Suzuki Hayabusa, Top Speed: 194 miles per hour
Main Features:
1299cc,(79.3 cu in) four-stroke, DOHC, 4-cylinder 16 valve engine.
6-speed constant mesh transmission.
162 HP. @ 9750rpm
0 – 60 mph in 2.5 seconds.
The Hayabusa became the Fastest production Motorcycle in 1999 taking out the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird. “Hayabusa” is the Japanese word for peregrine Falcon. The peregrine Falcon is known to reach speeds of 202 mph. It is the fastest bird on the planet. The peregrine falcon also preys on blackbirds.
Dodge Tomahawk,Top Speed(claimed) 420 miles per hour
Main Features:
8.3 liter, V-10 SRT 10 Dodge Viper engine
500 HP.
2-speed manual transmission
0 – 60 miles in 1.5 seconds.
The Dodge Tomahawk was a massive concept motorcycle. With a 10 cylinder Dodge Viper Engine, the tomahawk weighed in at over 1500 pounds. Dodged claimed a top speed of 420 mph, but the speed was never actually tested. The top speed number was more than likely based on calculations using horsepower and gearing numbers. A large number of members of the motorcycle community question whether it was actually a motorcycle or not as the Tomahawk had 4 tires. 2 in front and 2 in back with independent suspensions for better handling in the curves.
As you can see, all of these bikes have at least one amazing feature in common and that is the power plant. What they do with that engine through gearing and engineering and design is what sets them apart and gives them the titles of the fastest bikes in the world. If you are thinking of getting yourself any of these bikes, you might just have to check what features make each of them unique.