Your friend says they went 200 MPH on a GSXR 750. Spoiler alert: they probably didn’t.
On the other hand, these superbikes are the real deal. Bikes need to do a true 175 miles per hour to even make the list, fast enough to cause tunnel vision and muffle your screams of terror in the roaring wind.
Nothing gets the blood pumping faster than the adrenaline surge coming from a fast bike. The higher the speeds get, the more excitement they create. That’s why we’ve ranked 12 of the fastest motorcycles in the world at the time of this article.
We’re not just going to go down the list of every brand-new 1000cc motorcycle on this countdown. Our goal is to bring in the underdogs, the outsiders, the surprising ones.
In this list, you’ll find your favorite Kawasaki, Yamaha, BMW and even a Dodge. They each feature their own unique qualities and mind-blowing power. Some have more aesthetic appeal than others, but that’s not what you came here for. You want to know which one is the fastest, and we’ve got the answers.
So next time your GSXR friend claims to have the world’s fastest bike, set them straight with these cold hard facts.
12. BMW K1200S: 175 MPH
Starting our list at 175 MPH means you are in for a real treat.
Most of us will never get the chance to ride a motorcycle that fast, but we can hope. BMW created the K1200S to be agile, lightweight and easy to maneuver, and it’s fast as a result of that awesome engineering.
It’s powered by a 1157 cc four-cylinder inline engine diagonally-mounted to ensure the bike has a lower center of gravity. It produces 164 horsepower at 10,250 RPM and features a max torque of 129 Nm at 8,250 RPM. What you get in return is a 0 to 60 MPH time of only 3.2 seconds.
Going this fast means you need quality brakes. Thankfully, the EVO brakes paired with the ABS system help the K1200S to achieve braking excellence.
This bike also features a revolutionary suspension which helps to keep the ride smooth and controlled. If that’s not enough to push it over the edge, that single-sided swing arm should win you over.
Although we can admit it’s aged a bit in recent years, and there’s no getting around how big the K1200S is compared to today’s literbikes, it’s still an absolute beast over a decade later.
BMW K1200S Specs:
Engine: 1157 cc DOHC, 16 valve four-cylinder
Max. power: 164 horsepower at 10,250 RPM
Top speed: 175 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 3.2 seconds
Trivia: Did you know that a production model 2006 BMW K 1200 S beat the world land speed record at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats?
11. Aprilia RSV 1000R Mille: 175 MPH
The Aprilia RSV 1000R Mille was produced from 1998 through 2000. Mille stands for 1000 in Italian, and as such this bike is powered by a 998 cc liquid-cooled fuel-injected 60-degree Rotax V-twin engine.
The downside to that is that this bike is prone to vibration. That’s why Aprilia introduced the ADVC, which stands for Anti-Vibration Double Countershaft. But it didn’t fix the problem.
Like a true beast, this bike will shake itself off the kickstand if you’re not careful. But that’s fine because it hits 60 MPH in only 3.1 seconds and runs incredibly smooth at speed. It pumps out 141.13 horsepower at 10,000 RPM and features a max torque of 107 Nm at just 5,500 RPM.
Aprilia RSV1000R Specs:
Engine: 998 cc four-stroke, V-Twin 60-degree
Max. power: 141.13 horsepower at 10,000 RPM
Top speed: 175 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 3.1 seconds
Trivia: Another unique feature of the Mille is the early version of a slipper clutch. This worked by using a vacuum on the closed throttle. When used on the inlet manifold, it offered the slipper clutch effect way back in ‘98. Radical.
10. MV Agusta F4 1000R: 185 MPH
When you want raw power out of your bike, the MV Agusta F4 1000R is the natural choice.
This exotic motorcycle carves corners like none other and the design is flawless. It’s the second generation F4 1000 series from the obscure Italian manufacturer MV Agusta, and while you may never have heard of them their history spans most of the last century.
This limited edition bike features a 1000 cc liquid-cooled 16-valve engine. With the short-stroke motor and lightweight crankshaft, acceleration won’t be an issue. In fact, it’s been clocked at just 2.7 seconds to reach 60 MPH .
This superbike also features eight-level traction control. This allows it to handle like a dream no matter what speed it is traveling at.
It features 174 max horsepower plus 115 Nm of torque at 10,000 RPM. This model featured upgraded Brembo Monobloc radial brakes, carbon-nitride coated Marzocchi upside-down forks and forged black wheels, and an upgraded Sachs rear shock absorber. The rebound damping and compression are adjustable at both low and high-speed ranges, top spec for a road bike of its time.
MV Agusta F4 1000R Specs:
Engine: 1000 cc liquid-cooled 16-valve inline four
Max. power: 174 horsepower at 10,000 RPM
Top speed: 185 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.7 seconds
Trivia: In 2006, the MV Agusta F4 1000 R was recorded as the fastest production class 1000 cc bike at Bonneville Salt Flats with a speed in excess of 185 MPH.
9. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R: 186 MPH
You might think the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R deserves to be closer to the top of the list. You might also think it goes 200 MPH, like your friend on the GSXR 750 did last weekend on some backroad in Mexico.
But despite having 1400cc on tap, other bikes are simply faster than this one.
Even still, the Ninja 14 is impressive. Make no doubt about it; this motorcycle is a sheer beast. Take a quick peek at the engine and you quickly see what this superbike is made of. It features 1441 cc of unbridled power from an inline-four liquid-cooled engine making 197 horsepower at 10,000 RPM and 158 Nm at 7,500 RPM.
That all helps it achieve a 0-60 MPH time of only 2.6 seconds - blink and you’ll miss it.
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R Specs:
Engine: 1441 cc inline-four liquid-cooled
Max. power: 197 horsepower at 10,000 RPM
Top speed: 186 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.6 seconds
Trivia: Even when this bike is traveling at high speeds, it stays smooth and steady. It features a three-level traction control system to keep its immense weight under control.
8. BMW S1000RR: 188 MPH
There’s no question that this bike was meant for speed. The Germans don’t get involved for nothing, after all.
Even the older models are superb - the 2019 BMW S1000 RR features a 999cc 16-valve engine that has a lighter inlet valve and updated intake cam. On top of that, the frame is super light making the bike faster than the earlier model. The wet weight is just 450 pounds.
They built it with an updated HP4 Dynamic Damping control semi-active suspension pack which helps it achieve 60 MPH in just 2.7 seconds.
This sport bike pumps out 195 horsepower at 13,500 RPM helping it to top the charts of the most powerful on the dyno. It also has features such as cruise control and ABS to help it out on the street.
BMW S1000RR Specs:
Engine: 999cc 16-valve inline four
Max. power: 195 horsepower at 13,500 RPM
Top speed: 188 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.7 seconds
Trivia: This sport bike was initially created to compete in the 2009 Superbike World Championship, but it couldn’t fend off Aprilia, Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki… AKA pretty much everyone else.
7. Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory: 190 MPH
For the first time ever, Aprilia has departed from its typical 999cc formula with the RSV4 1100.
Setting its sights square on the bigger Italian gun, Ducati, the Factory edition of the RSV4 sees the 1078cc engine derived from the Tuono V4 shoehorned into a lightweight sportbike chassis.
The result is a superbike with a top speed of 190 MPH thanks to its 65-degree V4 engine cranking out 217 horsepower and 122 Nm of torque at 11,000 RPM. The whole package weighs just 439 pounds wet. That’s with a full tank of gas.
Of course, you’re going to pay for the right to toss a leg over the most cutting-edge Aprilia ever made: $24,999 to be exact.
But once you hear the roar of an Aprilia V-twin, you might as well forget how to pronounce that other Italian company’s name.
Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory Specs:
Engine: 1078cc 65-degree V-twin, liquid-cooled
Max. power: 217 horsepower at 13,200 RPM
Top speed: 190 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.5 seconds (estimated)
Trivia: There’s a cheaper version of the RSV4 that still uses the former bike’s 1000cc engine, a comparative bargain at $17,499.
6. Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird: 190 MPH
As amazing as that Aprilia is, some bikes were beating those numbers way back in the 90s.
Initially launched back in 1996, the Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird was considered a revival motorcycle that was far better than the original.
Power comes from a 1137 cc four-stroke inline-four cylinder liquid-cooled engine that helps it to hit 0-60 MPH h in just 2.8 seconds.
The Blackbird has a max power of 164 horsepower at 9,500 RPM that allows it to hit 190 MPH. In addition, it features a dual counter balancer shaft which offers superior smoothness. Originally, this bike was produced to take on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11, and it surpassed expectations.
Honda CBR1100 Blackbird Specs:
Engine: 1137 cc four-stroke inline-four cylinder liquid-cooled
Max. power: 164 horsepower at 9,500 RPM
Top speed: 190 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.8 seconds
Trivia: This is the highest-displacement CBR to date.
5. Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R: 194 MPH
That 4 MPH difference between the Hayabusa and the Blackbird was the most important number in the world to motorcyclists of the 1990s.
The Suzuki Hayabusa features a 1,299 cc short-stroke, four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine that is everything you would hope for in a fast motorcycle. It hits 60 MPH in just 2.6 seconds and pumps out 197 horsepower at 6,750 RPM. It also comes with the Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve that helps to achieve peak engine performance in any condition. Riders can also tweak the settings with the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector.
And it has Japanese writing on the side! Of course it’s fast!
What’s most surprising about the Hayabusa is the price. For speed and power, it’s not bad to spend about $15,000 to ride one. What’s great about this superbike is that it has had its part in many other purposes.
There has even been a use for it with several police departments. In 2006, OHP (Oklahoma Highway Patrol) seized one and turned it into a pursuit vehicle. It featured police lights, siren, a radar unit and had their badge. After the positive response, they purchased two more to replace their Harley fleet.
Suzuki Hayabusa Specs:
Engine: 1,299 cc short-stroke, four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve
Max. power: 197 horsepower at 6,750 RPM
Top speed: 194 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.6 seconds
Trivia: Humberside Police in the UK also used an undercover Hayabusa. With a video camera and speed detection equipment, Operation Achilles aimed to catch speeding riders with the fastest bike of them all.
4. Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition: 202 MPH
The Ducati 1199 Panigale was first introduced during the 2011 Milan Motorcycle Show. The R Final Edition features a liquid-cooled 90-degree 1,285 cc four-valve engine, making it the world’s most powerful twin-cylinder motorcycle at the time.
It pumped out a massive 209 horsepower at 11,000 RPM and featured 142 Nm at 9,000 RPM during engine tests. This newer model comes with lightened engine components which include titanium connecting rods plus some carbon fiber elements on the exterior, contributing to a lower wet weight of 420 pounds and a 0-60 MPH time of 2.98 seconds.
And while the Ducati Panigale V4 R should be even faster still in most hands, there’s nothing like a big twin to wash your blues away.
Not bad, Italy. Not bad at all.
Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition Specs:
Engine: liquid-cooled 90-degree two-cylinder, 1,285 cc four-valve
Max. power: 209 horsepower at 11,000 RPM
Top speed: 202 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.98 seconds
Trivia: The top speed of 202 MPH was recorded by Road and Track with Termignoni exhaust which is a factory option.
3. Kawasaki Ninja H2R: 209 MPH
If you’ve ever wanted to ride a monster that takes on the shape of a bike, the Kawasaki Ninja H2R is your next motorcycle.
Engine? Massive. A 998 cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC inline-four 16-valve engine which helps it to reach 60 MPH in only 2.5 seconds.
Horsepower? Massive. 326 HP at 11,000 RPM. That is not a typo.
Tech? Massive. The H2R has an electronic rider support suite with KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control), KEBC (Kawasaki Engine Brake Control), KLCM (Kawasaki Launch Control Mode), and KIBS (Kawasaki Intelligent Anti-lock Brake System) to name a few.
The H2R can do everything short of making you breakfast in the morning.
Kawasaki Ninja H2R Specs:
Engine: 998 cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC inline-four 16-valve
Max. power: 326 horsepower at 11,000 RPM (with ram air)
Top speed: 209 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.5 seconds
Trivia: The Kawasaki H2R is the world’s fastest production motorcycle at the time of this writing with track-only versions hitting nearly 250 MPH.
2. MTT Y2K Turbine Superbike: 227 MPH
We’re into limited-production motorcycles now, and it’s surprising just how fast you can make something when mass production goes out the window.
When you talk about beautiful, fast motorcycles, the MTT Y2K Turbine Superbike should be one of the first that comes to your mind. It’s one of the more powerful things ever to be produced. Maybe the uniqueness of having a Rolls-Royce 250-C18 turboshaft engine and a two-speed automatic transmission inside is what really interests us.
Or maybe it’s the JET ENGINE.
On the back of this superbike, you will hit 60 MPH in only 2.5 seconds. With a max power output of 320 horsepower at a ludicrous 52,000 RPM, it’s the closest thing you’ll experience to riding on the back of a jet engine.
I mean, you basically are.
Unfortunately, the Y2K was never mass-produced. Instead, they are custom-built for clients, but Guinness World Records does consider it to be a production motorcycle.
There were several variants to this bike throughout the years. First, MTT showed off the “Street Fighter” during the 2006 SEMA show. This featured a 420 horsepower Allison 250-C20B turbine engine. Then, there were two models in 2015 that were released. The first was a 420 horsepower trike and the second was one called the 420-RR. It’s no wonder that the company chooses to test their bikes on airport runways.
The original Y2K lives on as one of the most memorable motorcycle of all time, second only to one.
MTT Y2K Turbine Superbike Specs:
Engine: Rolls Royce 250-C18 turboshaft
Max. power: 320 horsepower at 52,000 RPM
Top speed: 227 MPH
0-60 MPH time: 2.5 seconds
Trivia: In 2004, the MTT Y2K received the title as the “Most Expensive Motorcycle in Production.” Buying this bike would have made you $185,000 poorer, but it would be worth every penny in our book.
1. Dodge Tomahawk: 350 MPH
Ladies and gents, the world’s fastest motorcycle ever made is the Dodge Tomahawk.
We should all just take a second to compose ourselves before moving forward.
This beast is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Most cars aren’t even going to produce this kind of raw speed, power, and nostalgic appeal.
This superbike features an 8,277 cc 10-valve four-stroke engine which is unlike anything you could imagine in your wildest dreams. If you are wondering where the engine comes from, you might recognize it from the Dodge Viper. In fact, it is the 8.3-liter V10 SRT-10 engine. It pumps out 500 horsepower at 5,600 RPM.
In a motorcycle.
Of course, it does look a little different than most bikes, mainly because it comes with four wheels instead of two, but that wouldn’t stop us from riding it. In fact, each of these four wheels also contains its own suspension. This is paired with a two-speed transmission with manual toe shift. Other unique features include a throttle intake in the headlight housing and a cooling system located behind the intake manifold.
At this time, the Dodge Tomahawk doesn’t have any competition, but we assume that will happen in the near future. Unfortunately, this bike isn’t allowed on the streets in America. If it were, you would see it clock in as low as 1.75 seconds to hit 60 MPH.
To date, only nine units have been produced. Still, Neiman Marcus offered some hand-built replicas of this bike through their catalog. They were considered “rolling sculptures” since they weren’t allowed on the street.
We highly doubt that stopped anyone from doing it. It sure wouldn’t stop us.
Dodge Tomahawk Specs:
Engine: 8277 cc 10-valve four-stroke engine (8.3-liter V10 SRT-10)
Max. power: 500 horsepower at 5,600 RPM
Top speed: 350 MPH
0-60 mph time: 1.75 seconds
Trivia: Those Neiman Marcus replicas cost a staggering $555,000. Gas Monkey Garage could probably build it for less, don’t you think?
The Future Looks Bright
As technology continues to increase, it’s likely the rankings of the world’s fastest motorcycles will change too.
Manufacturers are in a race to beat one another and produce the fastest motorcycle in the world, and it’s impressive that in about 100 years we went from pedaling ourselves around town to rocketing across the country at over 300 MPH.
One concept we’re looking forward to is the Honda V4 Concept which is rumored to be powered by a 1200cc V-4 engine. That could easily place it in the middle of this list.
We have even seen some talk of the BMW Hover Ride. This concept was produced in part with LEGO, but the company later denied the rumors that it would be built.
Sure, it might sound crazy right now, but imagine where the next hundred years will take us.
Which fast motorcycle would you most like to ride?
If money were no object, which of the fastest motorcycles would you have in your garage? We would love to hear your thoughts.
If you had the means to pay for them all, which one would you choose to ride?
Have a track bike with no title? It would be worth a lot more if it had one.