As if riding a normal motorcycle wasn't scary enough, the good engineers at MTT thought it would be a good idea to subject riders to pure terror incarnate. The Y2K is a force to be reckoned with on all fronts and more than 15 years later still holds its records close, with almost no opposition. The Tomahawk may be the closest competition to the Y2K, and even that's a non-street legal concept. That said, the Y2K is a purebred record-setter, with little purpose outside of going as fast as possible in a straight line. That doesn't take anything away from how impressive it is.
8 It Is The First turbine-Powered Street Legal Motorcycle
The Y2K uses a Rolls Royce Allison 250-C20 gas turbine engine. Initially, it produced 320 horsepower in the Y2K but eventually, that wasn't enough, and MTT squeezed some extra power to make 420. It's a turboshaft engine originally built in the 1960s and bought by Rolls Royce in 1995. The Allison 250 has dozens of variants and still powers helicopters to this day. This engine gives the Y2K its unfathomable claimed top speed of 275 mph. Jay Leno described it as "the hand of God pushing you in the back."
7 It Was Guinness's World's Most Expensive Motorcycle
Among its many accolades, the Y2K holds Guinness's record for the world's most expensive production motorcycle at $185,000. It's a few thousand dollars shy of the McLaren 570S, and orders of magnitude more expensive than the most pricey Ducati. The Y2K is made to order, according to the buyer's desired specifications, and is built with premium lightweight parts. Additionally, it has a rear-mounted LCD camera, computerized ignition, Öhlins fully adjustable mono-shock rear suspension, and Brembo disc brakes. In other words, a perfect recipe for spending a big pile of money.
6 Its More Powerful Version Uses A 240mm Rear tire
Perspective requires some context. The Hyabusa was the motorcycle to beat in the '90s, boasting a 195 mph top speed from a 1300cc engine producing 173 horsepower. The Hayabusa required a 190mm rear tire to get all that power to the ground. The Y2K, with more than twice the horsepower, uses a 240mm rear tire. That's 9.5 inches, which is about the same width as a car tire, or even larger in some cases. Granted, a motorcycle tire is an entirely different shape compared to a car's tire.
5 It Uses An Automatic Transmission
It doesn't take much research to figure out the fastest way to drive a car involves fewer and faster gear changes. That's why so many fast cars use automatic transmissions. If nothing else proves the Y2K as a straight-line record-setter, its transmission will. Part of the fun of riding a motorcycle is changing gears, but sitting behind the handlebars of the Y2K leaves little room for concentrating on anything except what's right in front of the bike. Having an automatic transmission probably cuts down on the Y2K rider's mortality factor.
4 It's Made Of Lightweight Materials
MTT keeps its Y2K in fighting form at a trim 500 pounds, but accomplishing this takes lots of valuable resources. The bike uses 17-inch carbon fiber wheels, which can be found on BMW S1000RR superbikes. A tubular aluminum alloy frame holds the Y2K's engine and is surrounded by carbon fiber fairings. The more powerful, 420 horsepower version comes with a bigger swingarm and increased fuel capacity, as well as an upgraded cooling system. MTT may have gone the extra mile to ensure the bike stayed light on its feet.
3 It Has A Long Wheelbase
Keeping the perspective going, the Hayabusa's wheelbase seems dwarfed at 58 inches, next to the Y2K's 68-inch runway-size wheelbase. Sportbike riders agree that a shorter wheelbase is better for agility, as getting around corners on a racetrack as fast as possible is paramount. A longer wheelbase makes that nigh on impossible, but the Y2K isn't going for lap times. A longer wheelbase makes a motorcycle more stable, and it becomes noticeable at higher speeds. Motorcyclist John Burns of MotorCyclist recalls, "...and the strangest thing is the complete lack of vibration. You hear the turbine but don't feel the turbine."
2 It Runs On Kerosene And Diesel
Buying a Y2k may end up saving a fortune on fuel, though it could take several years before it evens out with the cost of the bike. Thanks to high compression ratios, the typical sportbike needs at least 91 octane to run at or near full power. While the Y2K is designed to run on diesel, its turbine engine can run on anything combustible. In the immortal words of MTT's CEO Ted McIntyre II, "It'll run on good tequila." If the Y2K should run dry on the way home from the grocery store, just pour a bottle of whisky into the fuel cell and it should be enough to get home.
1 It Has A Lifetime Engine Warranty
Vehicle owners who are sometimes hard-up to get their hands on a decent warranty should look no further than the Y2K. The gas turbine engine is certainly one of the most expensive parts of the Y2K, yet MTT will warranty it at any time as long as the original rider is still living. Wise McIntyre helped prospective owners realize this notion when he said "anyone who blows up one of these and lives deserves a new engine." Considering the bike is outrageously powerful and street legal, it may have been a safe gamble.