As the saying goes: "There's no replacement for displacement". Crude and factually inaccurate, it may be, but it does have a nice ring to it, no doubt. The saying has spilled over into the two-wheeled world, too, as the motorcycles on this list will prove. As of 2024, several bikes, past and present, have graced our roads with some truly incredible engines.

UPDATE: 2024/02/15 21:08 EST BY RAUNAK AJINKYA

Motorcycle manufacturers are constantly pushing the limits with their motorcycles. While some focus on aspects like weight, power, speed, or handling prowess, others simply plonk a huge engine into the chassis. We have updated this list to include a few more entries of some of the most popular large displacement motorcycles over the years.

These engines are, simply put, mammoth. From displacement to power and torque outputs, there's hardly any discretion to go around with these engines. The direct result is that the motorcycles onto which they're planted can be slightly unwieldy, but you can bet there's plenty of "Mine's bigger than yours" going around with the owners of these bikes. The likes of Suzuki, Honda, BMW, Harley-Davidson, and Yamaha have all had to cram astoundingly large engines into their motorcycles, with varying degrees of success. This, then, is our list of some of the biggest-displacement motorcycles ever made.

How We Got Our Model Selections: To compile this list, HotCars ran through all the prominent bike makers' portfolios and dug out their most impressive motorcycles, engine capacity-wise. Aside from engine displacement, other useful parameters have also been considered. It should be noted that this list includes motorcycles that are currently in production and those that have been discontinued. Additionally, the entries have been organized in increasing order of their engine displacements.

13 Suzuki M1800

Displacement: 1,783cc

The Suzuki M1800 (or the C1800) has a 1,783cc engine. The potent V-twin engine produces 125 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque, giving it more than enough grunt on the move.

At 1,783cc, the Suzuki M1800/C1800 is above the average car engine capacity in the United Kingdom at 1,740cc. While the comparison is purely academic and has no actual relevance to the bike itself, it's nonetheless something that's quite incredible to consider.

2009 Suzuki Intruder C1800 RT Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

12 Honda VTX1800

Displacement: 1,795cc

Honda no longer produces the VTX1800, but motorcycle enthusiasts can never forget its legacy. When Honda launched the VTX1800 in 2001, it had the biggest displacement on the planet with 1,795cc. But that is not what most people remember it for. The Honda VTX1800 was the trendsetter in the cruiser motorcycle market – igniting the fire of “mine’s bigger than yours” challenge that still runs to this day.

The 1,795cc, V-twin powertrain produced 89 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. In the VTX1800R, this engine made up to 107 horsepower and 120 lb-ft of torque. Supposedly, Honda is planning to re-enter the big displacement cruiser challenge with a much bigger bike powered by a Gold Wing engine.

2003 Honda VTX1800 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

11 BMW R18

Displacement: 1,802cc

The R18 is an oddity from the German manufacturer. In the sense that it's quite unlike anything else BMW has produced in the past. Not that we're complaining, though.

There's practically nothing about the R18 that's discreet, least of all that monstrous engine it packs. As you'd expect, even the R18's output is nothing to scoff at, but for all that, to be packaged into a sub-800 lb motorcycle is quite impressive. Definitely one of BMW's most striking motorcycles ever.

2022 BMW R18 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

10 Indian Chief

Displacement: 1,811cc

The Indian Chief is the perfect description of one-upmanship. The motorcycle uses the company’s Thunder Stroke 111 engine – which is 111 cubic inches compared to Harley-Davidson’s 110.

The Chief features a mighty 1,811cc power plant that produces 108 lb-ft of torque, enough power to make the Chief roar like a ruler. Notably, Indian Motorcycles went bankrupt in 1953 and are now owned by Polaris Industries.

2022 Indian Chief Specs

(Specs sourced from Indian Motorcycle)

9 Honda Gold Wing

Displacement: 1,833cc

The Honda Gold Wing is a 'car' on two wheels – every feature you can find in a four-wheeled vehicle you can almost find here, including an airbag. It is a six-cylinder bike. In fact, if the challenge was about the number of cylinders, Honda would be taking the trophy home with this superb motorcycle.

The motorcycle uses a massive 1,833cc engine with 125 horsepower and 125.4 lb-ft of torque. When Honda introduced the Gold Wing in 2000, it was the largest displacement motorcycle on the planet, a position it held for some time.

2023 Honda Gold Wing Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

8 Yamaha XV1900

Displacement: 1,854cc

Another Japanese manufacturer on the list is Yamaha, presenting the XV1900 cruiser motorcycle with a potent 1,854cc engine. Yamaha created this mammoth with one purpose in mind: to challenge the big displacement motorcycles.

However, with that massive displacement, the bike produces only 95 horsepower. The torque is excellent, though, at 123 lb-ft. The engine on this bike powers various Star-branded American motorcycles.

2007 Yamaha XV1900 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

7 Indian Roadmaster

Displacement: 1,890cc

Basically, a 49-degree V-twin displacing 116 cubic inches (about 1,890cc), the Roadmaster's Thunder Stroke 116 is the most colossal engine ever built by Indian. The engine has powered several amazing Indian models, including the Chieftain, Chieftain Dark Horse, Springfield Dark Horse, Roadmaster, Roadmaster Dark Horse, and Chieftain Limited.

Initially offered as an upgrade package for the 111-cubic inch Thunder Stroke engine, the 116 became a staple on regular production bikes in 2020, with the Chieftain Elite, Roadmaster Dark Horse, and Springfield Dark Horse becoming the first bikes to receive it.

2023 Indian Roadmaster Specs

(Specs sourced from Indian Motorcycle)

6 Harley-Davidson Breakout

Displacement: 1,917cc

The Harley-Davidson Breakout packs in one of the brand's most potent engines: the Milwaukee-Eight 117. That translates to nearly 2 liters of engine displacement, which is pretty impressive on a bike (or, for that matter, a mid-sized sedan).

It's also a V-twin, as you'd expect from a Harley, and makes a very decent output for the kind of bike that it is. What's great about this engine, though, is that it reportedly never feels like a burden while on the move, and that's the mark of a manufacturer really knowing their craft.

2024 Harley-Davidson Breakout Specs

(Specs sourced from Harley-Davidson)

5 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide

Displacement: 1,982cc

Another entry from the States is Harley-Davidson, presenting the Custom Vehicle Operation (CVO) bikes. Older CVOs come with the company’s Twin Cam 110 – that is 110 cubic inches, which translates to 1,802cc.

That powertrain produces 115 lb-ft of torque. For 2024, however, you get a 1,982cc Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 engine. This powertrain generates 115 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque, with that power handled by a six-speed manual transmission.

2024 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide Specs

(Specs sourced from Harley-Davidson)

4 PGM V8

Displacement: 1,966cc

If you are a motorcycle lover with a thing for V8 engines, the PGM V8 is the motorcycle you need to acquire. The PGM is a V8-powered two-wheeler created by a team of Australian engineers.

The lead engineer, Paul Maloney, worked with MotoGP for almost 20 years before embarking on this project. The massive, 1966cc engine pumping out 334 horses of power and 158 lb-ft of torque is mighty enough to make a Ducati Panigale V4 look like a toy on the track.

2014 PGM V8 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

3 Kawasaki VN2000

Displacement: 2,053cc

When Kawasaki launched the Vulcan 2000 in 2004, the intention was for it to be the largest displacement motorcycle in the world. And it was, for some time, before Triumph launched the Rocket 3 later that year.

It is the biggest twin with a pretty outstanding engine that mimics the traditional Harley design. The bike's power comes from a 2,053cc engine that produces 103 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque. Even though Kawasaki discontinued the VN2000, it remains true to its purpose by offering a thrilling riding experience.

2005 Kawasaki VN2000 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

2 Triumph Rocket 3

Displacement: 2,458cc

One of the most legendary bikes on this list is the Triumph Rocket 3 cruiser. It is the biggest displacement motorcycle from Triumph and one of the coolest production motorcycles of all time.

Propelling this machine is a potent 2,458cc inline-three-cylinder powertrain that produces a respectable 165 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. Triumph calls the Rocket 3 “the ultimate muscle street fighter.”

2024 Triumph Rocket 3 Specs

(Specs sourced from Triumph Motorcycles)

1 Boss Hoss V8 Cruisers

Displacement: 6,200cc-8,128cc

The Boss Hoss line-up of motorcycles is absolutely massive and loud, too. It is also one of the most powerful motorcycles ever made. The bike has everything that defines Boss Hoss Cycles' creations. Even the "base" models of all models from Boss Hoss (Classic Cruiser Bike, Super Sport Bike, Classic Bagger Bike) pack a gigantic 376 cu-in (6,200cc) GM LS 3 V8 engine.

The highest configurable engine option here is a 7,439cc 563-hp small block. But that's not all. There is a limited-edition Super Sport Big Block Boss Hoss that is powered by an unreal 8,128cc Big Block V8.

Impressively, the Boss Hoss cruisers flaunt a 2.5-inch exhaust system to help the mammoth of a motorcycle breathe well as it cruises through the streets like a king.

Boss Hoss V8 Specs

(Specs sourced from Boss Hoss)

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• Source for features: Respective manufacturers' websites
• Source for technical specifications: Motorcycle Specs, WebBikeWorld