For some, the motorcycle is just a means to get to point B, much like a car. However, for another, more unhinged section, speed is one of the biggest draws when it comes to motorcycles. For those who have experienced it, there's nothing quite like the unhindered experience a quick motorcycle can provide.

UPDATE: 2023/12/08 00:32 EST BY RAUNAK AJINKYA

With technology advancing by leaps and bounds and aerodynamic efficiencies going through the roof, motorcycle manufacturers aren't standing still with their creations. With the demand for quick motorcycles seemingly having no ceiling, manufacturers are giving in to the need for ever-faster motorcycles. This updated list, then, puts together the fastest motorcycles, both electric and ICE-powered, on offer.

Motorcycle manufacturers have caught on to this, unsurprisingly. And it's not just the newer crop of superbikes that give enthusiasts a platform to experience this incredible speed. The speed revolution, as it were, began quite a long while ago, and with the advent of better technology, motorcycles have been pushing the limits of what's possible, speed-wise, ever since. MV Agusta was the first to break the Gentleman's Agreement. This opened up a Pandora's box that has since given us insanely fast motorcycles from Kawasaki, BMW and Ducati and has even seeped into a new wave of wicked-fast electric motorcycles.

This list brings together the motorcycles that boast some eye-watering top speeds, some of which may seem outrageous. But given the right stretch of road and a complete lack of fear, they'll go on to hit their scarcely believable top-speed claims. It should be worth noting that the 'slowest' motorcycle on this list is the brutal Yamaha YZF-R1M.

How we got our model selections: To compile this list, HotCars scanned every high-performance motorcycle manufacturer's list of motorcycles and narrowed down the list from there. Since this list aimed to ascertain the fastest motorcycles money can buy, we prioritized top speed and drew up the list accordingly. A point to note here is that this list is a mix of motorcycles you can buy brand new and discontinued/used examples. A few electric motorcycles also find their way here, unsurprisingly.

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15 Yamaha YZF-R1M

Top Speed: 183 mph

yamaha r1m
via yamaha

The Yamaha R1 made its first appearance in 1998, and thanks to its lightweight chassis and powerful engine, it was light-years ahead of its closest competitor. These days, it's not as dominant as it was back then, but the YZF-R1 is definitely no slouch, especially in the R1M spec, which is the top-shelf version of the superbike, which has a 197 hp 998cc inline-four engine.

The R1M features electronic Öhlins race suspension and upgraded front and rear brakes. It also has a quick-shifter and an upgraded, more track-oriented electronics package. Those who can't see that its styling has been inspired by Yamaha's YZR-M1 MotoGP bike should consider getting glasses. Perhaps the coolest thing distinguishing the M-spec bike from the base model is a full set of carbon fiber fairings.

2023 Yamaha YZF-R1M Engine Specs

Configuration

Inline-four

Displacement

998cc

Power

198 hp

Torque

83 lb-ft

0-60 mph

2.6 seconds

Top Speed

183 mph

Engine Specs sourced from WebBikeWorld; Top Speed and 0-60 sourced from FastestLaps.

14 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP

Top Speed: 185 mph

2024 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP front third quarter view
Honda

Honda took the motorcycle world by storm and was completely surprised when they released the original FireBlade in the 1990s. However, it wasn't long before the competition caught up to them, and in recent years, the CBR1000RR Fireblade was no longer the class leader.

Honda has now brought back the 'Blade, better and faster than ever, with an extra "R" added to its name. Their all-new flagship, the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, is guaranteed to re-establish Honda as one of the leaders in the superbike segment. The bike has inherited many of its components from the MotoGP-dominating RC213V bike, as the extra-R SP-spec packs a serious amount of power — 215 wild horses to be exact — advanced, modern electronics, and sleek, completely redesigned bodywork that comes with integrated aerodynamic winglets.

2023 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Engine Specs

Configuration

Transverse 4-cylinder

Displacement

999cc

Power

183 hp

Torque

84 lb-ft

0-60 mph

3.13 seconds

Top Speed

185 mph

Engine Specs sourced from WebBikeWorld; Top Speed and 0-60 sourced from MotoStatz.

13 Suzuki Hayabusa

Top Speed: 185 mph

1999 Suzuki Hayabusa Sportbike
Mecum Auctions

The Hayabusa is a legendary bike Suzuki built in the '90s with one goal — to break the production motorcycle speed record held by its fierce Japanese rival Honda. Hayabusa is the Japanese name for the Peregrine Falcon, the fastest bird in the world, with a 203 mph top speed.

The 2008 Hayabusa is powered by a 1,340cc liquid-cooled four-cylinder DOHC engine producing 197 hp, giving it a top speed of 194 mph. The Hayabusa broke the Honda's speed record by a previously unheard-of margin.

2008 Suzuki Hayabusa Engine Specs

Configuration

Inline 4-cylinder

Displacement

1,340cc

Power

195.7 hp

Torque

113.6 lb-ft

0-60 mph

2.7 seconds

Top Speed

185 mph

All specs are sourced from Motorcycle Specs.

12 MV Agusta F4 LH44

Top Speed: 187.7 mph

Lewis Hamilton doing a burnout on a MV Agusta F4 LH44
MV Agusta

If you're a fan of F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton, you've probably heard of this bike. The MV Agusta F4 LH44 was developed in collaboration with the British F1 champion, which explains the LH44 designation — LH stands for Lewis Hamilton, while the 44 stands for his F1 car number.

Lewis Hamilton drives incredibly powerful F1 cars and wanted the bike to be extremely fast. As such, the bike is equipped with a 998cc four-cylinder motor generating 205 horses, ensuring it can keep up with the other bikes on this list. Only 44 examples were made, making it one of the rarest motorcycles ever.

2018 MV Agusta F4 LH44 Engine Specs

Configuration

Transverse 4-cylinder

Displacement

998cc

Power

212 hp

Torque

84.8 lb-ft

0-60 mph

N/A

Top Speed

187.7 mph

Engine Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs; Top Speed sourced from UltimateSpecs.

11 BMW S1000RR

Top Speed: 188 mph

BMW S1000RR at a race track
BMW

When it was introduced a decade ago, the BMW S1000RR was the true definition of an over-engineered motorcycle. It was equipped with many advanced electronics and assist features that had never been seen in motorcycles before. It quickly gained a reputation for blistering acceleration and insane riding dynamics, all of which still stand today.

The latest S1000RR is powered by a water-cooled inline-four motor pumping out 205 hp and 83.3 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 in just over 3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 188 mph.

2024 BMW S1000 RR Engine Specs

Configuration

Inline-four

Displacement

999cc

Power

205 hp

Torque

83.3 lb-ft

0-60 mph

3.1 seconds

Top Speed

188 mph

Engine Specs and Top Speed sourced from BMW Motorcycles; 0-60 sourced from FastestLaps.

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10 BMW M 1000 RR

Top Speed: 189 mph

Black German superbike motorcycle
BMW

There's no reason to beat around the bush: The BMW M 1000 RR is one of the most technologically advanced motorcycles out there. Power comes by way of a transverse-mounted inline 4-cylinder engine that makes an obscene amount of power.

The electronics package is out in full force to make you look like a much better rider than you think you are. There's Dynamic Traction Control, Launch Control, Wheelie Control, Shift Assist Pro, and even a Pit Limiter to simulate those MotoGP vibes. The M 1000 RR, then, is every bit the ideal track tool that enthusiasts have asked for.

2024 BMW M 1000 RR Engine Specs

Configuration

Inline 4-cylinder

Displacement

999cc

Power

205 hp

Torque

83 lb-ft

0-60 mph

3 seconds

Top Speed

189 mph

Engine Specs and Top Speed sourced from BMW Motorcycles; 0-60 sourced from Accelerationtimes.

9 Ducati Superleggera V4

Top Speed: 190 mph

Ducati Superleggera V4 has the highest power to weight ratio
Ducati

Ducati doesn't build the fastest motorcycle on the market, but the Italian producer definitely makes some of the most exotic motorcycles available. The most powerful and technologically advanced street-legal bike in Ducati's lineup is the Superleggera V4, and what a fantastic machine it is.

'Superleggera' means super light in Italian, perfectly describing the V4. The bike's bodywork is entirely made of carbon fiber, and so are the subframe, swingarm, and mainframe of the wheels. A weight of just 335 lbs paired with a 998cc V4 engine cranking out 234 hp makes for a seriously fast bike.

2020 Ducati Superleggera V4 Engine Specs

Configuration

V4

Displacement

998cc

Power

234 hp (with racing exhaust)

Torque

87.7 lb-ft (with racing exhaust)

0-60 mph

N/A

Top Speed

200 mph

Engine Specs and top speed are sourced from Ducati

8 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory

Top Speed: 191 mph

Black and red Italian superbike on track
Aprilia

Aprilia is a small Italian motorcycle producer that has been in the game since the end of World War II. Aprilia has been participating in motorcycle racing championships for decades now, and it has transferred many of the technologies in its racing bikes to production bikes — the RSV4 1000 Factory is a perfect example of this.

The RSV4 1000 Factory is powered by a race-derived 1,077cc V4 engine, producing roughly 217 hp and 90 lb-ft of torque. A carbon-fiber body keeps the bike's weight at just 439 pounds, ensuring it can reach crazy speeds.

2023 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory Engine Specs

Configuration

V4

Displacement

1,099cc

Power

217 hp

Torque

92.19 lb-ft

0-60 mph

3.1 seconds

Top Speed

191 mph

Engine Specs sourced from Aprilia; Top Speed and 0-60 sourced from FastestLaps.

7 Ducati Panigale V4

Top Speed: 192.6 mph

Ducati Panigale V4 S popping a wheelie side profile view
Ducati

The Panigale V4 has been Ducati's flagship superbike since its introduction in 2018, and looking at the 2021 model, it's easy to see why; the 2021 Panigale V4 maintains an elegant design but prioritizes outright performance over everything else.

A liquid-cooled 90-degree V4 engine with desmodromic valve actuation powers the Panigale V4. It produces over 215 hp giving it a top speed of over 190 mph.

2023 Ducati Panigale V4 Engine Specs

Configuration

V4

Displacement

1,103cc

Power

215.5 hp

Torque

91.2 lb-ft

0-60 mph

3.05 seconds

Top Speed

192.6 mph

Engine Specs sourced from WebBikeWorld; Top Speed and 0-60 sourced from MotoStatz.

6 MV Agusta F4 R 312

Top Speed: 194 mph

2008 MV Agusta F4 R front third quarter view
MV Agusta

The "Gentleman's agreement" is an agreement that various motorcycle manufacturers got into in the early 2000s to electronically limit motorcycle top speeds to 186 mph. The first company to break the agreement was MV Agusta, and it did so in 2008 with the F4 R 312 superbike. To be fair, though, MV Agusta was never part of the original agreement.

The '312' in the name stands for its top speed of 312 km/h, which is equivalent to 194 mph. MV Agusta equipped it with a 998cc liquid-cooled engine with 183 hp on tap to ensure that the bike could reach such speeds.

2008 MV Agusta F4 R 312 Engine Specs

Configuration

Inline-four

Displacement

998cc

Power

183 hp

Torque

84.8 lb-ft

0-60 mph

N/A

Top Speed

194 mph

All specs are sourced from Motorcycle Specs.

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5 Damon Hypersport Premier

Top Speed: 200 mph

Damon HyperSport
Damon Motorcycles

The Damon Hypersports' seemingly aim is to redefine what fast electric motorcycles stand for, with a touch of symmetry thrown in. The latter part is explained by its vitals: it makes 200 horsepower, has a range of 200 miles, produces 200 Nm (or 147 lb-ft) of torque, and the Damon Hypersport has a top speed of 200 mph.

It's also a motorcycle keen on an innovative safety kit, as evidenced by its 'CoPilot' system that identifies potential hazards on the road and warns you through haptic feedback and windshield alert LEDs. There's even a 'Shift' system, which allows you to adjust the footpegs with the push of a button.

2024 Damon Hypersport Premier Specs

Battery

20 kWh

Range

Est. 200 miles (combined)

Power

200 horsepower

Torque

147 lb-ft

0-60 mph

>3 seconds

Top Speed

200 mph

Powertrain Specs sourced from Damon

4 Kawasaki Ninja H2

Top Speed: 209 mph

Silver Japanese hyper bike
Kawasaki

Kawasaki built the first-ever Ninja in 1984, and since then, the Ninja family has spawned some of the fastest sport bikes. Introduced in 2015, the Ninja H2 is arguably the greatest bike in the Ninja family, loved for its futuristic design, advanced technology, and power.

Kawasaki wanted the H2 to break all possible speed records, so they co-developed it with the aerospace division. The H2 has a 998cc supercharged inline-four engine blurting out 228 hp, allowing it to achieve crazy speeds. A $30,000 price tag is quite expensive, but we believe the H2 is worth every penny.

2023 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Engine Specs

Configuration

Inline 4-cylinder

Displacement

998cc

Power

228 hp

Torque

104.5 lb-ft

0-60 mph

3 seconds

Top Speed

209 mph

Engine Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs; Top Speed and 0-60 sourced from MadMaxy & Wrst Via Facebook.

3 Lightning LS-218

Top Speed: 218 mph

Lightning LS-218 side profile accelerating view
Lightning Motorcycles

Over the last decade or so, the electric vehicle industry has grown tremendously, with companies like Tesla leading the charge. The motorcycle industry has also noticed this trend, so we now have a wide range of electric motorcycles to look forward to.

One company that's clearly ahead of the others is Lightning, as its LS-218 superbike shows. The LS-218 currently holds the record for the fastest production electric motorcycle, with a top speed of 218 mph.

2024 Lightning LS-218 Specs

Battery

380V, 12-20 kWh

Range

Upto 335 miles

Power

244 hp

Torque

220 lb-ft

0-60 mph

2 seconds

Top Speed

218 mph

Powertrain Specs sourced from Lightning Motorcycle; Top Speed sourced from Motorcycle Specs.

2 MTT Y2K

Top Speed: 227+ mph

MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K side profile view
Mecum Auctions

Marine Turbine Technologies (MTT) is a Louisiana-based company known for building extreme motorcycles. One of the best-known MTT bikes is the Y2K, introduced in the early 2000s. As the name suggests, this bike is turbine-powered, the first indication of extreme power.

The engine in question is a mighty Rolls-Royce 250-C18 turboshaft engine generating a crazy 320 hp, allowing the 460-lb bike to reach a claimed 250 mph — almost the same top speed as the iconic Bugatti Veyron. The initial $185,000 price tag made the Y2K one of the most expensive motorcycles ever.

2005 MTT Y2K Engine Specs

Engine Type

Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C18 Series Gas Turbine

Transmission

2-speed automatic

Power

320 hp

Torque

425 lb-ft

Top Speed

Over 227 mph

All specs are sourced from Marine Turbine.

1 MTT 420RR

Top Speed: 273 mph

MTT Y2K 420RR Blue right side outside
MTT

Some motorcycles produce an absurd amount of power, and then there's the MTT 420RR. It's powered by a Rolls-Royce Allison Model 250-C20 Series gas turbine engine, producing a whopping 420 hp and about 500 lb-ft of torque.

This allows it to beat its predecessor's top speed comfortably. According to MTTl, it maxes out at 273 mph. It's such an intimidating figure that even MTT's website states it's 'faster than you will ever dare to go'. No arguments there.

2024 MTT 420RR Engine Specs

Engine Type

Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20 Series Gas Turbine

Displacement

2,500cc

Power

420 hp

Torque

~500 lb-ft

0-60 mph

N/A

Top Speed

273 mph

All Specs are sourced from Marine Turbine.

Sources: Respective manufacture websites and pressrooms, AccelerationTimes, FastestLaps, ZeroTo60Times, WebBikeWorld