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- As an engine configuration, the versatility and capability of V-twins can't be ignored. And there have been some spectacular examples over the years. Given that, we have updated this list with a few more entries of some of the most epic V-twin-powered motorcycles through the years.
It may not be a surprise, but V-twin engines today get plonked into a significant chunk of some of our favorite motorcycles. Its obvious potential and benefits were immediately identified from its conception, and motorcycle manufacturers today depend on them to power some of their most capable motorcycles.
UPDATE: 2024/02/22 15:56 EST BY RAUNAK AJINKYA
As an engine configuration, the versatility and capability of V-twins can't be ignored. And there have been some spectacular examples over the years. Given that, we have updated this list with a few more entries of some of the most epic V-twin-powered motorcycles through the years.
What's undeniable, then, is that V-twins form an essential part of many of the motorcycles on our roads today. And even then, there are so many ways to go about making one that, naturally, some stand out more than others. Over the years, legendary V-twin engines from the likes of Harley-Davidson, Aprilia, Suzuki, and Honda, among a few others, have pushed the boundaries of the configuration and given us some truly remarkable motorcycles. This, then, is our list of some of the most legendary V-twin-powered motorcycles ever.
How we got our model selections: To compile this list, HotCars scoured all the prominent motorcycle manufacturers and their most famous V-twin creations. The list was narrowed down by considering the impact said V-twin-powered motorcycle had, not just in sales but also in terms of what it did for the segment it represented. It should be noted that this list is a mix of motorcycles that are discontinued and those that are still in production. Additionally, all the entries have been organized according to their production years (oldest to latest).
10 Awesome Modern V-Twin Motorcycles
V-twin engines power some of the best motorcycles available today, with Harley-Davidson and Ducati being household names in the V-twin game.12 Harley-Davidson EL
Active Years: 1936-1948
Inarguably one of the best Harley motorcycles ever made, the 1936 Harley-Davidson EL came onto the scene with the Overhead Valve Knucklehead engine. This 999cc V-Twin engine lasted until 1947, but many would be surprised to know that this was the first engine to produce the iconic and signature Harley sound synonymous with the brand today.
The Harley-Davidson EL set the precedent for all heavyweight Harleys in the future, and it won't be a far cry to say its influence shows in the brand's outings even today.
1950 Harley-Davidson EL Specs
Displacement |
999.7cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
N/A |
Torque |
N/A |
Dry Weight |
551.2 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Bikez)
11 Vincent Black Shadow
Active Years: 1948-1959
The Vincent Black Shadow was the fastest motorcycle in the world in 1948. This was all thanks to the man behind the bike, Phil Irving, who arranged two single-cylinder engines into a V-shape to turn them into a V-twin on paper.
A watershed moment in the brand's history and motorcycling at large, the Black Shadow could go up to 125 mph even before 1950. In the '50s, another build of the Black Shadow was made, dubbed the Black Lightning, and it was insanely fast, reaching the 150-mph mark on the speedometer. Even though Vincent shut down in 1959, the Black Shadow remains a great part of motorcycle history.
1950 Vincent Black Shadow Specs
Displacement |
998cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
55 hp |
Torque |
N/A |
Dry Weight |
458 lbs |
(Specs sourced from WebBikeWorld)
10 Harley-Davidson FXS Low Rider
Active Years: 1977-Present
Harley-Davidson launched the FXS Low Rider in 1977. They modeled the motorcycle after popular modifications at the time, which meant that the FXS Low Rider came with a factory seat height of just 27 inches. The bike was as capable as it was badass, and at launch, Harley armed it with a 1.3-liter V-twin.
This equipped the FXS Low Rider with a 105-mph top speed, and the motorcycle was so successful that the Low Rider became one of the most renowned nameplates for the brand.
1980 Harley-Davidson FXS Low Rider Specs
Displacement |
1,337cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
67 hp |
Torque |
67 lb-ft |
Curb Weight |
637.1 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
The Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Engine: An American V-Twin Icon
The end of WWII wound down one of the most iconic Harley-Davidson engines, the Knucklehead, and it remains a vaunted and expensive classic today.9 Yamaha Virago
Active Years: 1988-2004
The Yamaha Virago had the bosses over at Harley-Davidson shaking with its success, and rightly so. The Virago debuted in 1981 as a 740cc V-twin, and its mono-shock rear suspension was the first in the industry. Seeing its success, Yamaha soon brought forth 500cc and 900cc engine options as well.
The Yamaha Virago was so popular that Harley-Davidson, in their worry about losing their monopoly at home, wanted revisions in the policy on imported motorcycles, thus limiting the engine displacement on imports.
1988 Yamaha Virago Specs
Displacement |
1,063cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
61.7 hp |
Torque |
62.9 lb-ft |
Curb Weight |
531.2 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
8 Ducati M900 Monster
Active Years: 1993-Present
The Ducati Monster remains one of Ducati's longest-running nameplates. The M900 saved Ducati when it came out in 1993 simply because it was made cheap and sold well. The designers created the M900 from nothing but parts from other Ducati models, and the result was a triumphant success.
Armed with its V-twin engine, the only thing the naked Ducati M900 had to call its own was the fuel tank. To this day, over 300,000 units of the M900 have sold, and the Monster has cemented its name in history books.
1994 Ducati M900 Monster Specs
Displacement |
904cc |
Engine Type |
L-Twin |
Power |
80 hp |
Torque |
56 lb-ft |
Curb Weight |
428 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
7 Ducati 916
Active Years: 1994-1998
The 916 isn't just one of the best Ducati bikes of all time but one of the greatest bikes ever made. The fact that the Ducati 916 sold out in the USA even before reaching American shores is a testament to that. Despite its short run between 1994 and 1998, the 916 won 34 championships and millions of hearts worldwide.
Ducati brought the 916 on the heels of the Ducati 888, refining the engine as much as possible. Powered by its fantastic V-twin engine, the Ducati 916 could reach the 160 mph mark.
1994 Ducati 916 Specs
Displacement |
916cc |
Engine Type |
L-Twin |
Power |
114 hp |
Torque |
66.3 lb-ft |
Curb Weight |
450 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
10 Amazing V-Twin Motorcycles From The 90s
Today, we instantly connect a V-Twin to a rumbling Harley-Davidson. But in the 90s, V-Twins powered some of the coolest road-going race bikes.6 Aprilia RSV Mille
Active Years: 1998-2003
In the '90s, Aprilia dominated the 125cc and 250cc segments in GP racing. The brand thus decided to enter the Superbike World Championship against greats like Honda and Ducati, and for that, they brought forth the RSV Mille.
In the real world, the RSV Mille proved to be a cut above the machines that beat it on the track, with a lot more usable power on the streets. Even though Aprilia was a relatively unknown name at the time compared to Suzuki, Honda, and Ducati, they used better-quality components.
2003 Aprilia RSV Mille Specs
Displacement |
997.6cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
128 hp |
Torque |
76 lb-ft |
Curb Weight |
474 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
5 Suzuki TL1000
Active Years: 1998-2003
The Suzuki TL1000 twins have rightfully earned their place in the motorcycle hall of fame. Introduced in the late nineties, the Suzuki TL1000S and its racing variant, the TL1000R, earned the label of 'widowmakers' thanks to their rotary rear shocks that overheated and the fierce torque the bike commanded.
The V-Twin engine that powered the TL1000 twins is still in use today, and as Suzuki has used it in better, more balanced, and safer bikes, the engine is most certainly a legend today. If you rode the Suzuki TL1000S or TL1000R and survived, that got you plenty of street cred.
1998 Suzuki TL1000 Specs
Displacement |
996cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
125 hp |
Torque |
75.9 lb-ft |
Curb Weight |
463 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
4 Suzuki SV650
Active Years: 1999-Present
It's hard to overstate this, but the fact is that with the SV650, Suzuki made a bulletproof motorcycle that would allow them to not only keep it in production for a long while but also keep it relatively untouched for that duration.
That's fairly remarkable, not to mention rare, but that is the SV650's case, then. Not only is it a thoroughly dependable workhorse that will do pretty much anything you ask of it, but it also features Suzuki's remarkable V-twin engine that's got very little wrong. It's easy to maintain, delightful to ride, and appealing to beginners and the experienced lot alike.
2019 Suzuki SV650 Specs
Displacement |
645cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
75 hp |
Torque |
47.2 lb-ft |
Dry Weight |
430 lbs (non-ABS); 434 lbs (ABS) |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
10 Of The Greatest V-Twin Motorcycle Engines Of All Time
When it comes to motorcycling history, these V-twin engines proved to be the movers and the shakers.3 Bimota SB8R
Active Years: 1999-2000
The curious case of the Bimota SB8R continues to mystify a fair few enthusiasts. This motorcycle promised a lot, but for whatever it was worth, it only lasted a couple of years.
It had a fettled Suzuki V-twin engine powering it, excellent build quality, great performance, and quite a lot of innovative features on it, too. It's a pity it never lasted, though, but if you can get your hands on a used example in good nick, rest assured that there will be little else like it on the road.
2000 Bimota SB8R Specs
Displacement |
996cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
133 hp |
Torque |
73.8 lb-ft |
Curb Weight |
436.5 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
2 Honda RVT1000R
Active Years: 2000-2001
The V-twin engine truly helped Ducati cement itself as the king of the hill, but in 2000, Honda's spin on the engine in the form of the RVT1000R took that crown away. Not only did the RVT1000R take away Ducati's unchallenged domination, but it also set the template for the fiery CBR1000RR, which gearheads know and love today.
In the 2000 and 2002 model years, the RVT1000R decimated Ducati, with its top speed of 164 mph. This was Honda's stellar answer to Ducati's V-twin supremacy, and the motorcycle world now had two amazing liter-class bikes powered by equally impressive V-twin engines.
2001 Honda RVT1000R Specs
Displacement |
996cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
136 hp |
Torque |
77.4 lb-ft |
Dry Weight |
430 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
1 KTM RC8
Active Years: 2008-2015
The world's most successful motorcycle manufacturer, KTM, surprised people when they debuted their V-twin sports bike. Everybody knew KTM for their naked motorcycles, but the RC8 fully-faired supersport not only took us by surprise but also took the world by storm.
Powered by 152 horses, the 2008 motorcycle received an even better version the very next year, making over 170 horsepower thanks to its 1,195cc V-twin engine.
2010 KTM RC8 Specs
Displacement |
1,148cc |
Engine Type |
V-Twin |
Power |
152.2 hp |
Torque |
88.5 lb-ft |
Dry Weight |
405.7 lbs |
(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)
- Source for features: Respective manufacturers' websites
- Source for technical specifications: Motorcycle Specs, Bikez