If you believe that motorcycles are becoming more expensive and more and more inaccessible to us mere mortals who own no companies and trade stocks, then the rise of the racetrack racing toy is taking things to a new level.
In fact, not only are these specially sharpened weapons the specialists at special things, but they can’t even be ridden home.
But that’s exactly what it’s all about … these are motorcycles that demonstrate the innovation and instinct of a manufacturer without having to worry about the stringent emissions regulations and annoying exterior mirrors.
The latest racing motorcycle to hit the market is the KTM RC 8C, a special 800cc sports motorcycle from the Austrian manufacturer that celebrates its success in Moto2 and MotoGP. Only 100 were available and they were picked up in less than five minutes …
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In short, there is clearly a market for ultra-exclusive toys for those who can afford / justify it. Here we take a look at 10 examples of motorcycles that are not suitable for everyday use.
* Prices like new
1993 Ducati Supermono [$30,000]
Much has obviously been made of the Ducati 916 V-Twin, but less well known is its single-cylinder little brother, the 550cc Supermono.
Built as a pure racing car for the then popular Supermono / Sound of Singles series of the same name, it had many of the innovations of the 916, but was due to the extensive use of carbon fiber (z, subframe and even fuel tank).
With 65 hp from a Desmo four-valve single that was effectively half an 888 racing V-twin, the supermono with the best bike parts (Ohlins suspension, Marchesini wheels, Brembo brakes, etc.) became the purest Ducati ‘Desmo ‘ever built.
Unfortunately, it’s also very rare – only 67 built until 1995 – and expensive. At the time it was $ 30,000 new. Today they typically cost over £ 70,000
2006 Harley-Davidson VRXSE V-Rod ‘Destroyer’ [$19,995]
Here’s one that you probably didn’t know about. The Harley-Davidson VRXSE was developed per se for the drag strip and not for the racetrack and was arguably the fastest HD series ever built.
The VRXSE is a series drag racer (the US has a huge drag racing scene) based on the now discontinued V-Rod. The VRXSE was developed by Harley’s Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) together with Screamin ‘Eagle (hence the’ SE ‘bit).
It produced a decent 165 horsepower, was capable of 144 mph, and cost $ 19,995.
Originally only 150 were supposed to be built, but it proved so popular that 600 were eventually made.
2015 Honda RC213V-S [£137,000]
Probably the most famous and sought-after MotoGP replica of all, the Honda RC213V-S was actually sold street legal, but was necessarily reduced to 159 hp.
However, it also came with a racing-tube-only kit that boosted the power (and noise) of the MotoGP-derived V4 to a whopping 215bhp, which along with its featherweight 170kg dry weight, ultra-compact size, and racing spec suspension, brakes and wheels, truly offers the closest experience of a MotoGP bike that mere mortals can buy.
As long as you had the £ 137,000 required and didn’t let the innocuous styling put you off too much, that means …
2015 Kawasaki H2R [£41,000]
Kawasaki’s supercharged H2 family, arguably one of the most extreme and amazing motorcycles in recent years, was simply sensational.
First launched in 2015, two models were made available: the £ 22,000, street-legal, 210-hp H2 and this one, the “On Track Only” (though we’re still not sure what type of track Kawasaki is had in mind), fully released, 310 hp, £ 41,000 H2R.
Not only is the H2R more powerful than the road H2, it’s also lighter, carbon-sprinkled, better equipped (with Öhlins suspension etc) and, unsurprisingly, faster too, going over 200 mph.
It may not be a great racer, but as a pure racetrack, few motorcycles are faster or more exciting.
2017 BMW HP4 race [£68,000]
Forget this year’s higher-quality M1000RR, the HP4 Race, which was only available on the racetrack in 2017, is the ultimate S1000RR – even if it is now based on the old version.
As a limited edition, limited edition version of the RR for £ 68,000, the HP4 offers the best of everything, including a carbon fiber frame and body, alloy tank, full 2D race dash, WorldSBK spec suspension and brakes, upgraded electronics, and tuned engine to literally Meaning of the word to be the best S1000RR of the era.
The result was 215 hp, an ultra-light 171 kg and the very best components. Sure, only 750 were made, it was only designed to give BMW an edge in racing, and it’s incredibly expensive, but if you want the closest experience you can get to a full-fledged WorldSBK machine, this is it the right thing.
2019 MV Agusta F3 XX [If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it…]
Italian exotic legends MV Agusta built their legacy on a road to success, so it’s no surprise to see them here.
The MV Agusta F3 XX is a fully-fledged, pure racing version of the F3 800 Triple, which was developed by the MV racing department “Reparto Corse” (literally translated as “department for racing”).
It’s not surprising that it drips in carbon fiber, has a proper Race AiM dash, a special SC Project 3: 1 pipe, a tuned engine with claimed 160CV, performance-enhanced Marzocchi forks with Öhlins cartridges and an Öhlins TTX dampers on the rear, plus top-spec Brembo brakes and Marchesini wheels, you get the idea.
The only thing they wouldn’t boast about was the price, which was only revealed upon serious inquiries. Then it can’t be cheap …
2019 Aprilia RSV4 X [€39,950]
You might assume that the most extreme Italian superbikes only come from Ducati or MV Agusta on the track – but think again.
The Aprilia RSV4X was launched in 2019 as the ultimate track-only version of its already impressive RSV4 superbike and with a whopping 225 hp from its racing-optimized 1100 cc V4 it weighs only 165 kg due to the extensive carbon and the lack of road equipment dry, improved electronics (they were first and foremost among the best) and the very best bike parts, that was it for sure.
It was also extremely rare – only 10 (hence the X) were built, each for a whopping € 39,950, but then when you want the best …
After the success of this motorcycle, Aprilia followed suit with an equally exotic, pure racing version of their Tuono V4 – the Tuono V4X.
2021 Ducati Superleggara V4 [€86,000]
If you thought that Ducati’s “everyday range” was already at the extreme end, then the Ducati Superleggara V4 is up to eleven amps.
Technically, this isn’t a pure road bike model and those who can afford the amazingly expensive € 86,000 will no doubt want to show it off on every boardwalk they can find, but it’s just where their hyper sport bike deserves, to spend his days.
The Ducati Superleggara is extremely light at 159 kg, offers 234 hp and is equipped with all kinds of technology and carved wings to keep you on the sunny side.
It’s not entirely uncompromising on the street, although you need all the patience in the world not to be tempted to break a few laws with so much raw grunt.
This belongs on the track, because only then can you get every penny of this huge prize.
2021 Yamaha R6 race [£12,099]
Here’s one that turned out to be “track only” rather by accident than design – but is still a tempting option for track addicts.
In the past, Yamaha’s R6 was the fastest, most agile and arguably the best on the track of all Japanese super sports cars in the 600 series and remains the machine of choice in both the WSS and the TT.
The latest, redesigned and upgraded version made its debut in 2017 but slightly disappointed in the street equipment as it was necessarily limited to 116hp, although well over 120hp is possible with a trackpipe.
For 2021, however, it turned out to be unable to economically reconfigure it to meet the new Euro5 regulations and, in slightly modified form (no turn signals, mirrors, etc) from a few alternatives here, makes it one the cheapest “only racing bikes” ever.
2021 KTM RC 8C [£31,000]
What brings us up to date and where we started with KTM’s delicious new RC 8C. It is based on the powerful 890 Duke R twin-cylinder engine with a bespoke frame with adjustable headstock and bike parts that inevitably contain the very best WP suspensions and Brembo brakes.
The “meat and potatoes” of all of this are 126 hp at just 140 kg, which makes for a lively performance by any definition.
With only 100 made for a whopping £ 31,000 per pop, that means they’ll stay pretty exclusive too.
But then, if you are looking for a mind-altering, crowd-pleaser, and pure racing driver, isn’t that exactly how it should be?
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