What is the fastest motorcycle in the world?
Time doesn’t stand still and, when it comes to speed, it goes, well, fast. In short, since we last updated this list at the end of 2022 the world has moved on yet again. There’s a new, updated version of BMW’s phenomenal, homologation-spec version of its S1000RR, the M1000RR. The same can be said about the evolution of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP with its new twin throttle bodies getting us very excited when we tested it, and then there’s also the radical, fire-breathing rotary Crighton CR700W. All of which means that one of the most often asked, hotly contested and debated motorcycling questions of all – ‘What’s the fastest production bike in the world?’ rises its head yet again.
But, as before, it’s also the one that’s most politically sensitive and difficult to be conclusive about (after all, few manufacturers now claim top speed figures and fewer independent media outlets measure them).
So, what’s the fastest production bike in the world?
Again, we must preface this with a proviso: Since 1999’s launch of the Suzuki Hayabusa, the Japanese ‘Big Four’ have adhered to an unwritten ‘Gentlemen’s Agreement’ to restrict their road bikes electronically to 300kph (186mph) while others, particularly MV Agusta, don’t. As a result, claimed top speed figures would be misleading and, for the most part, irrelevant.
Instead, we’re basing our ‘fastest Top 10’ on production road bikes with the highest power-to-weight ratios, which, in simple terms, is the best indicator available to acceleration and, all other things being equal, ultimate speed.
As before, it’s not perfect or completely conclusive, we know. Without comprehensive, independently tested power figures available we have to go with the manufacturers’ claimed figures, which should be taken with a pinch of salt. In addition, as before, we’ve also gone with manufacturers claimed dry weight figures (as uniform wet weight figures don’t exist), which, by their very nature, is somewhat academic, as bikes don’t run without fuel, oil and water. A further complication is the use of race kits, track pipes etc…
However, with all that said, and with a new crop of ‘hyperbikes’ no among us, we still reckon it makes fascinating reading, gives a reasonably true indication of the current ‘hierarchy of speed’ and throws up a few surprises, too…
Energica Ego+ RS
Last time round we felt the time was right to include the growing new breed of electric bikes – if only because, as anyone who has ridden one will attest – they simply accelerate like nothing else. The pick of the bunch remains undoubtedly the top spec version of Italian specialists’ Energica’s Ego superbike and, having ridden it, can vouch that for 0-80 there’s an astonishing, single speed warp drive like nothing else. Energica claims a 0-60mph time of just 2.6 seconds. Trouble is, that’s not the end of the story. On the basis of its power and weight figures, it’s actually nothing special (it’s its peak torque of 159lb-ft which is mostly responsible for the party), it’s ridiculously heavy, its top speed is restricted to just 150mph and it costs nearly £30K. So maybe electric bikes aren’t quite there yet after all…
Claimed peak power: 171 bhp
Estimated weight: 260 kg
Power/weight: 0.656 bhp/kg
Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa
Suzuki finally introduced an all-new version of its hyperbike ‘king of speed’, the monstrous GSX1300R Hayabusa, in 2021 – and it was more than worth the wait. Now Euro5 compliant, boasting a slick, comprehensive suite of rider electronics, fancy new TFT dash and a big dollop of extra build quality, the new ‘Busa was a worthy successor to the 1999 original which was so fast, it forced the end of the speed race. In truth, the new version is no faster, and, being relatively heavy, can’t quite match the latest superbikes. But the way it gathers speed and the rush you experience is just as impressive as ever.
Claimed peak power: 187.4 bhp
Claimed dry weight: 221 kg
Power/weight: 0.874 bhp/kg
