Two-Wheeled Extravagance: The Most Expensive Motorcycles In The World

Noor Muhammad|Auto|3 Dec 2024

If you think only cars can get crazy expensive, think again. Two-wheelers can also easily cost more than you make in a year (or a lifetime in some cases). From going fast to being a marvel of engineering and from being a classic to being a part of history, there can be a lot of reasons why a motorcycle can cost enough money to build a mansion in the heart of NYC.

Today, we'll have a look at the most expensive motorcycles in the world. We have made this list in ascending order, so while the initial bikes may cost as much as an average sedan, the later ones will cost millions of dollars. Let's begin.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX - $18,000

Kawasaki

Coming in at just $18,000, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX is a sports bike with an ultra-narrow chassis with low weight and lots of power. The naturally aspirated 998cc inline-4 cylinder engine is good for 203 horses and can accelerate this bike to 100kmph in just 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 263kmph.

The latest version of the Ninja is the ZX-10R which came out in 2004 to replace the 9R model and has seen many design revisions and improvements over the years it has been in production. If you want any more performance, you can slap on a turbo to this bike.

Suzuki Hayabusa - $20,000

Suzuki

The legend gotta be on this list. Introduced in 1999, the Hayabusa was the fastest bike from 1999-2000, and even now, the fastest road-registered bike in the world is a modified Hayabusa. With a 1300cc straight-4 and an insatiable appetite for speed, this thing is crazy fast.

If you want to go fast and don't want to spend an unjustifiable sum on a two-wheel death machine, the Hayabusa is the perfect bike for that. For a starting price of just $20,000, you can easily hit 300km/h on a stock 'Busa. Imagine the amount of money you'll have to shell out on a car that can hit that figure!

Triumph Rocket 3 - $23,895

Triumph Motorcycles

When the Rocket 3 came out in 2019, its 2458cc three-cylinder engine had the highest displacement of any production motorcycle in the world. The Rocket 3 project was started by Ross Clifford in 1998, and with more than two decades of research and development, this bike had a lot of time to be refined and improved.

With an aluminum frame, lots of power, and plenty of torque, the Rocket 3 is fast but in a completely different way than the likes of Ninja and Yamaha R series bikes. You can use this hybrid bike for grand touring as well as racing.

BMW K 1600 Grand America - $27,790

Sungwon Kim via Flickr

You might not know BMW as a high-end bike maker, but they have been in the game since the 1970s. The K 1600 Grand America Midnight Black edition is currently the leading bike in their arsenal. Unlike the bikes we saw above, this BMW is not a racing bike built for speed but a touring bike for long trips in comfort.

The K 1600 has a 1.6L inline-6 engine is one of the smoothest in the biking world, giving the K1600 a smooth ride and a level of comfort matched by the luxury cars produced by the company.

Honda Gold Wing Tour - $28,600

Honda

The Gold Wing Tour first came out in 1974 when Honda tried to beat Harley at their game of large touring bikes. Honestly, that first-generation Gold Wing was not very warmly greeted by the prospective buyers. The second generation was, however, created in light of the mistakes of the first one and instantly became a fan favorite.

The 2018 model came with an electronically adjustable suspension, a smooth-running boxer-six engine, and a dual-clutch transmission. This bike had everything that people looking for long-distance capable bikes could ask for, and it has been Honda's best bike ever since.

BMW M1000RR - $37,990

BMW Motorrad

This BMW is on the exact opposite end of the expensive bike spectrum as compared to the K1600. The M1000RR is a race bike, the first from BMW to carry the M Badge, previously only seen in BMW's performance racing cars.

The 1000RR was created in 2009 with the sole intent of making BMW the winner of the World Superbike Championship. It didn't earn BMW that glory, but it surely cemented the brand as a competitor to the established names in the industry. The M1000RR is not just the same bike with a badge but has extensive improvements to the power plant, chassis, exhaust, and electronics.

Indian Pursuit Elite - $39,999

Indian Motorcycle

There is only one company that can make big luxury touring bikes that match the Harleys, and that is Indian. This company has not only been making amazing bikes but also competing with them in the touring bike section. The Elite is the best model from them so far.

For a price of $40,000, you can have one of the most comfortable bikes for long journeys. It comes with a 108 cu-in V-twin that is good for 122 horses and rides very smoothly, still with that iconic V-Engine Vroom that Harleys are typically known for.

Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 - $40,495

Ducati

The Ducati V4 lineup came out in 2018 and is the first bike from the company to feature its race bike V4 engine. Tuned for the streets, the bike has a respectable 212 horsepower, but if you want more from it, you can get the race tune to get to 237 hp.

With that kind of power, the V4 R is a formidable bike, to say the least. It accelerates to a hundred km/h in under 4 seconds, but if you are not careful enough, it will stand up on the rear wheel in under 0.4!

MV Agusta Rush 1000 - $45,598

MV Agusta

MV Augusta has lately been making bikes that are in the naked format, something typically done by KTM in the past. Based on the 1000 RR, the 1000 Rush is the latest and greatest from the company. It is worth every last of those $50,000 you will have to shell out for this ballistic rocket of a hyperbike.

With a stellar power output of 208 horses and a dry weight of just 400 lbs, the MV Augusta 1000 Rush is faster than you would ever like to go in something with no roof or seatbelt.

Harley-Davidson CVO Tri Glide - $49,999

Harley-Davidson

Harley does not even classify this thing as a bike but as a 'Trike.' However, for this list, we can consider it another bike. The CVO Tri Glide combines the best of all worlds with its three wheels, a powerful Milwaukee-Eight V-twin engine, and enhanced safety features.

Costing a shade under $50k, the Tri-Glide is the best long-distance bike that money can buy. It comes with all the latest features from Harley, including the Day-Maker headlamp, the Heavy-Duty Trike chassis, cornering and stability enhancement systems, and a premium sound system to make your rides all the more enjoyable.

Harley CVO Road Glide Limited - $51,999

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Harley-Davidson

There might be other players in the field, but when it comes to luxury touring bikes, there is none that can match Harley... may it be Honda, Indian, or any other. The boys out of Milwaukee have been in this game for so long that they have perfected the art of making these bikes down to every little screw.

Launched to celebrate 120 years of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the 2023 CVO Road Glide features a 117 cu-in V-twin engine churning out 105 horses and a torque of 126 lb-ft at 3750 RPM. The bike has heated Alcantara seats, heated handgrips, and a number of luxury features to make your ride as comfortable as possible.

Kawasaki Ninja H2R - $57,500

Kawasaki

If you have any interest in bikes, or things with an engine, or speed in general, you would know that the Ninja H2R is the fastest production bike on the face of the planet. You can, however, not take it to just any road as it is a track-only bike.

This bike's liquid-cooled supercharged inline-4 998 cc engine makes a staggering 310 hp, which is a lot even for a medium-sized car. With a registered top speed of 400 km/h, the only thing limiting you on this bike is how fast you can dare to go.

Energica Ego 45 Limited Edition - $70,000

Energica Motor Company

The only electric superbike on the list, the Ego, according to its makers, "gives IC engine bikes a run for their money while being emissions-free." The Ego is a totally electric bike that has all the latest tech like any other EV and is luxurious and comfortable like any bike commanding such a price should be.

The permanent magnet motor in this death machine produces more than 200 horsepower as well as more torque than you can reasonably need in anything with two wheels. However, the best part is that charging this bike takes only 40 minutes!

Ducati Streetfighter V4 Lamborghini - $68,000

Ducati

Ducati is an Italian luxury bike manufacturer that is known for making some of the most outrageous two-wheelers. The cheapest bike offered by this brand is the Monster Plus, with a starting price of $13,000. Imagine what the price tag would be when you combine the $24,000 Streetfighter V4 with a Lamborghini Huracan STO.

The resulting price tag comes to just under $70,000. For that kind of money, you get a design inspired by the Lamborghini Huracan STO, carbon fiber accents, a 1,103-cc 208-hp Desmosedici Stradale engine, and the exclusivity of this bike being a limited production model with just 630 units in existence.

Bimota TESI H2 - $70,370

Bimota

Bimota is not a very well-known Italian bike brand, but they have been winning a lot of races in the past by designing high-quality chassis around pre-existing engines from other manufacturers. The TESI H2 is currently the brand's flagship bike, built around the Kawasaki H2's engine.

The engine produces 221 hp, the same as the H2, but the chassis is made entirely from aluminum, giving this bike a far better power-to-weight ratio. The 456-lb weight of the bike is certainly amazing, but the main attraction of this machine is its awesome looks.

BMW HP4 Race - $78,000

BMW Motorrad

The BMW HP4 Race is a track-only version of the HP4 variant of the BMW S1000RR, featuring a 999 cc, 4-cylinder HP4 Race factory engine that churns out 215 horses and 88 lb-ft of torque. But that's not the only impressive thing about it.

The HP4 Race boasts carbon fiber chassis, wheels, and bodywork, which caps its net weight to just 377 lbs, and has Titanium bolts to further minimize weight. The motorcycle was launched in 2017 and had a limited production run of 750 units, with each example costing just below $80k.

Indian Challenger RR - $92,229

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Indian Motorcycle

To celebrate their win in the 2022 King of the Baggers racing series, Indian Motorcycle offers the race-spec Indian Challenger RR to the public. This track-only motorcycle mirrors the winning bike ridden by Tyler O'Hara in specs and includes an 1834 cc (112 ci) big bore kit with CNC ported heads, adjustable rocker arms, and upgraded camshafts.

A wide majority of the components, including the chain drive conversion, two-into-one race exhaust, 78 mm throttle body, air intake, and clutch cover, are sourced from S&S Cycle. To honor O’Hara’s "#29," just 29 examples will be made, with each unit costing $92,229.

Arch Motorcycle KRGT-1 - $94,000

Arch Motorcycle

Co-founded by Keanu Reeves (yes, the Keanu we all know and love) and Gard Hollinger, Arch Motorcycle is known for combining performance and aesthetics with bespoke components. The brand builds each KRGT-1 to order, offering custom-fit and finishes, with a production time of approximately three months.

The KRGT-1 boasts a powerful 2,032 cc twin-cam V-twin engine, delivering 122 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque. The bike's weight is kept in check with over 200 aerospace-grade billet aluminum parts, while the frame and subframe are constructed from billet aluminum and tubular steel, which further helps in weight reduction.

Ducati Superleggera V4 - $100,000

Ducati

Ducati excels in crafting exclusive motorcycles, and the limited-edition Superleggera V4 is a testament to that. Drawing from the brand's MotoGP expertise, the Superleggera V4 is a road-intended yet track-primed bike, distinguished by a remarkable power-to-weight ratio, all thanks to its titanium and carbon fiber components.

It features a 998 cc V4 engine producing 234 horses at 15,500 rpm. Just imagine what this engine can do on a bike with a dry weight of 336 lbs. With just 500 units in existence, the Superleggera V4 had the highest power-to-weight ratio of any road bike in the world when it was launched in 2021.

Vyrus 987 C3 4V – $105,000

Vyrus

Vyrus might not be as well-known of a name as others on this list, but they do make some really impressive bikes. Though the brand is more famous for its Bimota Tesi 2D, its flagship model - the 987 C3 4V - is a marvel of engineering. Weighing in at just over 340 lbs, this bike has one of the highest power-to-weight ratios in the world.

The 987 C3 4V was also the most powerful production bike in the world at the time of launch, with its highest trim producing 211 horsepower from a Ducati-sourced V-twin engine. Even the base version had enough horses (170, to be precise) to show you a whole new kind of thrill.

MV Agusta F4CC – $120,000

Agusta

"I decided to put my name to this bike as I originally dreamed of it for myself," said Claudio Castiglioni, the Managing Director of MV Augusta, when the bike was announced in 2006. With a top speed of 195 mph and only 100 units made, the $120,000 price tag of the F4CC seems justifiable.

The MV Augusta F4CC is based on the F4 from the same brand, but it has some major improvements and refinements. The bike is Euro 3 compliant and has been designed with the lessons MV has learned from its racing career. All things considered, this exotic is worth the high price.

Arch Motorcycle 1s - $128,000

Arch Motorcycle

Housing a 2032 cc V-twin engine similar to the KRGT-1, the Arch 1s generates 115.3 lb-ft of torque. In line with ARCH Motorcycle's custom approach, each 1s is built to order so as to ensure a perfectly ergonomic fit, with the seat and hand/foot controls tailored to the owner's preferences.

With a starting tag of $128,000, the 1s skillfully blends elements of a cruiser and a street sport bike. Even though its appearance leans more toward a traditional cruiser, it doesn't weigh like one. The bike has a dry weight of 563 lbs due to the extensive use of carbon fiber.

NCR MH TT (Mike Hailwood) – $130,000

Carrying the colors of the decorated Moto GP racer Mike Hailwood, the NCR MH TT is a bike that is way ahead of anything else in terms of technological advancement and refinement. The titanium alloy frame of this bike weighs only 5 kg, and the dry weight of this completed speed machine is only 136 kg (300 lbs).

The power is provided by a V-2 engine that puts out one horse for every KG of the bike's weight, giving it amazing acceleration and nimble handling characteristics. The bike might lack a thing or two in comfort, but it more than makes up for that in terms of performance.

NCR Leggera 1200 Titanium Special – $148,000

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Ducati, the brand known for making outrageously expensive and insanely performance-oriented bikes, has a special class of bikes inside their hierarchy, known as hypermotards. These are the creme de la creme of the brand. Then there is NCR, a Ducati Tuner company that takes these hypermotards and improves on them.

The Leggera 1200 is one such bike. It is the first NCR hypermotard to be street legal and is also the lightest hypermotard ever, as NCR shed 125 lbs off the already light bike. The result is a bike that has no business being on public roads but is still road legal.

Harley Hubless Davidson: $155,000

Howardscustoms via Flickr

Harleys are enough to get you noticed in any crowd, but if you want to make sure you'd be the center of attention in a bike rally with a hundred Harleys around you, Hubless is the way to go. This is not an official bike from the brand but a modification introduced by Franco Sbarro in 1989.

These bikes are known for their bright colors, graphic decals, and at least one center-less wheel that gives them an alien appearance. The hubless wheel is difficult to build and maintain, very expensive, and has a lot of practical disadvantages, but it sure will get you noticed.

Icon Sheene – $172,000

Icon F1

If you think a bike needs to be invisible or have laser guns in place of headlights, you'd be disappointed. None of that is the case with this designer bike named after Barry Sheene, the legendary bike racer. Powered by a 1400 cc turbocharged Hayabusa engine and designed with retro-modern looks, this bike is awesome in more than one area.

From a handmade exhaust tuned for 'the ultimate aural symphony' to carbon fiber bodywork and an Alcantara racing seat, this bike has everything you would not find in a non-limited or serial production model.

MTT Turbine Streetfighter – $175,000

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Supermac1961 via Wikimedia Commons

This bike is more related to a helicopter than any motorbike currently on the market. The MTT Turbine Streetfighter is powered by a turboshaft engine made by Marine Turbine Technologies since 2000. These literal rockets are not made in serial production; rather, each of them is handmade to order upon receiving the buyer's specifications.

These bikes are powered by turboshaft engines and not traditional reciprocating piston engines, so the power figures are just in another ballpark. They can have anywhere between 300 and 500 horsepower, according to the specifications requested by the buyer.

Honda RC213V-S - $184,000

Honda

While Honda is renowned for its affordable cars and bikes, the RC213V-S price tag of $184,000 is a totally different story. Limited to a mere 250 units, it boasts a 999 cc V4 engine and a host of premium components, including carbon fiber-reinforced fairings, titanium connecting rods, Ohlins suspension, Marchesini wheels, and Brembo brakes.

The RC213V-S doesn't resemble a racing bike – it is one. A near-replica of the RC213V ridden by Marc Marquez in his last two MotoGP championships, this hand-crafted bike is "closer to a MotoGP bike than any road-going model ever offered to the public."

Vyrus Alyen 988 - $193,000

Vyrus

The beating heart of the Vyrus Alyen 988 is a Ducati Superquadro 1299 engine. Based out of Rimini, Italy, Vyrus makes bikes around other companies' engines, and the 988 is one of the most expensive ones they are currently producing.

The sharp angular design, the fork-less hub-centered steering, and the latest tech make the name Alyen exactly suited to this bike, which looks like it is from another world altogether. All that, however, comes with a hefty price tag, just a shade under $200,000, but for a machine that special, that is not too much to pay, or is it?

Suzuki AEM Carbon Fiber Hayabusa – $200,000

Lisa Morina via Flickr

The 1300 cc Hyabusa came out in 1998, and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the modern classic, Suzuki released the AEM carbon fiber edition in 2008. While there are other bikes that may be faster or more powerful, the way the Hayabusa combines handling, comfort, reliability, noise, fuel economy, and looks is not seen in any other.

From reducing the weight to increasing horsepower, Suzuki did everything in the book to make the Hayabusa the king of fast bikes back at the time. That throne might have been stolen now by the Ninja H2R, but the 'Busa is still a great bike.

Ducati Testa Stretta NCR Macchia Nera – $225,000

Dubbed the soul mate of Road Rage, the Macchia Nera is the Italian Race Shop NCR's piece de resistance. With a total weight of just 135 kg (297 lbs), thanks to titanium, carbon fiber, and other exotic materials, and a power output of 180 horsepower, let's just say this bike hits differently.

That's not all, though. This bike has spare parts and tech borrowed from Formula 1, Moto GP, and aerospace; what else can you possibly ask from a two-wheeled speed rocket for the road? The engine and titanium space frame are such an engineering masterpiece that covering them would just be a disrespect to this machine.

Ducati Desmosedici D16RR NCR M16 – $235,000

Ducati

The Desmosedici RR was the first MotoGP bike that made it to the public roads. It was modified to comply with road legal requirements, essentially making a replica of the Moto GP bike. It was based on Ducati's most prestigious Desmosedici model that won titles in Moto GP like it was running against teenagers on homemade dirt bikes.

Ducati made only 1,500 of these bikes, making it one of the brand's rarest and most sought-after models. Then, NCR came along and concocted the D16RR NCR M16, an even more insane bike priced to match the specs.

Ecosse Founder's Edition Ti XX – $300,000

The Titanium frame of this bike alone takes more than 1,300 hours; then there is the hand brushing to give it the characteristic Titanium sheen. The complete manufacturing time of the Founder's Edition from Ecosse is more than 3,000 hours of work from the most skilled craftsmen in the industry.

What you get as a result is something that resembles more a sculpture than a bike. It is a piece of Scottish art and a physical manifestation of British Access combined in one package. This bike's naked internals and welded joints give it a look like nothing else on the market.

Vincent Black Shadow - $400,000

The Vincent Black Shadow came out in 1948 and was sold until 1954. Initially, they went with a single-cylinder engine, but a V-twin with 50ish horsepower was later selected as the power plant for this bike. The name of the company was Vincent HRD back then, but to avoid people confusing it with Harley Davidson, they changed the name to just Vincent.

These bikes have become some of the most sought-after collectibles these days, hence the eye-watering prices they have been fetching at auctions. The ex-Tony McAlpine bike was auctioned for AUD 620,000 a few years back, which comes out to just over $400k!

Dodge Tomahawk V10 Superbike - $550,000

The Dodge Tomahawk is a non-street legal bike that was initially introduced as a one-off concept in 2003 but later introduced as a handmade-to-order bike for a starting price of $550,000. The 8.3L V-10 engine this bike is built around is the same as the one found in the Dodge Viper ACR.

Nothing about this bike makes any sense. The insane engine that is too big even for a car, wheels that look like they are straight out of a Sci-Fi movie, and the brakes that rival those on a truck. This bike is not meant for the road!

Cosmic Starship: $2.5 Million

Harley-Davidson

The Cosmic Starship, designed by galactic artist Jack Armstrong is not a bike but a literal piece of art. The $2.5 million+ price tag that this bike demands is not because of the mechanical complexity, insane power, or riding comfort it provides but the artwork that it is covered in.

It might not be THE collectible for bike lovers, but if you have the unique combination of generational wealth, taste for fine art, and the craze for Harleys, this one-off V-Rod would be your ultimate dream bike. And if you have all of those qualities, $2-3 million is not too much of a price to pay.

BMS Chopper Toro: $3 million

A well-built chopper is something everyone with a love for bikes can appreciate, but the guys running BMS have just perfected the art of making these machines. The Choppers from this company are known for their exquisite design, great build quality, and outrageous prices.

The BMS Chopper Toro's beating heart is a massive 1670 cc pushrod OHC V-twin. This air-cooled powerhouse cranks out more power and torque than is needed to make anyone's blood surge with adrenaline. However, this exotic beast is not cheap at all. The kind of money it demands is enough to buy a house in any of the world's most posh neighborhoods.

Ecosse Spirit: $3.6 Million

Anders Vindegg via Flickr

If the naked bikes showing off everything from the engine to the drive chain and frame are on one end of the hyperbike spectrum, the Ecosse Spirit is on the opposite end. It does not reveal any part of its operational mechanism at all.

Thanks to the shell made entirely from carbon fiber and designed with nothing but aerodynamics in mind; the Spirit is extremely efficient and agile. The bike has 200+ horsepower and weighs just under 130 kg (287 lbs), but the thing that makes it go 250 mph is that it has half the drag of a conventional bike with the same power.

AJS E90 Porcupine: $7 Million

The most mythical bike in the world, the vintage legend that won the very first Moto GP, the AJS E90 Porcupine, has become a legend that is hard for anyone to get a hold of. That is because only four of these bikes were made by AJS in 1949 to compete in the very first World Road Racing (now Moto GP).

Even though the company made four more of these the following year, those bikes never got the same kind of fame in the biker community. Only two of the original four are reportedly surviving, with each of them bringing in a jaw-dropping 7 million USD at an auction.

Neiman Marcus LE Fighter: $11 million

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As a matter of fact, not a lot is known about the Neiman Marcus LE Fighter. It is made by the company Neiman Marcus, which is basically a departmental store operator. The bike is made on the concepts of 'functional art,' and to be very honest, to us peasants, that is something unfathomable.

What looks like an assortment of random objects from a workshop put together by a 10-year-old for a science project is actually a carefully designed structure with every part playing a specific role. What role, you ask? Ask someone who has $11 million!