After we’ve showcased the best 2014 had to offer in terms of cars, airplanes, and superyachts, it’s time for a look back at the finest two-wheeled vehicles of the past year. You’ll see some familiar names, but also a few newcomers, even a revived classic or two! All in all, it’s been a great year for those who appreciate speed, power, and elegance – and the following list illustrates this perfectly:
10. EBR 1190SX Streetfighter
This summer, Wisconsin-based motorcycle manufacturer Erik Buell Racing (EBR), known to create both great street and racing bikes, has released a powerful and aggressive-looking streetfighter called the EBR 1190SX.
Inspired by one of the company’s previous releases, namely the 1190RX superbike, EBR’s newer creation does feature some notable improvements, like a new upper triple clamp which accommodates a tubular handlebar for a more upright riding position. The 1190SX also boasts a V-twin engine which churns out 185hp and 100 lbs-ft of torque, and a wet weight (with no fuel in the tank) of 414 lbs.
9. Paton Strada S1
Milan-based motorcycle manufacturer Paton has decades of experience behind it, mostly gained on the European racetracks. In 2014, the company decided to use this know-how in order to create its first street-legal motorbike, called the S1 Strada.
Paton’s engineers created a remarkably lightweight frame for the vehicle, with wet curb weight of 348lbs (158 kg). The engine powering this vintage-looking bike is a 650cc parallel-twin borrowed from the Kawasaki Ninja which outputs 72 horsepower, allowing the S1 Strada to reach top speed of a little over 130 mph. Unable to fully part with its competitive heritage, Paton has entered a slightly modified version of the bike into the 2014 Isle of Man TT race, with Englishman Olie Linsdell as the rider.
8. KRGT-1
Keanu Reeves isn’t a name you usually associate with spectacular motorcycles – unless he’s riding one during an action scene in one of his blockbusters. Surprisingly, the Hollywood movie star is indeed a motorbike and enthusiast and has teamed up with bike builder Gard Hollinger to launch the Arch Motorcycle Company. The first product to come of this partnership is the KRGT-1.
This futuristic-looking bike is equipped with a powerful V-Twin engine with a capacity of 2,032 cc, originally designed and built with handmade parts, outputting a decent 122 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque. So if you’ve ever wanted a high-end machine which has the initials of a famous actor in its name, the KRGT-1 is the perfect bike for you!
7. Indian Scout
During the first half of the 20th century, Indian was one of the most popular and successful American motorbike manufacturers, with its most popular model (produced between 1920 and 1946) being the Scout. The year 2014 was great for the legendary brand, which after decades of obscurity was revived and has released a new version of the acclaimed Scout.
This stunning middleweight cruiser has a cast aluminum frame weighing 558 pounds and is powered by an 1133cc V-twin engine which churns out 100 horsepower and 72 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed transmission.
6. Ducati Diavel Titanium
With this awesome motorbike by Ducati, everything you need to know is in the name. The look was in large part borrowed from the earlier Diavel models, as was the Testastrella 162 horsepower engine, but there a few details which make the new version stand out, like the redesigned air intakes, windscreen and mudguards. The use of titanium is the other one of the bike’s important features, as the premium, lightweight material was utilized for the covers on the headlight and the gas tank, among others.
5. Kodewa Lotus C-01
At the beginning of the year, following two years of development, German racing team Kodewa released a sleek new motorcycle called the Lotus C-01.
Featuring a high-tech frame made from carbon fiber, titanium, and what the company is describing as “aerospace quality steel,” the bike is equipped with a 1.2-liter V-twin engine developing 200 horsepower. The output is connected to a six-gear “jaw-type shift transmission,” which ensures the bike is lightning-fast.
While Kodewa’s release does bear the name Lotus, the British company had no part in its design or development. The name was simply licensed to raise the motorcycle’s profile – something it definitely deserves!
4. Viking by Lauge Jensen and Henrik Fisker
When the likes of Danish customized motorbike maker Lauge Jensen and acclaimed automobile designer Henrisk Fisker (also from Denmark) team up, you can be certain the result is something that get will get people talking. In this case, the partnership yielded the beautiful one-off concept called the Viking.
Sleek, clean, and very elegant, it features a carbon-composite frame, which is both lightweight and amazingly sturdy, which will no doubt be a great benefit to the bike’s performance figures. The creators haven’t revealed much in terms of technical specs, simply stating that the Viking will be one of the first motorbikes to comply with the Euro IV emissions standards (which will come into effect in 2016).
3. Akrapovic Full Moon
The Full Moon concept, created by Slovenian exhaust system manufacturer Akrapovic in collaboration with Dreamachine Motorcycles, is easily one of the most eye-catching bikes unveiled this year.
Though unique and impossible to fit into any category, the vehicle shares some similarities with another concept revealed by Akrapovic back in 2011, called the Morsus. The Full Moon is equipped with a massive S&S Knucklehead 1,524cc engine, and features two modified custom-made exhausts, automated steering to reduce the amount of visible cables, as well as hydraulic suspension that can fix the bike upright when parked. However the most remarkable design element is its large aluminum and carbon shield covering the 30-inch rear wheel, which blends into the vehicle’s sheet metal frame and bodywork, making the bike look like something out of the Tron universe.
2. Lightning LS-218
When you think of electric-powered vehicles, you don’t think of record breaking – at least not records set by their more conventional counterparts. The aptly-named Lightning LS-218 is here to change that perception.
This ridiculously powerful motorbike is powered by a 200 horsepower engine that outputs an impressive 168 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to reach an incredible top speed of 218 mph (or about 350 km/h). Amazingly, the creators of this stunning superbike, already the fastest production motorcycle ever, believe it can go even faster!
The Lightning LS-218 is available with different battery setups configurations, from the 12kWh to the 20kWh (the latter with a maximum range of 190 miles).
1. Kawasaki Ninja H2R
It’s not unreasonable to suspect Kawasaki built the Ninja H2R just to prove that they can (or show off!). Named after the legendary 750 cc Kawasaki H2 Mach IV introduced by the Japanese company during the 1970s, the new model boasts a massive supercharged 998 cc inline-4 DOHC engine which can develop a whopping 300 hp, 50% more than its closest rival.
Kawasaki’s aerospace division actually contributed to the design of this monster of a motorbike, which is estimated to reach a top speed of around 250 mph (400 km/h) – obliterating the Suzuki Hayabusa’ s current production motorcycle speed record of 194 mph.
