Australia has a 334 hp V8 motorcycle: the PGM V8

Thunder from Down Under

A while back, we published a story about a 2,500cc 3-cylinder motorcycle from Triumph. We've also mentioned another brand that has put a V8 in a motorcycle before. It seems to have started an arms race as Austrialia has done one better. Its reply is the 2.0-liter V8 motorcycle made by PGM.

This PGM V8 was designed by Paul G. Maloney. The V8 was not sourced from a car, but rather created from two Yamaha R1 inline four engines. The results is a 1,996cc 90° V8 that produces 334 horsepower (338 PS) and 158 foot-pounds (214 Nm) of torque. It uses eight 45mm Mikuni Drive-By-Wire throttle bodies to get revs up to a frightening 12,800 rpm. Exhaust travels through a pair of Akraopovic custom-built titanium 4-into-2-into-1 exhaust pipes. Power then travels through a six-speed sequential transmission through a chain to drive the rear wheels.

The bike is held together with a chromoly trellis frame, machined aluminum subframe, and carbon fiber bodywork. Up front are Ohlins FGRT301 forks, an Ohlins TTX Mk2 monoshock at the rear and a Yamaha R1 swingarm. Brembo GP4 calipers up front and a Brembo P4 clamper in the rear brings the massive 533 pound (241 kg) machine to a halt. It rides on forged aluminum wheels from Marchesini and Michelin Pilot Power 3 tires.

All pertinent info is displayed on a color TFT instrument panel. It features a 16.5-liter fuel tank and a seat height of 840 mm.

PGM did not indicate a 0-100 or top speed figure. Instead they simply asked, “How brave are you?”

For comparison, a Kawasaki Ninja H2R produces 310 hp, tips the scales at 216 kg, and boasts of a top speed of 330 km/h.

PGM has not officially listed the price of one of these machines. However, some experts estimate it at US$120,000.

Are you brave and affluent enough to get one?